Solar Power Generation and Energy Storage

This chapter presents the important features of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation and an overview of electrical storage technologies. The basic unit of a solar PV generation system is a solar cell, which is a P‐N junction diode. The power electronic converters used in solar systems are usually DC‐DC converters and DC‐AC converters. Either or both these converters may be necessary depending on whether the solar panel is connected to a DC load, an AC load or an AC grid. Most large conventional electrical grids can operate without significant storage of energy after it has been converted to electric energy. This is because the load‐generation balance is maintained in near real time through the control of the generated power, with frequency as the feedback signal. The chapter presents some important considerations for the evaluation of energy storage technologies and provides a brief outline of few of energy storage technologies.