Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/solar-cells
In the quest for sustainable energy solutions, solar power stands out as a beacon of hope. The ‘Introduction to Solar Cells’ course on Coursera offers a comprehensive and accessible journey into the heart of this transformative technology. Whether you’re a curious individual seeking to understand green energy or aspiring to build a career in the solar industry, this course is an exceptional starting point.
The course begins with a foundational look at the history of solar cells, tracing their development and introducing early efficiency calculations. It then convincingly argues for the importance of solar energy, highlighting its role in a sustainable future. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to demystifying how solar cells actually produce power. You’ll learn about the terminology, understand light sources, and even get hands-on experience measuring a solar cell’s performance.
Delving deeper, the syllabus covers the modeling of solar cells using equivalent circuits, explaining key concepts like short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage. The theoretical underpinnings of how solar cells work are explained without overwhelming mathematical detail, focusing on core principles. The course also tackles the crucial aspect of efficiency, exploring the theoretical limits and practical loss mechanisms.
A substantial part of the course is devoted to different solar cell technologies. It provides an in-depth look at silicon solar cells, explaining their prevalence and manufacturing processes, including the distinctions between multi- and monocrystalline silicon. Following this, the course explores thin-film solar cells as a potential solution to energy payback time challenges, and then introduces polymer solar cells, highlighting their advantages like cost-effectiveness, speed of production, non-toxicity, and minimal energy payback time.
Finally, the course concludes with a comparative overview of various solar cell technologies, allowing learners to appreciate the diverse landscape of solar energy solutions. ‘Introduction to Solar Cells’ is a well-structured, informative, and engaging course that successfully equips learners with a solid understanding of this vital renewable energy source.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/solar-cells