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Renewable Energy Resources is a numerate and quantitative text covering the full range of renewable energy technologies and their implementation worldwide. Energy supplies from renewables (such as from biofuels, solar heat, photovoltaics, wind, hydro, wave, tidal, geothermal, and ocean-thermal) are essential components of every nation's energy strategy, not least because of concerns for the local and global environment, for energy security and for sustainability. Thus in the years between the first and this third edition, most renewable energy technologies have grown from fledgling impact to significant importance because they make good sense, good policy and good business.
This Third Edition is extensively updated in light of these developments, while maintaining the book's emphasis on fundamentals, complemented by analysis of applications. Renewable energy helps secure national resources, mitigates pollution and climate change, and provides cost effective services. These benefits are analysed and illustrated with case studies and worked examples. Renewable Energy Resources recognises the importance of cost effectiveness and efficiency of end-use. Each chapter begins with fundamental scientific theory, and then considers applications, environmental impact and socio-economic aspects before concluding with Quick Questions for self-revision and Set Problems. The book includes Reviews of basic theory underlying renewable energy technologies, such as electrical power, fluid dynamics, heat transfer and solid-state physics. Common symbols and cross-referencing apply throughout; essential data are tabulated in appendices. An associated eResource provides supplementary material on particular topics, plus a solutions guide to Set Problems.
Renewable Energy Resources supports multi-disciplinary master degrees in science and engineering, and specialist modules in first degrees. Practising scientists and engineers who have not had a comprehensive training in renewable energy will find it a useful introductory text and a reference book.
1. Principles of Renewable Energy
2. Solar Radiation and the Greenhouse Effect
3. Solar Water Heating
4. Other Solar Thermal Applications
5. Photovoltaic Power Technology - PV
6. Hydropower
7. Wind Resource
8. Wind Power Technology
9. Biomass Resources from Photosynthesis
10. Bioenergy Technologies
11. Wave Power
12. Tidal-current and Tidal-range Power
13. Ocean Gradient Energy: OTEC and Osmotic Power
14. Geothermal Energy
15. Energy Systems: Integration, Distribution and Storage
16. Using Energy Efficiently
17. Institutional and Economic Factors
Review 1: Electrical Power
Review 2: Fluid Dynamics
Review 3: Heat Transfer
Review 4: Solid State Physics for Photovoltaics
Review 5: Units and Conversions: Algebraic Method
Appendix A: Units and Conversions
Appendix B: Data
Appendix C: Some Heat Transfer Formulas
Appendix D: Comparisons of Technologies
Short Answers to Selected Problems
Index
John Twidell has considerable experience in renewable energy as an academic professor in both the UK and abroad, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses and supervising research students. He has participated in the extraordinary growth of renewable energy as a research contractor, journal editor, board member of wind and solar professional associations and company director. University positions have been in Scotland, England, Sudan and Fiji. The family home operates with solar heat and electricity, biomass heat and an all-electric car; the aim is to practice what is preached.
Tony Weir has worked on energy and environment issues in the Pacific Islands and Australia for over 30 years. He has researched and taught on renewable energy and on climate change at the University of the South Pacific and elsewhere, and was a Lead Author for the 2011 IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy. He has also managed a large international program of renewable energy projects and been a policy adviser to the Australian Government, specialising in the interface between technology and policy.
"Renewable energy requires an active approach, based on facts and data. Twidell and Weir, drawing on decades of experience, demonstrate this, making clear connections between basic theoretical concepts in energy and the workings of real systems. It is a delight to see the field having advanced to this level, where a book like Renewable Energy Resources can focus on the very real experiences of the energy systems of the coming decades."
– Professor Daniel Kammen, Director, Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, USA
"Solar and wind power are now proven, reliable, ever-cheaper sources of electricity that can play a major role in powering the world. Along with other long-established renewables such as hydropower, and complemented by improved energy efficiency and appropriate institutional support, they can be key to sustainable development. This book can play a vital role in educating the people who are needed to make it happen."
– Professor Martin Green, Director, Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics, University of New South Wales, Australia
"The solar revolution that's been talked about for so long is with us here and now. This new edition of Renewable Energy Resources, like earlier editions, will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to informing both those involved with the technology and those in policy-making. This is critical if the promise of renewable energy is to be delivered as expeditiously and cost-effectively as is now needed."
– Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director, Forum for the Future
"I welcome this excellent third edition of Twidell and Weir with its comprehensive yet accessible coverage of all forms of renewable energy. The technologies and the physics behind them are explained with just the right amount of math, and they include a realistic summary of the economic and societal implications."
– Emeritus Professor William Moomaw, Tufts University, USA and Coordinating Lead Author, IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy
"I highly recommend this book for its thorough introduction to all the important aspects of the topic of Renewable Energy Resources. The book is excellent in its completeness and description of the relevant different sources. Moreover it is strong in theory and applications. From a scientific and engineering point this book is a must".
– Professor Henrik Lund, Aalborg University, Denmark and Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Energy
"Over the years, I have used this excellent text for introducing Physics and Engineering students to the science and technology of renewable energy systems. The updated edition will be of immense value as sustainable energy technologies join the mainstream and there is an increasing need for human capacity at all levels. I look forward to the new edition and hope to use it extensively."
– Dr Atul Raturi, University of the South Pacific, Fiji
"Our school has used Renewable Energy Resources since 2005, as it was one of the few texts that covered the field with a good balance between background theory and practical applications of RE systems. The new updated edition looks great and I am looking forward to using it in my classes."
– Dr Alistair Sproul, University of New South Wales, Australia
"I have used the extremely valuable second edition of this book for our postgraduate courses on energy conversion technologies. My students and I welcome this new edition, as it has been very well updated and extended with study aids, case studies and photos which even further improve its readability as a textbook."
– Dr Wilfried van Sark, Utrecht University, Netherlands
