Solar energy
Introduction
Coming soon
Direct solar power
Using solar panels conventionally involves storing surplus energy in batteries. However, batteries may end up costing more than all the other components of the system combined. Batteries also require fossil energy to be produced. The footprint of their production may end up being disproportionately larger than that of any other components.
Using Direct solar power can lead to a dramatic decrease in the cost and the fossil fuel usage footprint of the entire system.
Link dump
To be expanded out into an article.
DIY Solar Projects
Huge collection of DIY solar energy projects in a free book, from entry level and home scale to large and ambitious. Water heaters, to solar kilns, charging stations and a lot more.
Solar Energy
Free book, quite technical as to the fundamentals of solar power.
Handbook for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
Practical, free and concise book with great overview of various strategies and technologies.
Handbook for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
Libre Solar Project
(Copied from main Linkdump page)
Flexible MPPT/PWM solar charge controllers and battery management systems (BMS) for Li-ion batteries, together with an Open Educational Resource (OER) explaining how to develop, produce and use components in DC energy systems.
Gemeinschaftlicher Solar-Selbstbau in Deutschland
(Community solar construction in Germany) - booklet on how to build solar systems. Some legal issues covered which may not be relevant, but there's a lot of information on roof mounts etc.
https://selbstbau.solar/handbuch/
Books
Non-free books listed here.
- DIY Solar Power, Micah Toll
- Off-Grid Solar Power Simplified, Nick Seghers
- Mobile Solar Power Made Easy, Will Prowse
- DIY Lithium Batteries, Micah Toll
- Solar & 12 Volt Power for Beginners, George Eccleston
- To Catch the Sun, Johsua Pearce, Lonny Grafman
- Off-Grid Electrical Systems in Developing Countries, Henry Louie