Shining Light on Solar Cells - Chapter 7: PV Systems and Costing 101

After spending the first half of the series learning about everything inside a solar panel, now it's time to learn how do we connect solar panels to the device that we want to power, forming a PV system. In this video, we learn

• The different combinations of PV systems
• How you as a homeowner can install solar panels at your home with a government PV scheme
• Using the payback period method to make investment decisions in PV systems
• How large-scale solar plant projects are evaluated using the Levelized cost of electricity (LCOE).

Updated list of SEG suppliers https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/seg-supplier-list

Introduction to payback period https://youtu.be/YX4NoZN8YWU

Calculations by Energy Savings Trust https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/solar-installation-payback-possible-smart-export-guarantee/

Further reference materials that I highly recommend:

Luque, A. and Hegedus, S. (2003). Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 978-0-471-49196-5.

Other parts in this series:

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2.0: Semiconductor Physics (Band Diagram, Free Carriers)
  • Chapter 2.1: Semiconductor Physics (Doping)
  • Chapter 2.2: Semiconductor Physics (Fermi-Energy Level)
• Chapter 3.0: PN Junction diode (Drift and Diffusion)
• Chapter 3.1: PN Junction diode (Forward & Reverse Bias, IV Curve)
• Chapter 4: Photons
• Chapter 5.0: How do Solar Cells Work? (Working Principle, IV Curve, Photovoltaic Parameters, Solar Cell Datasheet)
• Chapter 5.1: How do Solar Cells Work? (Typical Structure, Shockley-Queisser Limit)
• Chapter 6.0: How are solar panels made? (From quartz to silicon wafers)
• Chapter 6.1: How are solar panels made? (From silicon wafers to solar panels)