The provision of sustainable energy supplies for an expanding & increasingly productive world is one of the major issues facing civilisation today. Renewable Energy examines both the practical & economic potential of the renewable energy sources to meet this challenge. The underlying physical & technological principles behind deriving power from direct solar (solar thermal & photovoltaics) indirect solar (biomass hydro wind & wave) & non-solar (tidal & geothermal) energy sources are explained within the context of their environmental impacts their economics & their future prospects. Together with its companion volume Energy Systems & Sustainability this book provides both perspective & detail on the relative merits & state of progress of technologies for utilizing the various 'renewables'. The analysis considers emissions sustainability cost implications & energy security as political & economic pressures move society towards a low-carbon future. From an overview of basic energy conversion processes through a discussion of the individual renewable sources to a concluding examination of the prospects for their integration into national & international networks this book provides a valuable insight into prospects for the renewables. Online Resource Centre The Online Resource Centre to accompany Renewable Energy
Features: For students: * Self-assessment questions. * Links to further information & up-to-date energy statistics. For registered adopters of the book: * Figures from the book in electronic format.