Foreword
The implementation of a sustainable world-wide energy supply system is one of the most
important measures to be taken to prevent further climate change. Solar energy can play
an instrumental role in such a system. Solar energy is abundantly available and is a very
versatile energy source.
Solar energy has been used for heating for centuries. Since the invention of the
crystalline silicon solar cell by Gerald Pearson, Daryl Chapin and Calvin Fuller in 1954,
solar cells have become a very important option for the large scale production of solar
electricity. In 2015 photovoltaic electricity already contributes 1% to the global electricity
production. The 2014 IEA Roadmaps for Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Electricity
envisage a total share of 27% of the global electricity production by 2050.
Solar energy is used already for supplying small amounts of electricity and heat in
rural areas, thereby contributing to the economic development of these areas. Millions of
small photovoltaic systems are operational, providing energy, for example, for lighting and
telecommunications. Solar energy systems can be integrated very well in the built
environment and are contributing substantially to the impressive growth of the utilisation
of solar energy that we see today. Solar energy can be used for large scale production of
electricity in power plants by means of flat plate and concentrator photovoltaic (PV)
systems, as well as by thermal concentrated solar power (CSP) systems.
The utilisation of solar energy is growing very fast. In addition, the goals for solar
energy as laid down in government policies on national and European level are very
ambitious. As a result many newcomers are entering the field, taking up the challenges. In
order to do so, adequate training and education is required. The training needs to be
focussed on each level, e.g. the academic level, the level of the system engineer, the level
of installers, etc.
The solar-energy field and in particular photovoltaics is very broad. The field of
photovoltaics ranges from optics, material and device physics for solar-cell development,
to module and power electronics required for the design of complete stand alone and gridconnected systems. For the newcomer to the field, but also for the specialist, it is often
difficult to obtain a good overview of the whole field. On one hand it is important that cell
and module designers have enough basic knowledge of photovoltaic systems and
applications. On the other hand system designers should have sufficient knowledge of the
various solar-cell technologies to make the right selection, and once the selection is made,
The implementation of a sustainable world-wide energy supply system is one of the most
important measures to be taken to prevent further climate change. Solar energy can play
an instrumental role in such a system. Solar energy is abundantly available and is a very
versatile energy source.
Solar energy has been used for heating for centuries. Since the invention of the
crystalline silicon solar cell by Gerald Pearson, Daryl Chapin and Calvin Fuller in 1954,
solar cells have become a very important option for the large scale production of solar
electricity. In 2015 photovoltaic electricity already contributes 1% to the global electricity
production. The 2014 IEA Roadmaps for Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Electricity
envisage a total share of 27% of the global electricity production by 2050.
Solar energy is used already for supplying small amounts of electricity and heat in
rural areas, thereby contributing to the economic development of these areas. Millions of
small photovoltaic systems are operational, providing energy, for example, for lighting and
telecommunications. Solar energy systems can be integrated very well in the built
environment and are contributing substantially to the impressive growth of the utilisation
of solar energy that we see today. Solar energy can be used for large scale production of
electricity in power plants by means of flat plate and concentrator photovoltaic (PV)
systems, as well as by thermal concentrated solar power (CSP) systems.
The utilisation of solar energy is growing very fast. In addition, the goals for solar
energy as laid down in government policies on national and European level are very
ambitious. As a result many newcomers are entering the field, taking up the challenges. In
order to do so, adequate training and education is required. The training needs to be
focussed on each level, e.g. the academic level, the level of the system engineer, the level
of installers, etc.
The solar-energy field and in particular photovoltaics is very broad. The field of
photovoltaics ranges from optics, material and device physics for solar-cell development,
to module and power electronics required for the design of complete stand alone and gridconnected systems. For the newcomer to the field, but also for the specialist, it is often
difficult to obtain a good overview of the whole field. On one hand it is important that cell
and module designers have enough basic knowledge of photovoltaic systems and
applications. On the other hand system designers should have sufficient knowledge of the
various solar-cell technologies to make the right selection, and once the selection is made,