This book is the first volume of a new ser ies on solar energy researeh and developnent whieh is earried out in the European Communi ty. The Commission of the European Cammunity's Directorate General (XII) for Researeh, Scienee and Edueation is eurrently implementing, on a eost-sharing hasis, a solar energy R+D programme through eontraets wi th European industry, researeh institutions and universities. This programme eovers the following sectors : Project A Solar Energy Applieations to Dwellings project B Thermo-mech. Solar Power Plants project C Photovoltaie Power Generation project D Photochemieal, Photoelectrochemical and Photobiological Processes project E Energy fram Biamass project F Solar Radiation Data project G Wind Energy project H Solar Energy in Agricul ture and Industry In the course of the programme the Commission organises each year several coordination meetings to which the contractors within each sector are invited to present details of their work.
As the information presented at these meetings is recent and of high interest for other researchers working in these particular sectors, the Commission has decided to start this new ser ies of publieations in cooperation with D. Reidel Publishing Campany in order that this new infor- mation ean be quickly and widely circulated for the benefit of advancement and progress in the whole field of solar energy.