ABSTRACT
Photovoltaics (PV) is the direct conversion of sunlight to electricity. This entry contains a brief review of the history of PV; a survey of solar resource determination options; a summary of first-, second- and third-generation PV devices and concentrating PV devices; overviews of the power electronics (charge controllers and inverters) and batteries associated with PV systems; a discussion of PV systems and their design; and a brief examination of PV applications, with comments on future prospects.
