Solar Energy Conversion Systems

Solar energy conversion requires a different mind-set from traditional energy engineering in order to assess distribution, scales of use, systems design, predictive economic models for fluctuating solar resources, and planning to address transient cycles and social adoption. Solar Energy Conversion Systems examines solar energy conversion as an integrative design process, applying systems thinking methods to a solid knowledge base for creators of solar energy systems. This approach permits different levels of access for the emerging broad audience of scientists, engineers, architects, planners, and economists. Traditional texts in solar energy engineering have often emerged from mechanical or chemical engineering fields. Instead, Solar Energy Conversion Systems approaches solar energy conversion from the perspectives of integrative design, environmental technology, sustainability science, and materials science in the wake of amazing new thin films, polymers, and glasses developed by the optoelectronics and semiconductor industries. This is a new solar text for the new generation of green job designers and developers. It’s highlighted with vignettes that break down solar conversion into useful stories and provides common points of reference, as well as techniques, for effective estimation of evolving technologies.

Contextualizes solar conversion for systems design and implementation in practical applicationsProvides a complete understanding of solar power, from underlying science to essential economic outcomesAnalytical approach emphasizes systems simulations from measured irradiance and weather data rather than estimations from "rules of thumb"Emphasizes integrative design and solar utility, where trans-disciplinary teams can develop sustainable solar solutions that increase client well-being and ecosystems services for a given locale

1. Introduction 2. Context and Philosophy of Design 3. Laws of Light 4. Physics of Light, Heat, Work, and Photoconversion 5. Meteorology: The Many Facets of the Sky 6. Sun-Earth Geometry 7. Applying the Angles to Shadows 8. Measure and Estimation of the Solar Resource 9. Solar Energy Economics 10. Solar Project Finance 11. The Sun As Commons 12. Systems Logic of Devices: Patterns 13. Systems Logic of Devices: Optocalorics 14. Systems Logic of Devices: Optoelectronics 15. Concentration—The Pattern to Manipulate Light 16. Project Design

Appendix A: Energy Conversion Systems B: Numeracy and Units in Solar Energy