Energy from the desert : feasibility of very large scale photovoltaic power generation (VLS-PV) systems / / editor, Kosuke Kurokawa

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910824813603321
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Oxon [England] : , : Earthscan, , 2013
• ISBN: 1-134-27673-7; 1-315-07444-3; 1-134-27666-4
• Edizione: [1st ed.]
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (773 p.)
• Altri autori (Persone): KurokawaKosuke
• Disciplina: 621.31/244
• Soggetti: Photovoltaic power generation; Photovoltaic power systems; Desert resources development; Feasibility studies
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: First published in 2003 by James & James.
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references.
• Nota di contenuto: Cover; Half Title; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; Foreword; Preface; Task VIII Participants; List of Contributors; Acknowledgements; Comprehensive Summary; Objective; Background and concept of VLS-PV; VLS-PV case studies; Scenario studies; Understandings; Recommendations; Executive Summary; A. Background and concept of VLS-PV; A.1 World energy issues; A.2 Environmental issues; A.3 An overview of photovoltaic technology; A.3.1 Technology trends; A.3.2 Experiences in operation and maintenance of large-scale PV systems; A.3.3 Cost trends; A.3.4 Added values of PV systems; A.4 World irradiation databaseA.5 Concept of VLS-PV system; A.5.1 Availability of desert area for PV technology; A.5.2 VLS-PV concept and definition; A.5.3 Potential of VLS-PV: advantages; A.5.4 Synthesis in a scenario for the viability of VLS-PV development; B. VLS-PV case studies; B.1 General information; B.2 Preliminary case study of VLS-PV systems in world deserts; B.3 Case studies on the Gobi Desert from a life-cycle viewpoint; B.4 Case studies on the Sahara Desert; B.5 Case studies on the Middle East desert; C. Scenario studies and recommendations; C.1 Sustainable growth of the VLS-PV system conceptC.2 Possible approaches for the future; C.3 Financial and organizational sustainability; C.4 Recommendations; C.4.1 General understandings; C.4.2 Recommendations on a policy level; C.4.3 Checklist for specific stakeholders; Part I: Background and Concept of VLS-PV; 1. World energy issues; 1.1 Long-term trend in world primary energy supply and demand; 1.2 Potential of renewables; 1.3 Trends in the PV market; 1.3.1 PV module production and PV system introduction in the world; 1.3.2 Perspectives of the PV market; References; 2. Environmental issues2.1 Global environmental issues; 2.1.1 Observed change in the global climate system; 2.1.2 Projections of the future climate; 2.1.3 Projected influences by climate warming; 2.1.4 Recent progress for mitigating the projected future climate; 2.2 Regional and local environmental issues; 2.2.1 Acid rain; 2.2.2 Desertification and land degradation; 2.2.3 Biodiversity and natural systems; 2.3 Expected impacts and approaches for VLS-PV; References; 3. An overview of photovoltaic technology; 3.1 Basic characteristics of photovoltaic technology; 3.2 Trends in government budget relating to PV programmes in three regions3.3 Trends in solar-cell technology; 3.3.1 Crystalline silicon solar cells; 3.3.2 Thin-film solar cells; 3.3.3 Technologies in perspective; 3.4 Trends in PV system technology; 3.4.1 Technologies in perspective; 3.4.2 Estimation of electricity production from PV systems; 3.5 Trends in power transmission technology; 3.5.1 A.C. power transmission; 3.5.2 D.C. power transmission; 3.6 Experiences in operation and maintenance of large-scale PV systems; 3.6.1 Operation and maintenance cost information; 3.6.2 Long-term performance
• Sommario/riassunto: The world's deserts are sufficiently large that, in theory, covering a fraction of their landmass with PV systems could generate many times the current primary global energy supply. This Energy from the Desert volume examines and evaluates the potential of very large scale photovoltaic power generation (VLS-PV) systems. Following from the success of the first book on the subject, the authors present practical case studies of both virtual and real projects based on selected regions (including the Mediterranean, the Middle East, the Gobi Desert and Western Australia) and their