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.
Preface
Chapter 1 : Introduction
Chapter 2 : Energy
Chapter 3 : Sun
Chapter 4 : Heat Transfer and Storage
Chapter 5 : Solar Heating and Cooling
Chapter 6 : Photovoltaics
Chapter 7 : Concentrating Solar Power
Chapter 8 : Solar Systems
Chapter 9 : Wind Energy
Chapter 10 : Bioenergy
Chapter 11 : Geothermal Energy
Chapter 12 : Water
Chapter 13 : Storage
Chapter 14 : Institutional Issues
Chapter 15 : Economics
Appendix A1 : Mathematics
Appendix A2 : Conversion
Appendix A3 : Resistance to Flow of Heat
Index
