This book highlights some of the significant issues associated with large-scale photovoltaic solar power generation technology from the perspective of design, construction, deployment, and fault detection monitoring, as well as life safety hazards. In addition to a systematic review and analysis, this book includes fundamental engineering design and construction solutions, and a review of technological advancements aimed at overcoming decades of challenges, which have prevented large-scale solar power generation from becoming a dependable and significant source of energy production for present and future generations.

Solar power generation has great potential. However, at present, the technology has serious shortcomings affecting the reliability of systems operations, fault detection, automated production, and control, which all currently affect its economic viability.

In addition to coverage of engineering design, the book covers bidding and system procurement, contract awards, installation, integration tests, commissioning, power production, monitoring, fault detection, maintenance, and numerous hidden issues that can reduce earnings on investment.

This book provides step-by-step descriptions of the complex issues associated with large-scale solar power deployment. The technological challenges and solutions covered in this book are based on the author's two decades of engineering design experience with numerous large-scale solar power systems in the United States and around the world. The principal objective of this book is to provide a roadmap for successful implementation of large-scale solar power generation.

How This Book Differs from Previous Books

In a previous book entitled Large-Scale Solar Power System Design (McGraw-Hill 2010) I presented step-by-step guidelines for the design and installation of large-scale solar power plant systems. In a subsequent book, Large-Scale Solar Power Systems Construction and Economics (Cambridge University Press 2013), I went into detail on the construction, financing, and econometric aspects of building and operating large-scale solar power systems. In this new work, I cover some of the most significant issues that concern solar power generation, including power output, energy monitoring, energy output enhancement, and fault detection, as well as fire and life safety hazard mitigation. To date, these major concerns have not been addressed in print, which makes this publication timely and valuable for students and professionals.

This new book also includes a special chapter on the sometimes confusing legal language commonly used in large-scale solar power contracts. These samples of legal terminology give the reader insight into the complexities of third-party solar power financing.