In the past decade, there has been a substantial increase of grid-feeding photovoltaic applications, thus raising the importance of solar electricity in the energy mix. This trend is expected to continue and may even increase. Apart from the high initial investment cost, the fluctuating nature of the solar resource raises particular insertion problems in electrical networks. Proper grid managing demands short- and long-time forecasting of solar power plant output.

"Weather modeling and forecasting of PV systems operation" is focused on this issue. Models for predicting the state of the sky, nowcasting solar irradiance and forecasting solar irradiation are studied and exemplified. Statistical as well as artificial intelligence methods are described. The efficiency of photovoltaic converters is assessed for any weather conditions.

"Weather modeling and forecasting of PV systems operation" is written for researchers, engineers, physicists and students interested in PV systems design and utilization.

The world of nanotechnology has opened a vast array of novel frontiers in materials science, by the exploitation of the properties and phenomena at the nanometer scale. After transistors, also other devices will enter the nanoscale era. Technologies based on semi-conducting and/or organic materials have moved from a few empirical examples to a booming science-based activity. Physics at nanoscale becomes the science used for new device improvements. Solar cells are no exception to that. This book on nanophysics of photovoltaic cells thus comes at the right moment. Such a book will support research efforts in numerous laboratories where the solar cells of tomorrow are designed. The reader will be happy to find chapters on various topics, such as thermodynamics, photonics and electronics of dye-sensitised, electrochemical, nanostructured, polymer and organic materials. Light concentration, photoluminescence, intermediate-band absorption, photon conversion, and quantum confinement are discussed. The present book will surely be of great value for all scientists and engineers involved in the development of future solar cells.