Solar Cell Technology and Applications

Abstract

Great interest in renewable energy sources and significant increases in the cost of foreign oil have compelled various countries to search for low cost energy sources and technologies, such as solar cells, wind turbines, tidal wave turbines, biofuel sources, geothermal technology, and nuclear reactors, to achieve lower cost for generation of electricity. This book comes at a time when the future and well-being of Western industrial nations in the twenty-first century’s global economy depends on the quality and depth of the technological innovations they can commercialize at a rapid pace. Rapid development of low cost energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, and tidal wave energy is not only urgent to reduce the cost per watt of the electricity, but to eliminate the dependency on oil-producing countries, some of which are hostile toward Western countries, particularly, the United States and European countries. It is important to mention that ample and free solar energy is available to countries located between the equator and Arctic Circle regions. Studies performed on solar intensities in summer and winter seasons indicate that a minimum NTP solar photon radiation intensity of 100 mW/cm2 or 92.9 W/ft2 is available during the sunshine periods, which could be converted into electrical energy with reasonably lower cost. Rapid design and development activities must be undertaken in the field of low cost and efficient solar cell devices, micro-hydro turbines, compact and light weight wind turbines, low cost tidal wave turbines, and solar concentrators. Design of low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell materials and light-weight, integrated solar panels must be the first priority to provide immediate relief to home owners and commercial shopping centers, which desperately need the solar power installations to reduce their electricity bills as well as to eliminate the dependency on foreign oil. Furthermore, energy experts predict that wholesale electricity prices will rise 35 to 65 percent by the year 2015. Under these circumstances, alternate electrical energy sources must be explored. Solar cell technology has potential applications in satellite communication systems, military surveillance and reconnaissance space sensors, land-base defense installations, schools, residential homes, shopping markets, and large commercial buildings. Some Wal-Mart and K-Mart discount stores and Google already have operational solar power modules on their roofs. The solar installations could meet