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? This book reviews the basic technological options and global implementation, so as to convey the sense of excitement that abounds in this new area of technological development, but it also looks at the problems, including technological, policy issues, local environmental impacts and the need to deal with the variability of some renewable energy sources.

1.1 Why renewable energy?
1.2. Which sources are emerging?
1.3. What are the problems?
1.4 The structure of this book

2. Power
2.1 Hydro
2.2 Wind power
2.3 Wave power
2.4 Tidal power
2.5 Power in perspective

3. Heat
3.1 Bioenergy
3.2 Solar heat
3.3 Geothermal heat and power
3.4 Heat pumps and CHP

4. Light
4.1 PV solar
4.2 Beyond PV–PE, thermo-electric and photochemical systems
4.3 One world under the sun: a global grid?

5. Integration
5.1 Dealing with variability
5.2 Grid balancing – beyond electricity
5.3 Energy storage
5.4 A balanced future
5.6 Energy conservation and energy efficiency
5.7 A sustainable energy future: costs and policy choices

6. Policy
6.1 Europe
6.2 Asia and the Pacific Area
6.3 The Americas
6.4 Africa
6.5 What next: the issues of cost and scale
6.6 Conclusions

7. Afterword

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 not only reviewing the basic technological options and how renewable technologies are being implemented and used around the world, but 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 textbook – 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.