Hideki Tanaka & Kiyoshi Yamashita 
Photovoltaics 
Developments, Applications, and Impact

Photovoltaics (PV) is the field of technology and research related to the application of solar cells for energy by converting sun energy directly into electricity. Due to the growing demand for clean sources of energy, the manufacture of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays has expanded dramatically in recent years. Photovoltaic production has been doubling every two years, increasing by an average of 48 percent each year since 2002, making it the world’s fastest-growing energy technology. They are best known as a method for generating electric power by using solar cells packaged in photovoltaic modules, often electrically connected in multiples as solar photovoltaic arrays, to convert energy from the sun into electricity. This new and important book gathers the latest research from around the globe in this dynamic field.