Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 30 (1993) 189 North-Holland

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

Book Review

Solar Power Plants by C.J. Winter, R.L. Sizmann and L.L. Vant-Hull (eds.) (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1991). ISBN 0-387-18897-5 and 3-540-18897-5 (hbk.); 425 pages; price DM 148.00.

Solar Power Plants is the most concise yet comprehensive text I have seen in this field. It is the best current source of information for teaching and understand- ing the whole field of solar energy conversion. I only wish that I had this book 15 years ago to learn this multi-disciplinary and multifaceted field. The book is an extremely well organized compilation from expert authors edited by a collabora- tion between German and American scientists. No less than 230 descriptive and well captioned figures lead the expert senior scientist or educated lay reader alike through the 20 years of the development of solar conversion. Each chapter is a self contained description of each aspect of this field. Topics covered include the relationship of energy sources, the thermodynamics and physics of conversion, concentrators (both imaging and non-imaging), systems engineering, thermal re- ceivers and storage, photovoltaics (cells and modules), solar fuels and hydrogen and cost analysis and economics. I believe that this is the first book that allows the reader to see the detailed connection between each of these topics. Each chapter flows logically into the next so that anyone who has a knowledge of physics can access the most up to date information on the theory and implementation of this multi-megawatt power source. Prof. Rudolf Sizmann's chapter on solar radiation conversion is particularly helpful to those in the field of solar energy materials, since it outlines the relationship between material parameters and thermal, photo- chemical or photovoltaic performance. The nomenclature is clearly defined and standardized. The experience gained in both thermal and photoelectric plants is discussed by such well known authors as Drs. W. Grasse, W. Bloss and M. Fischer. My only criticism is that I wish the book was twice as long. Although there are no problem sets, each chapter contains illustrative examples and references for' further reading. I am hoping that with the renewed interest in alternative energy, this book will become a standard textbook as well as a reference source for policy makers.

Greg Smestad

0927-0248/93/$06.00 © 1993 - Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved