Renewables : a review of sustainable energy supply options / David Elliot.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Elliott, David, 1943- author.

Contributor:

Institute of Physics (Great Britain), publisher.

Series:

IOP expanding physics

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Renewable energy sources.

Power resources.

Energy supply.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (various pagings)

Other Title:

Review of sustainable energy supply options.

Place of Publication:

Bristol [England] : IOP Publishing, [2013]

System Details:

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

text file

Biography/History:

David Elliott worked initially with the UK Atomic Energy Authority at Harwell and the Central Electricity Generating Board, before moving to The Open University, where he is now an Emeritus Professor. While at The Open University, he was the co-director of the Energy and Environment Research Unit and Professor of Technology Policy in the Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology. During his time at The Open University he created several courses in design and innovation, with special emphasis on how the innovation development process can be directed towards sustainable technologies. Prof. Elliott has published numerous books, reports and papers, especially in the area of development of sustainable and renewable energy technologies and systems. Still very active in research and policy, David Elliott also writes the popular blog http://environmentalresearchweb.org.

Summary:

Renewable energy is a fast expanding field, welcomed by many as part of the answer to climate change and energy security concerns, but can renewables deliver enough energy reliably and economically? Rapid expansion continues in the area of renewable energy, with wind capacity expected to double over the next five years and PV solar perhaps treble in the same period. There have been some dramatic projections of potential expansion longer term, with some studies now suggesting that renewables could supply all or nearly all electricity needs globally and perhaps also all energy needs by 2050. In this book, David Elliott conveys the sense of excitement that abounds in this new area of technological development by not only reviewing the basic technological options and how renewable technologies are being implemented and used around the world, but he also considers the problems, including local environmental impacts and the need to deal with the variability of some renewable energy sources. Dividing the renewable energy supply options into those based on mechanical power, heat and light, it also looks at some related energy conversion options, including fuel cells, heat pumps and cogeneration/combined heat and power. The author explores how these new sources can be integrated and used together with technologies for reducing energy waste and demand to replace conventional energy sources and ensure a balance of supply and demand. After reviewing the renewable energy options, the book then considers implementation and policy issues, including storage and grid balancing -- aspects that will play a critical role in the creation of sustainable, clean and viable renewable energy solutions. This is not a text book -- there are plenty available -- instead the book reviews what is happening across this field at this time of great change and rapid development. Supplemented with many case studies and links to information sources, this book will be essential reading for scientists, engineers, policymakers and anybody involved with or interested in the implementation of green and renewable energy technologies, and the environmental aspects of modern energy demands.

Contents:

Acknowledgments and dedications

Author biography

Introduction

Why renewables?

Which sources are emerging?

What are the problems?

The structure of this book

Power

Hydro

Wind power

Wave power

Tidal power

Power in perspective

Heat

Bioenergy

Solar heat

Geothermal heat and power

Heat pumps and CHP

Light

PV solar

Beyond PV-PE, thermoelectric and photochemical systems

One world under the Sun : a global grid?

Integration

Dealing with variability

Grid balancing : beyond electricity

Energy storage

A balanced future

Energy conservation and energy efficiency

A sustainable energy future : costs and policy choices

Policy

Prospects and problems

Europe

Asia and the Pacific area

The Americas

Africa

What next : the issues of cost and scale

Conclusions

Afterword.

Notes:

"Version: 20130910"--Title page verso.

Includes bibliographical references.

Title from PDF title page (viewed on March 5, 2014).

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9780750310406

OCLC:

871004533

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.