Introduction to Renewable Energy

by Vaughn Nelson

As the world population grows and places more demand on limited fossil fuels, renewable energy becomes more relevant as part of the solution to the impending energy dilemma. Renewable energy is now included in national policies, with goals for it to be a significant percentage of generated energy within the coming decades. A comprehensive overview, Introduction to Renewable Energy explores how we can use the sun, wind, biomass, geothermal resources, and water to generate more sustainable energy. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, the book integrates economic, social, environmental, policy, and engineering issues related to renewable energy. It explains the fundamentals of energy, including the transfer of energy, as well as the limitations of natural resources. Starting with solar power, the text illustrates how energy from the sun is transferred and stored; used for heating, cooling, and lighting; collected and concentrated; and converted into electricity. A chapter describes residential power usage―including underground and off-grid homes―and houses that are designed to use energy more efficiently or to be completely self-sufficient. Other chapters cover wind power; bioenergy, including biofuel; and geothermal heat pumps; as well as hydro, tidal, and ocean energy. Describing storage as a billion-dollar idea, the book discusses the challenges of storing energy and gives an overview of technologies from flywheels to batteries. It also examines institutional issues such as environmental regulations, incentives, infrastructure, and social costs and benefits. Emphasizing the concept of life-cycle cost, the book analyzes the costs associated with different sources of energy. With recommendations for further reading, formulas, case studies, and extensive use of figures and diagrams, this textbook is suitable for undergraduates in Renewable Energy courses as well as for non-specialists seeking an introduction to renewable energy. Pedagogical

408 pages, Hardcover

First published April 25, 2011

Reviews

[Arjen Koomen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read condensed guide on renewable energy. The author provides technical formulas to further explain the opportunities and difficulties of renewable energy, further illustrated by examples of projects, and its function and visual representation in photo’s. This guide provides an insight on most forms of renewable energy. Bear in mind that this was written in 2011, when certain techniques were still in its early stage. The only loss of this guide is the non-inclusion of nucleair energy despite its brief appearance in this guide. What further makes this guide interesting was its positive outlook on hydrogen and bioenergy, but also its prediction of high oil prices and the use of emission rights trading in the 2020s.