This is technical book for the advanced student, school teacher, or researcher.
Why solar research? The answer is simple: because In 2001, solar electricity provided less than 0.1% of the world's electricity, and solar fuel from modern (sustainable) biomass provided less than 1.5% of the world's energy. The huge gap between our present use of solar energy and its enormous undeveloped potential defines a grand challenge in energy research.
How much energy is needed for our children, so they can have a better standard of living than us today? Well, here is the bad news:
World demand for energy is projected to more than double by 2050 and to more than triple by the end of the century.
But here is the good news:
Solar energy conversion systems fall into three categories according to their primary energy product: solar electricity, solar fuels, and solar thermal systems. Each of the three generic approaches to exploiting the solar resource has untapped capability well beyond its present usage.
Download this EBook published by Argonne National Laboratory.