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5 Best books on Solar Energy
May 21, 2023 | Author: Maria Lin
Here is my list of 5 most interesting books about solar energy:
1. Solar Energy: The Physics and Engineering of Photovoltaic Conversion, Technologies and Systems
The book offers comprehensive information and updated technologies related to solar cells, making it a valuable resource for staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in this field. It presents a well-written and user-friendly text that explains the generation of electric power using solar panels. The accessible information provided in this book will be beneficial for various individuals, including novice electricians entering the world of solar energy, solar technicians seeking to enhance their understanding of solar technology, college engineering students, as well as field and design engineers in the solar power industry.
2. Taming the Sun: Innovations to Harness Solar Energy and Power the Planet
The book presents a highly persuasive argument for why solar energy should take the lead as the primary technology to power our planet. The author skillfully guides readers through a thorough and easily understandable exploration of the history, current state, and future potential of solar technology. Despite not being overly optimistic, the author, Sivaram, acknowledges the significant challenges facing solar's growth. However, he goes beyond mere critique by providing an extensive range of solutions that cover financial innovation, technology advancement, and policy reform. These solutions are backed by a decade of groundbreaking research and the author's firsthand experience in the field.
3. Renewable Energy Finance: Powering The Future
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this exceptional book, as it provided valuable insights. However, I found the figures to be somewhat unclear and lacking in detail, which made it challenging to fully comprehend and differentiate certain curves and lines. One particular aspect that captivated my interest was the conceptual model presented in Chapter 5, which effectively illustrates the influence of the cost of capital on the valuation of renewable energy (RE) investments among different types of investors. Additionally, the book offers a comprehensive analysis of the potential impact of various policies (such as support duration, revenue certainty, and risk perception) on financing costs. Of particular note is the outstanding exploration of the role institutional investors can potentially play in the future of RE project financing, making it highly recommended for a thorough read.
4. Dumb Energy: A Critique of Wind and Solar Energy
The author, who is an engineer, raises an important but often overlooked issue regarding wind and solar energy, namely the potential for grid instability. As an electrical engineer, you understand the necessity of a real-time control system to ensure grid stability. The challenge arises from the fact that large-scale energy storage is currently limited. For instance, even if we consider all the batteries in California, including those in cars and solar power plants, they can only store a small fraction of the energy delivered by the grid, typically lasting only a few minutes. This highlights the critical role of the control system in balancing power supply and demand in real-time. However, wind and solar energy sources are inherently non-dispatchable, meaning their output is dependent on the availability of wind and sunlight. Unlike conventional power sources, it is not possible to increase their output to meet sudden increases in demand.
5. Photovoltaic Design and Installation For Dummies
Note that this book was copyrighted in 2010, which means it may not reflect the most recent changes and developments in the field of solar energy. Although the book is well-written and provides detailed information, it lacks updates regarding advancements made in the past six years. Specifically, it does not cover topics such as micro-inverters, mounting panels on concrete tiles, limitations imposed by fire codes on panel placement, and visual information presented through figures and diagrams. It is worth noting that despite being the highest rated book on the subject at the time of purchase, its outdated information raises concerns about finding a reliable and current resource on the topic.
See also: Top 10 eBook Organizers
1. Solar Energy: The Physics and Engineering of Photovoltaic Conversion, Technologies and Systems
The book offers comprehensive information and updated technologies related to solar cells, making it a valuable resource for staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in this field. It presents a well-written and user-friendly text that explains the generation of electric power using solar panels. The accessible information provided in this book will be beneficial for various individuals, including novice electricians entering the world of solar energy, solar technicians seeking to enhance their understanding of solar technology, college engineering students, as well as field and design engineers in the solar power industry.
2. Taming the Sun: Innovations to Harness Solar Energy and Power the Planet
The book presents a highly persuasive argument for why solar energy should take the lead as the primary technology to power our planet. The author skillfully guides readers through a thorough and easily understandable exploration of the history, current state, and future potential of solar technology. Despite not being overly optimistic, the author, Sivaram, acknowledges the significant challenges facing solar's growth. However, he goes beyond mere critique by providing an extensive range of solutions that cover financial innovation, technology advancement, and policy reform. These solutions are backed by a decade of groundbreaking research and the author's firsthand experience in the field.
3. Renewable Energy Finance: Powering The Future
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this exceptional book, as it provided valuable insights. However, I found the figures to be somewhat unclear and lacking in detail, which made it challenging to fully comprehend and differentiate certain curves and lines. One particular aspect that captivated my interest was the conceptual model presented in Chapter 5, which effectively illustrates the influence of the cost of capital on the valuation of renewable energy (RE) investments among different types of investors. Additionally, the book offers a comprehensive analysis of the potential impact of various policies (such as support duration, revenue certainty, and risk perception) on financing costs. Of particular note is the outstanding exploration of the role institutional investors can potentially play in the future of RE project financing, making it highly recommended for a thorough read.
4. Dumb Energy: A Critique of Wind and Solar Energy
The author, who is an engineer, raises an important but often overlooked issue regarding wind and solar energy, namely the potential for grid instability. As an electrical engineer, you understand the necessity of a real-time control system to ensure grid stability. The challenge arises from the fact that large-scale energy storage is currently limited. For instance, even if we consider all the batteries in California, including those in cars and solar power plants, they can only store a small fraction of the energy delivered by the grid, typically lasting only a few minutes. This highlights the critical role of the control system in balancing power supply and demand in real-time. However, wind and solar energy sources are inherently non-dispatchable, meaning their output is dependent on the availability of wind and sunlight. Unlike conventional power sources, it is not possible to increase their output to meet sudden increases in demand.
5. Photovoltaic Design and Installation For Dummies
Note that this book was copyrighted in 2010, which means it may not reflect the most recent changes and developments in the field of solar energy. Although the book is well-written and provides detailed information, it lacks updates regarding advancements made in the past six years. Specifically, it does not cover topics such as micro-inverters, mounting panels on concrete tiles, limitations imposed by fire codes on panel placement, and visual information presented through figures and diagrams. It is worth noting that despite being the highest rated book on the subject at the time of purchase, its outdated information raises concerns about finding a reliable and current resource on the topic.
See also: Top 10 eBook Organizers
