Chapter 3 - Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Technology

Abstract

Photovoltaic power systems are gaining importance in distribution generation (DG) of renewable energy sources due to abundant availability of solar radiation as a source for generating electricity by the photovoltaic effect in semiconductors. The cost of photovoltaic cells is high due to low efficiency of converting light energy into electricity by using semiconductor materials. Photovoltaic (PV) materials have been closely researched to improve the cell efficiency by adopting various methods of processing, doping operations, and using different materials of semiconductors, along with different methods of interconnecting PV components and standardizing them for PV power systems. Recent research in semiconductor materials and their electrical characteristics have shown impressive advances in the cost reduction of PV cells. The advances in research for increasing the efficiency in conversion of light to electrical energy have also provided opportunities and challenges in PV systems. The markets and trends for new PV materials that produce efficient PV cells promise high potential for introduction of PV power systems in DG systems. This chapter presents a review of solar radiation, electrical characteristics of photoelectric semiconductor materials, types of PV cells and their uses in solar power systems, and research advances in developing new PV materials that promote efficient PV cells for cost-effective solar power systems in DGs, as a renewable energy source.