**Preface to "Solar Power System Planning & Design: Resource Assessment, Site Evaluation, System Design, Production Forecasting and Feasibility Studies"**

With growing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, the security of conventional energy supplies, and the environmental safety of conventional energy production techniques, renewable energy systems are becoming increasingly important and are receiving much political attention. Photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) systems for the conversion of solar energy into electricity are, in particular, technologically robust, scalable, and geographically dispersed, and they possess enormous potential as sustainable energy sources. Despite the advances in PV and CSP systems, inappropriate planning and design could impede the extensive penetration of solar energy. Systematic planning and design, considering various factors and constraints, are necessary for the successful deployment of PV and CSP systems.

This book on solar power system planning and design includes 14 publications from esteemed research groups worldwide. The research and review papers in this Special Issue fall within the following broad categories: resource assessments, site evaluations, system design, performance assessments, and feasibility studies.

> **Yosoon Choi** *Editor*
