The rise of solar cells

The rise of solar cells

Sonal P. Ghawade, Abhay D. Deshmukh, Kavita Abhay Deshmukh, S. J. Dhoble

Solar power is a significant source of green and renewable type of energy. A photovoltaic cell is an electronic device which directly converts sunlight into electricity. Light falling on the solar cell generates both current and voltage to produce electric power. This process needs a material in which the absorption of light raises an electron to a higher energy state, and the movement of this higher energy electron from the solar cell into an external circuit gives rise to electric current. The electron further dissipates its energy in the external circuit and returns to the solar cell. In this chapter we will discuss the chronological history and scientific advancements in research and development activities related to solar cell technology since 1954 to present. We will also show various types of solar cells and their applications.

Keywords
Photovoltaic Cells, History of Solar Cells, Different Generation of Solar Cells, Types of Solar Cells

Published online 8/2/2017, 36 pages

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21741/9781945291371-1

Part of Recent Advances in Photovoltaics

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