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This book provides an introduction to all aspects of solar energy, from photovoltaic devices to active and passive solar thermal energy conversion. Its main characteristic is that it helps to gain an overview on these topics and at the same time provides some detailed knowledge with emphasis on the quantitative approach.
The book deals with both photovoltaics (PV) and solar thermal energy processes. The first chapter explains why it is important to use solar energy, the current energy usage on Earth, and the practical advantages of using PV technologies. Chapter 2 describes the reactions taking place in the core of the sun and producing solar light, and calculates through earth-sun geometric relations the amount of solar light reaching the earth's atmosphere and what part of the irradiation arrives...