Chapter 12
Solar PV Systems
Urs Muntwyler
Abstract Solar PV systems are power supplies with PV modules as source. They can
be “grid-connected” as an additional source of electricity for feeding the electrical
grid.
12.1 Overview Solar PV Systems
Solar PV systems are power supplies with PV modules as source. They can be “gridconnected” as an additional source of electricity for feeding the electrical grid. On the
other hand, they can be autonomous off-grid systems: Acting e.g. as uninterruptable
power supplies (UPS) often with a battery as storage. Or, they can supply electricity
to isolated houses. The power of a Solar PV system can extend over a large range
from a few Watts (for small autonomous off-grid systems) up to several Gigawatts
(GW p ) for large grid-connected systems (Fig. 12.1).
12.2 The Solar Generator
A solar generator consists of one or several PV modules. Each PV module consists
in general of a large number of solar cells. Typically, there will be 60 or 72 solar
cells per module (Fig. 12.2).
12.3 Off-Grid PV Systems
PV solar cell applications for energy production started with the development of the
first crystalline Silicon solar cell by Bell laboratories in 1954. However, applications
U. Muntwyler (B)
University of Applied Sciences, Burgdorf, Switzerland
e-mail: urs.muntwyler@bfh.ch
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. Shah (ed.), Solar Cells and Modules, Springer Series in Materials Science 301,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46487-5_12
307
Solar PV Systems
Urs Muntwyler
Abstract Solar PV systems are power supplies with PV modules as source. They can
be “grid-connected” as an additional source of electricity for feeding the electrical
grid.
12.1 Overview Solar PV Systems
Solar PV systems are power supplies with PV modules as source. They can be “gridconnected” as an additional source of electricity for feeding the electrical grid. On the
other hand, they can be autonomous off-grid systems: Acting e.g. as uninterruptable
power supplies (UPS) often with a battery as storage. Or, they can supply electricity
to isolated houses. The power of a Solar PV system can extend over a large range
from a few Watts (for small autonomous off-grid systems) up to several Gigawatts
(GW p ) for large grid-connected systems (Fig. 12.1).
12.2 The Solar Generator
A solar generator consists of one or several PV modules. Each PV module consists
in general of a large number of solar cells. Typically, there will be 60 or 72 solar
cells per module (Fig. 12.2).
12.3 Off-Grid PV Systems
PV solar cell applications for energy production started with the development of the
first crystalline Silicon solar cell by Bell laboratories in 1954. However, applications
U. Muntwyler (B)
University of Applied Sciences, Burgdorf, Switzerland
e-mail: urs.muntwyler@bfh.ch
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. Shah (ed.), Solar Cells and Modules, Springer Series in Materials Science 301,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46487-5_12
307