Stimulated by recent technological developments and increasing concern over the sustainability and environmental impact of conventional fuel usage, the prospect of producing clean, sustainable power in substantial quantities from renewable energy sources arouses interest around the world. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the principal types of renewable energy--including solar, thermal, photovoltaics, bioenergy, hydro, tidal, wind, wave, and geothermal. In addition, it explains the underlying physical and technological principles of renewable energy and examines the environmental impact and prospects of different energy sources. With more than 350 detailed illustrations, more than 50 tables of data, and a wide range of case studies, Renewable Energy, 2/e is an ideal choice for undergraduate courses in energy, sustainable development, and environmental science. New to the Second Edition BLFull-color design BLUpdated to reflect developments in technology, policy, attitides BLComplemented by Energy Systems and Sustainability edited by Godfrey Boyle, Bob Everett and Janet Ramage, all of the Open University, U.K.

1. Introducing renewable energy. Introduction -- Present-day energy use -- Fossil fuels and climate change -- Renewable energy sources -- Renewable energy in a sustainable future -- 2. Solar thermal energy. Introduction -- The rooftop solar water heater -- The nature and availability of solar radiation -- the magic of glass -- Low-temperature solar energy applications -- Active solar heating -- Passive solar heating -- Daylighting -- Solar thermal engines and electricity generation -- Economics, potential and environmental impact -- 3. Solar photovoltaics. Introduction -- Introducing photovoltaics -- PV in silicon : basic principles -- Crystalline PV : reducing costs and raising efficiency-- Thin film PV -- Other innovative PV technologies -- Electrical characteristics of silicon PV cells and modules -- PV systems for remote power -- Grid-connected PV systems -- Costs of energy from PV -- Environmental impact and safety -- PV integration, resources and future prospects -- 4. Bioenergy. Introduction -- Bioenergy past and present -- Biomass as a fuel -- Bioenergy sources I : Energy crops -- Bioenergy sources II : Wastes -- Combustion of solid biomass -- Production of gaseous fuels from biomass -- Production of liquid fuels from biomass -- Environmental benefits and impacts -- Economics -- Future prospects -- 5. Hydroelectricity. Introduction -- The Galloway hydros -- Hydro : the resource -- Stored energy and available power -- A brief history of water-power -- Types of hydroelectric plant -- The Francis turbine -- 'Propellers' -- Impulse turbines -- Ranges of application -- Small-scale hydroelectricity -- Environmental considerations -- Integration -- Economics -- Future prospects -- 6. Tidal power. Introduction -- Technical factors -- Environmental factors -- Integration -- Economic factors -- Tidal energy potential -- Tidal streams -- Tidal current turbines : the next stage -- Tidal current assessment -- 7. Wind energy. Introduction -- The wind -- Wind turbines -- Aerodynamics of wind turbines -- Power and energy from wind turbines -- Environmental impact -- Economics -- Commercial development and wind energy potential --Offshore wind energy -- 8. Wave energy. Introduction -- Introductory case studies -- Physical principles of wave energy -- Wave energy resources -- Wave energy technology -- Economics -- Environmental impact -- Integration -- Future prospects -- 9. Geothermal energy. Geothermal energy-- an overview -- The physics of geothermal resources -- Technologies for geothermal resource exploitation -- Environmental implications -- Economics and world potential in the United Kingdom -- 10. Integration. Introduction -- The existing UK energy system -- How much renewable energy is available? Are renewable-energy supplies available where we want them? -- Are renewable-energy supplies available when we want them? -- Some system solutions -- Balancing economic options -- Promoting renewables -- Energy scenarios : Danish examples -- Global scenarios -- Conclusions.