Book Description:
Solar energy can be divided into direct and indirect categories. Most energy sources on Earth are forms of indirect solar energy. Coal, oil and natural gas derive from ancient biological material which took its energy from the sun (via plant photosynthesis) millions of years ago. All the energy in wood and foodstuffs also comes from the sun. Movement of the wind (which causes waves at sea), and the evaporation of water to form rainfall which accumulates in rivers and lakes, are also powered by the sun. Therefore, hydroelectric power and wind and wave power are forms of indirect solar energy. Solar energy research and applications have been receiving increasing attention throughout the world as solar energy must play a much greater role in the energy mix in upcoming years. This new book presents the latest research in the field.

Table of Contents:
Preface

Solar Thermal Energy Storage Through Phase Change Materials for Low Temperature Applications;pp. 1-58
(Atul Sharma, C.R. Chen, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kun Shan University, Yung-Kang City, Tainan Hsien, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Thermal Energy Storage for Concentrated Solar Power;pp. 59-73
(Wolf-Dieter Steinmann, Doerte Laing, Rainer Tamme, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, Stuttgart, Germany)

Large Area Silicon Thin Film PV Solar Cells, The Industrial Challenges of the Passage from Amorphous to Microcrystalline Silicon Intrinsic Layer75-121
(Benjamin Strahm, Alan A. Howling, Christoph Hollenstein, ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausarine, Centre de Researchers en Physique des Plasmas)

Energy Meteorology (Solar Radiation Information for an Efficient Use of Solar Energy);pp. 123-176
(Anja Drews, Oldenburg Univ., Institute of Physics, Energy Meterology Unit, Elke Lorenz, Oldenburg Univ., Institute of Physics, Energy Meterology Unit, Annette Hammer, Oldenburg Univ., Institute of Physics, Energy Meterology Unit, et al.)

Transparent Conductors and Their Applications for Solar Energy and Energy Efficiency;pp. 177-209
(Claes g. Granqvist, Department of Engineering Sciences, The Angström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden)

Solar Wastewater Treatment: Photoassisted degradation of the Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol A in Two Batch Photoreactors Under one Sun and Multi-Sun Exposure;pp. 211-222
(Hisao Hidaka, Ippei Yanagisawa, Toshiyuki Oyama, Frontier Research Center for the Global Environment Science, Meisei University, Hodokubu, Hino, Tokyo, Japan, Nick Serpone, Dipartimento di Chimica Organica, Universita di Pavia, Pavia, Italy)

Solar Energy for Photovoltaic Water Pumping System, Modern and Technical Solutions;pp. 223-276
(Lakhdar Mokrani, Keltoum Benlarbi, Materials Laboratory, Electrical Engineering Department, Laghouat University, Laghouat, Algeria)

Solar Energy Upgrading by Thermodynamic Cycles with Steam Absorption in Aqueous Solutions;pp. 277-316
(Rosenburg J. Romero, Sotsil Silva-Sotelo, Engineering and Applied Sciences Research Centre-UAEM, Mexico, W. Rivera, Energy Research Centre - UNAM, Mexico)

Glass Covers for Photovoltaic Applications with Enhanced Transmission and Self-Cleaning Properties;pp. 317-347
(A. Pfuch, T. Tölke, A. Heft, T. Richter, A. Niemann, A. Rechtenbach, M. Frigge, Innovent e. V., PrüssingstraBe, Jena, Germany)

Developments in Photovoltaic/Thermal Solar Systems;pp. 349-374
(T.T. Chow, Division of Building Science and Technology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, City Univ. of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China)

SAXS Characterization of Mesoporous Thin Films: A Solar Energy Point of View;pp. 375-402
(Aleksandra Turkoviæ, Division of Materials Physics, Ruder Boškoviæ Institute, bijeniæka, Zagreb, Croatia)

Designing Photovolaic/Thermal Solar Collectors for Building Integration;pp. 403-426
(T.N. Anderson, M. Duke, J.K. Carson, Department of Engineering, University of Waikato, Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand)

Development of a Solar Assisted Heat Pump Desalination System;pp.
427-455
(M N A Hawlader, Zakaria Mohd. Amin, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore)

Review on Development and Recent Progress of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Technology;pp. 457-472
(Emily S.L. Li, Micheal K.H. Leung, Dennis Y.C. Leung, Meng Ni, Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

Solar Electric Wheel Armchair for Handicaps;pp. 473-478
(Romdhane Ben Slama, ISSAT Gabes, Gabes Tunisia)

Index