Book excerpt: The handbook, for convenient use, is divided into eight main units: (1) The Solar Resource; (2) Solar Thermal Collectors; (3) Photovoltaics; (4) Bioconversion; (5) Wind Energy; (6) Solar Energy Storage Systems; (7) Applications of Solar Energy; (8) Non-technical Issues. In addition there are three Appendixes containing unit-conversion tables and useful solar data. It became obvious early in this project that if proper coverage were to be given each of these areas it would be necessary to divide the handbook into two volumes. The first six units constitute Part A, Engineering Fundamentals and the last two units constitute Part B, Applications, Systems Design, and Economics. These volumes have been prepared primarily as reference books, but it is felt that many of the sections will prove useful for practicing engineers, scientists and students.