Product Description

The second edition of this standard text reflects the experience gained as a result of the rapid developments in renewable energy technologies, and will be of use to both students and professionals.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #165582 in Books
• Published on: 2005-11-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 624 pages

From the Back Cover

The first edition of this text has been reprinted 5 times, each with updating amendments. The second edition maintains the same fundamental basis, whilst including experience gained from the rapid growth of renewable energy technologies as vital national resources. In addition to the extensive science and engineering, the environmental benefits and impacts of each technology (solar, photovoltaic, wind, hydro, biofuels, wave, tidal, ocean, geothermal etc) are now considered separately. There is an additional chapter on institutional factors, including economics. Extra worked problems and case studies are included.
Renewable Energy Resources is a numerate and quantitative text covering subjects of proven technical and economic importance worldwide. Energy supply from renewables is an essential component of every nation's strategy, especially when there is responsibility for the environment and for sustainability. In the relatively few years between the first and this second edition, renewable energy has come of age; it makes good sense, good government and good business.
This book considers the timeless principles of renewable energy technologies, yet seeks to demonstrate modern application and case studies. In this second edition, we have improved the presentation of the fundamentals throughout and have added a chapter on economics and institutional factors. Likewise we have added sections on environmental impact to each technology chapter. The book maintains the same general format, but many small improvements and updates have been made.
Renewable Energy Resources supports multi-disciplinary masters degrees in science and engineering, and also specialist modulesin science and engineering first degrees. Moreover, since many practicing scientists and engineers will not have had a general training in renewable energy, the book has wider use beyond colleges and universities. Each chapter begins with fundamental theory from a physical science perspective, then considers applied examples and developments, and finally concludes with a set of problems and solutions. The whole book is structured to share common material and to relate aspects together. After each chapter, reading and web-based material is indicated for further study. Therefore the book is intended both for basic study and for application. Throughout the book and in the appendices, we include essential and useful reference material.

Customer Reviews

Very complete book on renewables
Excellent book that gave me exactly what I was looking for: a good overview of the different renewable energy ressources but also a detailed development of the basic engineering priciples.

The vocabulary used is fairly simple and the book is reasonably understandable. Most equations are described into detail and are not too difficult to follow. Each chapter finishes with a detailled bibliography for those who want some more "in depth" reading.

The only point that, I think, could be improved, is the chapter on photolvoltaic cell. It is heavy to read (but the author gives a warning at the beguining) and not always well described.

very good
ordered this for my renewable technologies course and its been really invaluable. Obviously its a little bit older so slightly out of date but still good for the basics

Very comprehensive, but difficult read
It's been a while since I read this book, so I can't remember my first impressions, except it was a pretty difficult read. It's quite in-depth. It has a lot of physics and chemistry in it. It is pretty comprehensive, covering small-scale renewable energy topics such as solar thermal for heating homes, as well as larger scale technologies for power such as hydro. It also provides scientific background on thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and even photosynthesis. The diagrams and illustrations are good. My biggest complaint were that the questions in the back of each chapter were way too hard. Even my lecturer said he couldn't do them.