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Renewable Energy

Physics, Engineering, Environmental Impacts, Economics and Planning

This volume is a true shelf reference, providing a thorough overview of the entire renewable energy sphere, while still functioning as a go-to information source for pr… Read more

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Description

This volume is a true shelf reference, providing a thorough overview of the entire renewable energy sphere, while still functioning as a go-to information source for professionals and students when they need answers about a specific technical issue. Crafted over the last 15 years into a problem-solving tool for engineers, researchers, consultants and planners currently working in the field, as well as a detailed map of the renewables universe for those looking to expand into new technological specialties, Renewable Energy by Sorensen offers the most comprehensive coverage of the subject available.

The book has been structured around three parts in order to assist readers in focusing on the issues that impact them the most for a given project or question. PART I covers the basic scientific principles behind all major renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind and biomass. PART II provides in-depth information about how these raw renewable sources can actually be converted into useful forms, transmitted into the grid and stored for future utilization. Finally, PART III undertakes the aspects of energy planning, environmental impacts and socio-economic issues on regional and global levels.

In this fourth edition update, new material includes expanded coverage of biofuels, solar conversion, biomass and fuel cells, storage and transmission, and a new chapter on integrated technologies to introduce the hybrid systems now being explored. New surveys and the most recent research findings are included throughout.

Key features

  • New, thoroughly updated fourth edition of the authoritative field guide to the entire Renewable Energy universe
  • The only books to scientific principles and implementation methods, technologies and socio-economics, environmental impacts and cutting-edge advances, all in one volume
  • New material includes expanded coverage of biofuels, solar conversion, biomass and fuel cells, storage and transmission, and a new chapter on integrated systems

Readership

Research scientists, engineers, project managers, consultants and graduate students involved in Renewable Energy development and implementation

Table of contents

Chapter 1. Perspectives1.1 Current marketplace penetration 1.2 Brief history of energy use 1.3 Determinants for the future development in energy use 1.4 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsPART I: Energy ResourcesChapter 2. Status, prospects and sustainability issues 2.1 Non-renewable energy resources 2.2 Renewable energy resource introductionChapter 3. The origin of renewable energy flows 3.1 Solar radiation3.2 Disposition of radiation at the Earth3.3 Processes near the surface of the Earth3.4 Non-radiative energy flows3.5 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsChapter 4. Modelling renewable energy flows 4.1 Circulation modelling4.2 Climate: definition and modelling 4.3 Climate: interference and change 4.4 Summary of energy and related matter cycles4.5 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsChapter 5. Individual renewable energy resources5.1 Direct solar energy 5.2 Wind flows 5.3 Water flows and reservoirs, waves and tides5.4 Heat flows and reservoirs5.5 Biological conversion and stores 5.6 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsPART II: Technologies for converting and handling renewable energyChapter 6. General principles6.1 Principles of energy conversion6.2 Thermodynamical engine cycles6.3 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsChapter 7. Heat energy conversion processes7.1 Direct thermoelectric conversion7.2. Engine conversion of solar energy7.3 Heat pumps7.4 Geothermal energy conversion 7.5 Ocean-thermal conversion 7.6 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsChapter 8. Mechanical energy conversion processes8.1 Basic description of flow-driven converters8.2 Propeller-type converters 8.3. Cross-wind and other alternative converter concepts8.4 Hydro and tidal energy conversion8.5 Magneto hydrodynamic converters8.6 Wave energy converters 8.7 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsChapter 9. Solar radiation conversion processes9.1 Photovoltaic conversion9.2 Photo-electrochemical conversion 9.3 Solar thermal conversion9.4 Solar thermal electricity generators9.5 Solar cooling and other applications9.6 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsChapter 10. Electrochemical energy conversion processes10.1 Fuel cell principles10.2 Specific types of fuel cells 10.3 Other electrochemical energy conversion10.4 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsChapter 11. Bioenergy conversion processes11.1 Combustion11.2 Biological conversion into gaseous fuels11.3 Biological conversion into liquid fuels 11.4 Thermochemical conversion to gaseous and other fuels 11.5 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsChapter 12. Energy Transmission12.1 Heat transmission12.2 Power transmission12.3 Fuel transmission12.4 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsChapter 13. Energy storage technologies13.1 Heat capacity storage13.2 Latent heat and chemical transformation storage13.3 Pumped hydro storage13.4 Flywheels13.5 Hydrogen and other compressed gas storage 13.6 Battery storage 13.7 Additional storage forms 13.8 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsPART III: Planning and socio-economic issuesChapter 14. Energy system planning14.1 The methodologies of energy planning14.2 Demand scenario construction14.3 Overall system scenarios14.4 Consistency simulation and implementation studies14.5 Local systems 14.6 Regional systems 14.7 Global systems14.8 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsChapter 15. Socio-economic assessment15.1 Social and economic framework 15.2 Scale of analysis 15.3 Life-cycle approach 15.4 Assessment issues15.5 Communication and policy dimensions15.6 Topics for discussion and for mini-projectsChapter 16. Integrated approaches 16.1 Greenhouse warming mitigation 16.2 Greenhouse warming adaptation 16.3 Ecological sustainability 16.4 Winding up ReferencesIndex

Review quotes

"This book is written for scholars and research students, going well beyond more popular texts and covering in detail the physics, engineering, environmental impacts and socioeconomics of all renewable energy sources. It includes many hundreds of references…. It is suitable as a textbook at the undergraduate and graduate level for scientists and engineers, and could also be used by economists and planners. For teachers, there are mini projects and exercises after each Part….the text is clear and the units are still SI."—AIE’s EnergyNews, December 2011, Volume 29, No. 4, page 107

"Renewable Energy, 4e by Bent Sorensen has been structured around three parts in order to assist readers in focusing on the issues that impact them the most for a given project or question. PART I covers the basic scientific principles behind all major renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind and biomass. PART II provides in-depth information about how these raw renewable sources can actually be converted into useful forms, transmitted into the grid and stored for future utilization. Finally, PART III undertakes the aspects of energy planning, environmental impacts and socio-economic issues on regional and global levels."—Renewableenergyworld.com

Product details

About the author

BS

Bent Sorensen

Bent Sørensen is professor emeritus in physics at Roskilde University, Denmark). He has held academic positions at University of California in Berkeley, Yale University, The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden (US), Kyoto University (Japan), University of Grenoble (France) and University of New South Wales (Australia) and served as advisor for the OECD, the Japanese and Australian governments, and various UN agencies, including as lead author the IPCC working group on climate change mitigation. He has published nearly 1000 scientific articles and many books, including two volumes on hydrogen and fuel cells. He served as chairman of the Danish Energy Agency’s Solar Energy and Hydrogen Energy Committees, and received prizes such as the Australian-European Award for Eminent Scholars (1982) and the European Solar Prize (2002).
Affiliations and expertise
Professor, Department of People and Technology, Roskilde University, Denmark; Independent Consultant, NOVATOR Advanced Technology Consulting, Denmark

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