This is a series of five fully annotated Power Point presentations created for the solar energy community to assist in the dissemination of information about solar photovoltaic (PV) cells in 2006. They have been updated by students in MECH820, a graduate engineering course in photovoltaic materials, devices, and systems in 2010. In order to make these presentations more accessible the updates have been transformed to odp, an Open Office format. You can download Open Office for free here.
- The first presentation "Solar Photovoltaic Physics" Solar1 (ppt), which is the most technical, covers the science behind PV. Solar1.pdf, odp
- The second presentation "Engineering Photovoltaic Systems I" Solar2 (ppt) is about the basic engineering of photovoltaic systems. Update: Solar2-2010.pdf, odp
- The third presentation "Engineering Photovoltaic Systems II" Solar3 (ppt) is meant to underscore the flexibility of solar photovoltaic modules to provide clean renewable energy for a number of applications. Update: Solar3-2010.pdf, odp
- The fourth presentation "Economics of Photovoltaic Systems" Solar4 (ppt) discusses the economic impacts of solar photovoltaic cells – from the cost to install a system to their effects on energy related employment and the national economy. Update: Solar4-2010.pdf, odp Please note that due to the rapid decline in PV costs - this slideshow is out of date and will need to be updated -- current module costs are <$1/W --Joshua 07:15, 26 March 2012 (PDT)
- The fifth presentation "Environmental and Social Impact of Solar Photovoltaics", Solar5 (ppt) covers the environmental impacts of solar photovoltaic cells and compares them to some of the impacts from conventional fossil-fuel derived energy. Update: File:Solar5-2010.ppt, Solar5-2010.pdf, odp
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Educators
Please feel free to use all or parts of this presentation for your own classes. College and University professors can use the presentations as they stand or expand on the introductory material covered here. Those teaching high school or grade school can borrow the slides that fit your curriculum and remove those that are too advanced for your students. Please share any corrections, modifications or additions that you make with the solar community as well.--Joshua M. Pearce 08:07, 7 November 2007 (PST)