Introduction to renewable energy / Vaughn Nelson, Kenneth Starcher.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction Energy and Society Types of Energy Renewable Energy Advantages/Disadvantages Economics Climate Change Order of Magnitude Estimates Growth (Exponential) Solutions References Recommended Resources Energy Introduction Definition of Energy and Power Heat Thermodynamics Energy Dilemma in Light of the Laws of Thermodynamics Use of Fossil Fuels Nuclear Finite Resource Summary References Recommended Resources Sun Solar Power Electromagnetic Spectrum Energy Balance of the Earth Earth-Sun Motion Earth Motion Insolation Solar Resource Greenhouse Effect References Recommended Resources Heat Transfer and Storage Introduction Conduction Convection Radiation Thermal Mass Seasonal Heating or Cooling Thermal Comfort References Recommended Resources Solar Heating and Cooling Building Passive Windows and Glazing Passive Heating and Cooling Active Heating Active Cooling Daylighting Hybrid and Other Drying Agricultural Products, Lumber Solar Cookers Water Purification References Recommended Resources Photovoltaics Introduction Physics Basics Energy Bands Photovoltaic Basics Performance Design Considerations Installed Capacity and Production Distributed Systems Community Solar Applications Comments References Recommended Resources Concentrating Solar Power Introduction Power Tower Line or Linear Dish/Engine Point Focus Solar Pond Comments References Recommended Resources Solar Systems Introduction Passive Systems Hybrid Systems Active Systems Underground Homes Computer Software Others References Recommended Resources Wind Energy Introduction Wind Resource Wind Turbines Wind Farms Wind Industry Small Wind Turbines Distributed-Community Wind Village Power Wind Diesel Others Performance Comments References Recommended Resources Bioenergy Introduction Climate Change Biomass Production Conversion Heat and Power Biofuels Comments References Recommended Resources Geothermal Energy Introduction Resource Types of Geothermal Resources Direct Use Geothermal Heat Pumps Electricity Comments References Recommended Resources Water Introduction World Resource Hydroelectric Turbines Impulse Turbines Reaction Turbines Water Flow Tides Ocean Others References Recommended Resources Storage Introduction Pumped Hydro Case Study Compressed Air Flywheels Batteries Other Storage Systems Hydrogen References Recommended Resources Institutional Issues Introduction The United States Regulations Environmental Issues Politics Incentives Externalities (Social Costs/Benefits) Transmission References Recommended Resources Economics Introduction Factors Affecting Economics Economic Analyses Life-Cycle Costs Present Worth and Levelized Costs Externalities Project Development Cost (Value) of Energy and Different Sources Summary Future Trends References Recommended Resources Observations Solid-State Electronics Internet Geographic Information Systems Satellites Examples Interactive Maps Interactive Database Tools Others Predictions Science Authors' Predictions On the Downside References Recommended Resources