Product Description

Addressing the sustainable energy crisis in an objective manner, this enlightening book analyzes the relevant numbers and organizes a plan for change on both a personal level and an international scale—for Europe, the United States, and the world. In case study format, this informative reference answers questions surrounding nuclear energy, the potential of sustainable fossil fuels, and the possibilities of sharing renewable power with foreign countries. While underlining the difficulty of minimizing consumption, the tone remains positive as it debunks misinformation and clearly explains the calculations of expenditure per person to encourage people to make individual changes that will benefit the world at large.

Customer Reviews (35)

Missed my stop twice because of it.
...because I was so engrossed.

First, I want to congratulate MacKay for being all about the numbers.He has his opinions, sure.But, in the end, what really matters with CO2 is boring old arithmetic:How much does it cost?How long will it last?How much energy can be delivered?How much energy can be saved?How much space will it take?More than anything else, he provides us with an intellectual toolkit on how to measure different approaches.Taking the basic raw numbers, such as incoming sunlight and available surface area, multiply them by an efficiency factor.Simple, elegant, powerful.

His approach also tells us where OUR own greatest energy use, as individuals, is likely coming from.Which tells us where WE can improve and where we should not bother.

Now, I don't agree with everything he says, but the observations below by no mean justify any less than 5 stars:

-Nuclear power may not be renewable, but say a 100 year supply of uranium would nicely tidy us over till we found other energy sources.So it shouldn't be dismissed that quickly.

-His numerical analysis is relentlessly English in outlook.England's geography imposes a fairly specific set of constraints that would apply differently to other countries.Which he admits - noting for example that the US could make solar energy work in its southwest deserts, as England could not.That's not so much a flaw with the book as, well, a feature.We need another edition for Canada and the US.

-I am not always fully convinced by his calculations.For example, he relates fuel consumption in cars to the cube of the speed, IIRC and backs it up with some empirical data.And also links it to the number of stop/starts in city driving.But, one of the most common recommendations we hear to save gas is to accelerate slowly which really does not appear in his calculations.Are we getting the full picture?I think a broader admission of the need for "engineering fudge factors", not just simple predictive equations, would have been welcome.

-Costs are not covered much.Seeing as there is only so much money around, the best solution may be the one which is affordable, not just the best that is theoretically possible.

Honestly, I am only mentioning these points to highlight how little there is to criticize about this book.Praising it with faint criticism if you wish.If only more of the climate change advocates were as rigorous in their analysis we would have much better much better sets of policy options to choose from.It is one thing to convince people that climate change is happening, another to convince them to take action, potentially at personal cost.If you then mess that up by prescribing insufficiently thought out, dogmatic, solutions that is really a shame.This book is a huge step towards teaching us how to analyze possible solutions critically.

Finally, one of his most important points is that we can't _always_ say NO to everything.Most renewables DO take up space and they DO change the environment.My area has had years of impact studies to birds and scenery of offshore wind turbines.Ditto run-of-river hydro objections.What it hasn't had is much new generation capacity.

exallent service!!!!!!
the book i ordered arrived in wonderful condition very quickly after i ordered it! thank you very much! wonderful doing business with you.

Cuts through all the misleading hype
Richard Feynman once asked me if energy is a conserved quantity how come we have so many different names for the same thing?All the different units, giga this, mega that, makes it hard for even an educated citizen to get his or her hands around the actual amounts of production and consumption.MacKay does a great job of solving that problem by using one understandable measure - kilowatts hours per person per day.In doing, so he highlights how significant the task of providing adequate energy is likely to become in future years and how little we have done about it to date.

Maybe the best non-fiction book I have ever read
It's such a good book. Almost every other book about renewable energy provides you with speculations. This book is about facts and numbers, but it's not boring or tiring. Reading it was not only informative, but also a great pleasure because it's extremely well written.

Approachable and Systematic Primer on Sustainable Energy
This book was amazingly well written, and frankly, it scared the hell out of me. In clear concise language the author describes many alternative energy sources without the flimsy "if everyone unplugged their cell phone chargers we could power X houses" foolishness. He used physics and graphs. To show the land costs of some of the energy projects he used *gasp* maps.

Our civilization needs to make hard decisions about our energy future. This book is an essential resource for citizens. It truly gives you the facts about energy sources without the Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt that many activists and lobbyists rely on. I know that I'm going to send a copy to all my representatives and tell them to get moving on helping the US become energy independent (a cause I didn't care that much about until reading this book).

And, finally, this is a free book. If you own a Kindle DX, go download the PDF in high definition from the author's website. The print is a little small, but it was worth saving the $30.
... Read more

Product Description
Wind energy’s bestselling textbook- fully revised.

This must-have second edition includes up-to-date data, diagrams, illustrations and thorough new material on:

• the fundamentals of wind turbine aerodynamics;
• wind turbine testing and modelling;
• wind turbine design standards;
• offshore wind energy;
• special purpose applications, such as energy storage and fuel production.

Fifty additional homework problems and a new appendix on data processing make this comprehensive edition perfect for engineering students.

This book offers a complete examination of one of the most promising sources of renewable energy and is a great introduction to this cross-disciplinary field for practising engineers.

“provides a wealth of information and is an excellent reference book for people interested in the subject of wind energy.” (IEEE Power & Energy Magazine, November/December 2003)

“deserves a place in the library of every university and college where renewable energy is taught.” (The International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, Vol.41, No.2 April 2004)

“a very comprehensive and well-organized treatment of the current status of wind power.” (Choice, Vol. 40, No. 4, December 2002)

Customer Reviews (6)

no practical examples.
This book has no practical examples. This book is really boring. It only talks about theories but there aren't any examples or application.

If you're a professor, DO NOT USE THIS BOOK. Use something else.

Simply the best-written text on wind enegy!
This book is absolutely the best book I have owned on the subject. I love the simplicity of the text, clarity of the illustrations, and above all the fact that it covered all the necessary areas on the subject. I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in expanding their knowledge on wind energy.

Fifty new homework problems and a new appendix on data processing are just a few of the updates
The second updated edition of WIND ENERGY EXPLAINED: THEORY, DESIGN AND APPLICATION includes the latest data, illustrations and all new material on wind turbines, offshore wind energy, and more. Fifty new homework problems and a new appendix on data processing are just a few of the updates and expansions for this fine edition, recommended for any college-level science and natural resources collection.

Great Wind Energy Engineering book!
This is a great book.So far, the theoretical teachings in this book have been excellent for my ME 430 class.

A nice, practical introduction to the field
I've just started this book. It's for a Wind Energy Systems course. So far, it has been a very straight-forward and practical introduction into the field of wind energy. While it is very easy to understand and very practical, it's also been quite thorough in explaining the concepts. Overall, I anticipate this to be a great book; certainly one of the "keepers" you come across every now and then. ... Read more

Product Description
A practical, application-oriented text that presents analytical results for the better modeling and control of power converters in the integration of green energy in electric power systems

The combined technology of power semiconductor switching devices, pulse width modulation algorithms, and control theories are being further developed along with the performance improvement of power semiconductors and microprocessors so that more efficient, reliable, and cheaper electric energy conversion can be achieved within the next decade. Integration of Green and Renewable Energy in Electric Power Systems covers the principles, analysis, and synthesis of closed loop control of pulse width modulated converters in power electronics systems, with special application emphasis on distributed generation systems and uninterruptible power supplies.

The authors present two versions of a documented simulation test bed for homework problems and projects based on Matlab/Simulink, designed to help readers understand the content through simulations. The first consists of a number of problems and projects for classroom teaching convenience and learning. The second is based on the most recent work in control of power converters for the research of practicing engineers and industry researchers.

• Addresses a combination of the latest developments in control technology of pulse width modulation algorithms and digital control methods

• Problems and projects have detailed mathematical modeling, control design, solution steps, and results

• Uses a significant number of tables, circuit and block diagrams, and waveform plots with well-designed, class-tested problems/solutions and projects designed for the best teaching-learning interaction

• Provides computer simulation programs as examples for ease of understanding and platforms for the projects

Covering major power-conversion applications that help professionals from a variety of industries, Integration of Green and Renewable Energy in Electric Power Systems provides practical, application-oriented system analysis and synthesis that is instructional and inspiring for practicing electrical engineers and researchers as well as undergraduate and graduate students. ... Read more

Product Description
From the first spark created by human hands thousands of years ago, mankind has grown dependent on nature’s vast stores of energy to build, explore, and experiment. Our expanding knowledge and technologies have come from the felling of forests to the harnessing of wind and water, from the burning of coal and oil to tapping the energy of the atom. Energy does more than heat our homes and fill our gas tanks; it fuels our imaginations. Our future is inextricably linked to energy, and in this groundbreaking book, Mark Eberhart examines our historic quest for power and tackles the brutal realization that there are limits to the energy Earth can provide.

In Western society, we treat energy as a given—the background noise of modern life. But as worldwide energy demand grows, supplies are, at best, holding steady—and at worst, shrinking. The implications of our dependence are enormous. And while there is evidence that great cultures of the past—the Maya, Anasazi, Easter Islanders—collapsed when their energy resources were exhausted, Eberhart argues that we have the responsibility and the ability to develop renewable energy sources now.

Eberhart leads us on a tour through the history of energy, how it was formed and how it evolved, and reveals how we became energy-dependent creatures. With an unblinking eye, he takes a close look at the consequences of our energy appetite, and, most important, imagines a secure energy future that we can all play a part in achieving.

Enlightening, bold, and practical, Feeding the Fire weaves together history, science, and current affairs to create an important and compelling thesis about humanity’s energy needs—and draws a hard line on the imperative need to avert the catastrophe that looms if we continue on our present course. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Good coverage of the first half of Energy and the Environment
It's unfortunate that this book went so quickly out of print save for a Kindle edition. Still, there are used copies available.

Anyway, this is a good book on Energy, the physics, the laws of thermodynamics, and what they mean for our lives on planet Earth. Lives that are increasingly being defined in terms of energy availability. This book gives you the tools to understand hybrid automobiles, alternative energy sources, peak oil, and energy policy. It's well written and accessible to anyone willing to deal with a modicum of math and some terms used in a technical manner. I'd seriously consider this as a partial text for an introductory non-technical Energy and the Environment.

Face the truth
I took a course about the environment. This book was a very good help to create my own point of view. Really good!!!

The Story of How Energy Was Created and How it has Been Utilized
The author begins the book with the basic physics needed to understand energy and how it operates. From there, the author moves on to the Laws of Thermodynamics and molecular energy and follows that with a history of the Big Bang and how energy was created.

Moving on, the author details how energy was harnessed and used by man for the advancement of man and follows into today's usage of energy. He finishes the book with a plan for energy independence in the United States in the future.

While the book was interesting, and contained some wonderful information, the writing was spotty. Some areas were well written and easy to follow, while others were dense and difficult to read. My greatest criticism is the amount of time spent on the Big Bang theory and molecular energy. Both could have been shortened and written so as to be more easily followed.

This is generally a good book for students and people with little understanding of how energy works. I would rate it slightly above introductory level. It certainly is not for individuals with a working knowledge of physics and energy principals. Generous with 4 stars...more like 3.5 stars is appropriate.

Enjoyable & informative history lesson
If you have an interest in - or concerns about - human energy use and, like me, you enjoy a bit of humour as you read abut weighty things, you may find this book worthwhile.

That the author is an educator (Professor at the Colorado School of Mines) becomes quickly obvious as he immediately starts working in metaphors and analogies to communicate the sometimes abstruse concepts that exist in (energy) physics(Don't worry, it's only the first part of the book). Sometimes his efforts I found helpful and other times they didn't help my understanding (though I admit to a certain level of personal obtuseness in conceptual understanding from time to time). Sometimes, the concepts are simply huge but quite fascinating; e.g his explanation of the evolution of energy from the moment of the Big Bang, the connection to entropy and the formation of the various elements over time (even if some of the details in his explanation left me bamboozled).

The book begins,as noted above, by looking at some of the physics of energy and, quite literally, what it is. He explains the first two laws of thermodynamics in a way that provides a useful foundation for the later material and, in particular, context for how we might make decisions regarding energy sourcing and consumption.

Next comes the section I found hardest to navigate: the physics theory, including many of the scientific personalities involved and their contributions. It is really interesting to read but sometimes left my brain hurting.

The author provides substantial history on the human use of energy over the millennia and explains in sufficient and informative detail the effects of the several injections of disruptive technologies into societies such as fire, agriculture, draft animals, steam engines, electricity, etc. and the transitions from one fuel type to another - e.g. wood to coal to petroleum to nuclear. This is, in my opinion, the strongest part of the book (though equal mention goes to his anecdotes of a mischievous childhood and the downsides of a curious child learning to read -- equations of very instantaneous, wildly exothermic chemical reactions, for example).

Toward the end of the book, the author provides a simplified policy road map to a future of "clean and abundant energy" for all of humanity. It is in this section that he failed, in my view, to bring the same degree of completeness to his arguments that he brought to earlier sections.

He decries "wishful thinking" energy policy-making in Washington and elsewhere:

"(page 245) In the back of our leaders' minds the belief dwells that if the inevitable can be held off long enough, science and technology will come to the rescue. In other words, they are wishing for a solution. As the cost of energy climbs ever higher, they firmly believe the innovators of the free market will ride in on white courses. They wish oil companies will find new reserves. They wish bright young scientists at the underfunded National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in golden, Colorado, will discover solar cells that are so efficient and cheap that they will eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East. They wish some clever modeler at the underfunded National Center For Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder will discover that global warming is a natural process caused by the juxtaposition of sunspots and the regular variations of earth's orbit. They wish investigators have an industrial research lab will figure out a way to Iraq bacteria that you sunlight to make hydrogen, while another group of scientists at the Ford Research Center designed revolutionary hydrogen fuel cells to power our cars."

While I agree with his criticism of wishful thinking, it seemed to me that the author subsequently did some wishful thinking of his own. He assumes carbon sequestration is a done deal with no uncertainties; he is bullish on nuclear without dealing sufficiently with the risks; he is bullish on hydrogen as a transport fuel without providing a 360 view of the issue. He is bullish on fusion and orbital power stations "that transmit clean energy to waiting cities below." He is, somewhat ambiguously, bullish on oil recovered from shale (given the location and nature of the school he is employed at this is not a surprise).

I like his view of "imagination" which he uses as a foil to "wishful thinking"; that is, we can solve the issue if we simply think more broadly and put our ingenuity to work.

What he never does - and I have yet to see an author who does - is suggest that perhaps there is an upper limit to the amount of energy that we can extract from the system that we exist within as, surely, such a limit must exist. What follows from this observation, of course, is that we must learn to live with a limited supply of energy and the author avoids this entirely as he writes strictly from the supply side. (Efficiency and energy productivity, which he does address to some extent, I do not look upon as demand management, given that energy demand continues to soar even as we get more "buck for the energy bang").

Overall it is an enjoyable, informative read with sufficient entertaining prose to prevent getting bogged down; just don't be put off by the few parts that one might be unable to wrap one's head around. It is not a comprehensive book about current energy options and I found it most informative when looking at the physics and history of energy - much less so for its policy suggestions.

A history of energy use - and depletion
In the world of books on sustianability, global warming and peak oil, this one is a bit different.Its focus is on presenting the energy lessons of the past.Mr. Eberhart (a prof. of material science and chemistry) takes the reader through the early days of the rather inefficient hunter-gathers which evolved to argicultural-based societies that harnesses the outside energy of donkeys and horses to increase efficiency... then to the use of wood and wood charcoal which further freed up time for mankind to think more creatively ... then with the discovery of coal (and kerosene) which powered cities like London and early American villages ushering in the industrial era, steam engines and steel mills ... up till the big jackpot of the most energy-dense material discovered - oil - which has been a main reason for the innovations and wealth creation of developed nations like ours.

In each era, the author interesting shows how the laws of thermodynamics apply to constain its use and how society increasingly used energy to do more of work, leaving more time to create "the next big thing."Most importantly, he reviews many a societies' demise that did not manage their energy resources - the early Mayan civilization and much of Europe (in the mid centuries) who stripped their forests bare, leading to a crisis and near great receeding of society.Of course this leads us to today with our management of oil resources.

Will we follow the path of history and ignore the inevitable?The author does proposes way out:a new way of thinking akin to the military/gov't/industrial complex that has worked closely, cooperative and towards the same long-term plan for decades.Take that model and apply it in an energy partnership between government and industry that looks at the hard facts of energy balance and thermodyamics (like the fact that the internal combustion engine is completely inefficient compared to electric engines) and sets long-term goals and performance benchmarks.Will it happen in our current climate of politics and capitalism-at-all-costs?One can only hope so and advocate for it.

To me the most valuable contribution this book makes is its giving us a solid history lesson in energy creation and use.He gives us some new foundations for forming our policies and comclusions regarding our energy future. And its one that the non-technical person can follow as well as the engineer/scientist.I found this book more interesting that I expected.It gives a valuable background to better understand the implications of peak oil based on how past soceities have handled their "peak wood" and other energy dilemmas.
... Read more

Product Description
An essential how-to on powering your home with sun, wind, water, and more.

For readers wanting to save money-and the planet-by using alternative energy, this book provides everything they need to know. The five basic sources are fully covered: sun, wind, water, earth, and bio. The benefits, what is needed, and whether it will work for a particular home are all carefully laid out in this comprehensive overview:

• Solar energy for home heating, water heating, and electricity
• Wind power, hydrogen, and micro hydro power
• Heat pumps-air, geothermal, and water source
• Heating with wood and going bio ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Helpful
A comprehensive, helpful guide.The suggestions can be incorporated into real life situations, and Belli allows the reader to feel engaged in the possibilities and promises of renewable energy.Thumbs up for this how-to book for the uninformed.After reading this book, I can now hold my own in a disussion--or at least bluff my way through a conversation.Great job.

General Review of Green Energy
Good for those interested in general background and uses for green energy.Not very useful for the do-it-your-selfer. ... Read more

Product Description
Simple and Inexpensive Renewable Energy Solutions for Your Home

It's not always easy being green, and sometimes it costs more than you'd expect to get an eco-friendly home improvement project up and running. Renewable Energies for Your Home gives you sustainable home energy solutions that won't drain your wallet or the power grid.

Get details on generating heat with biomass fuels and other ways to use biodiesel and ethanol in your home. You'll discover how to harness affordable wind power and soak up free solar energy. Filled with step-by-step instructions and helpful photos and illustrations, this hands-on guide will help you reduce your carbon footprint and increase your cash flow at the same time!

Renewable Energies for Your Home covers:

• Energy savings and environmental benefits
• Biomass fuels, including biodiesel, ethanol, used fryer oil, and wood
• Producing your own biodiesel without titration
• Assembling a biolight grill and fire starter
• Making bioburn-a firewood substitute
• Wind turbines
• Solar lighting, heating, water heating, and electric generation
• Building a solar heat collector
• Creating a wind/solar hybrid electric system

Product Description
The Solar Electricity Handbook is a practical and straightforward guide to using electric solar panels.Assuming no previous knowledge of solar panels, the book explains how solar panels work, how they can be used and explains the steps you need to take to successfully design and install a solar electric system from scratch using photovoltaic solar panels.

This is an update to the 2010 Edition of the book with even more diagrams, details and up-to-the-minute information on this exciting technology.

Accompanying this book is a solar resource website containing lots of useful information, lists of suppliers and on-line solar energy calculators that will simplify the cost analysis and design processes.

Why buy the Solar Electricity Handbook?
* The Handbook is a simple, practical guide to using electric photovoltaic panels.
* The book is suitable for enthusiastic novices and professionals.
* Clear examples, diagrams and example projects are given to demonstrate the true capabilities of these systems.
* The Handbook is updated yearly, providing a up-to-date reference for anyone planning to use electric photovoltaic technology.
* It is the most comprehensive book on solar electric systems available today.
* It is backed up by the most powerful online calculator tools available, to make your design and calculations as straightforward as possible.
* With comprehensive detail in the book for both North America and Europe, the Handbook provides you with information that is relevant to you and your project - where ever you live. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Excellent Resource
I really enjoyed this book, it was detailed enough to be useful but explained everything in clear and simple terms.

Solar electricty handbook, 2010 edition
Wanting to know elementary and perhaps more detailedelements ofsolarelectricity I ordered two books: 1.solar energy for the home by Martin O'Donnell,which I did not appreciated,and
2.Solar electricity handbook, by Michael Bowell, which I appreciatedvery very much: Plenty of facta, nice and clear explanations,usefulhints andsuggestions.I sent thisbook to theteachers of my sponsoredchild in Africa, inKanya, Meibeki, in the primaryKapkorosschool ofMoiben, where theteachershave been planning to get solar panels for light, and possibility to later for desktop computers. I think the bookshouldsuite well for getting practicalknowledge, and allso for educating themselves and thepupils about greenelectricity.
I liked the book so much that I immeadiatelyorder thesame book for myself. I gotit lastweek and it is already readonce, butit will be read several times, and be a goodthesaurus for me. Thank you so much.

Solar Electricity Handbook by Michael Boxwell
The book is comprehensive and easy to understand. It is suitable for beginners who want to learn about solar system installation and wiring concepts and basic design. People who have technical knowledge will find it very easy to understand. The book should not be called a handbook as it lacks technical and material specifications on solar panels and other necessary equipment and also limited in in-depth design calculation. It essentially provides a basic understanding and practical knowledge for people to start with.

WHY I LIKED THIS BOOK ABOVE THE OTHERS I BOUGHT
THE BOOK IS RECENT
IF YOU NEED TO LEARN ABOUT TODAY'S STUFF DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON A BOOK THAT IS NOT A CURRENT YEAR AS WELL AS A FIRST EDITION.

THIS BOOK EXPLAINS THE BASICS YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE A SYSTEM FOR YOUR OWN USE REGARDLESS OF HOW LARGE OR HOW SMALL.

READ AND OUTLINE THE BOOK AND IF YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND GO TO THE INTERNET AND FIND OUT WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE GOING FARTHER.

YOU BUY THE BOOK TO LEARN AND THIS BOOK IS THE BEST STARTING POINT I HAVE EVER SEEN.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THE WORDS "STARTING POINT" APPLY TO TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW.TOMORROW IS ANOTHER BOOK HOPEFULLY BY THE SAME GUY WHO TOOK THE CARE THAT WAS DONE IN THIS ONE.

INSTRUCTION SHEETS WRITTEN BY ENGINEERS ARE USUALLY WORTHLESS AS THEY TOO OFTEN ASSUME THAT YOU KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT THE SUBJECT AS THEY DO.
(GERMAN FACTORY MANUALS FOR MY PORSCH COST OVER $400 NO MATTER HOW YOU BUY THEM AND YOU CAN SEE THE TECH WRITERS SNEERING AT YOU)
THE BEST MANUALS WERE EDITED BY PEOPLE WHO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT ANYTHING AND GOT THE PROBLEMS FIXED.
THE WRITER OF THIS BOOK IS A THOUGHTFUL PERSON.IT WILL NEVER GET BETTER THAN THAT.

great nuts & bolts guide
This is a neat book for non electricians.It explains concepts clearly and shows you how to design & build your own system. ... Read more

Product Description
The global economy and our way of life are based on the exploitation of fossil fuels, which not only threaten massive environmental and social disruption through global warming but, at present rates of consumption, will run out within decades, causing huge industrial dislocation and economic collapse. Even before then, the conflicts it causes in the Middle East and elsewhere will be frighteningly exacerbated.

The alternate exists: renewable energy from renewable sources – above all, solar. Substituting renewable for fossil resources will take a new industrial revolution to avert the worst of the damage and establish a new international order.

It can be done, and it can be done in time. The Solar Economy, by one of the world’s most effective analysts and advocates, lays out the blueprints, showing how the political, economic and technological challenges can be met using indigenous, renewable and universally available resources, and the enormous opportunities and benefits that will flow from doing so. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Excellent look at the energy industry as a WHOLE.
As another reviewer has pointed out this book will not be easy going for everyone. A lot of it written in rather a dry style and is dense with good points. i.e. it is not written in the style of a popular science book. On the other hand this is what makes it so interesting and convincing in its arguments.

The other thing I liked about it was that it takes a very broad view of different energy sources and considers their implications at every level. One of the main points is that when considering the efficiency of an energy source one should account for the energy wasted at every stage of the supply chain rather than the amount of energy going into and coming out of the generation plant. For example the supply chain for coal is Mining - Refining - Shipping - Coal-fired power station - National grid (high voltage) - NG (medium voltage) - Distribution (low voltage). Many of these are energy intensive processes. The supply chain for nuclear is even worse. Compare that to the on-site generation solar supply chain: PV installation - Distribution (indefinitely at no further cost). Many of the true costs of the fossil fuel supply chain is not paid by the consumer or even by the companies involved in supply. The author also considers the social costs involved, which many people seem to be willing to ignore.

There are also some good insights into the oil industry. The most interesting one that comes to mind is how the oil using industries are dependent on each other for the cheap prices of oil. When crude oil is refined the proportions of different products cannot be varied to a great degree. A certain proportion will be kerosene for plane fuel, a certain proportion will be for automobile fuel, a certain proportion usable by the chemicals industry and so on. If the demand for automobile fuel decreases due to efficient engines and the demand from other industries stays the same then the other industries oil prices will go up to cover the cost. This gives the reason for the chemicals industry's opposal to fuel duty. This gives all oil using industries an incentive to keep their demand in line with everybody else's i.e. steadily increasing.

An inspiring book that doesn't rely on its writing style. It gets by purely on its ideas.

Throw away society is flushing our planet down the pan
I liked this book, it gets a bit heavey and technical at times and I indeed had to have a breather once or twice, but it is one of the few books I wanted to read again and had too. I wasalready a convert to living off grid in Spain with solar and wind energy and this book a surprise Xmas gift from my son only strenghed my renewable off grid living decision. Im no eco warrior or green fanatic Im just ahead of the game, this book lets you know how little of everything we have left not just oil and coal and gas but every metal and mineral we take for granted. Our throw away society is flushing this planet down the pan. Our response till its too late is like the drunk i the pub, mines a pint please, goodbye leave the light on it will turn its self off !

Current trends indicate the world wide burning of fossil fuels is likely to flare by 50 percent between 1990 and 2010
All economic activity relies on the physical and chemical conversion of materials from one form into another, and the conversion of fuels into the energy need to distribute and consume the resultant products.

Energy and raw materials are the fundament of our economies.

World energy consumption show that 32 per cent is generated by burning crude oil, 25 per cent by burning coal, and 17 per cent by burning natural gas.Five per cent comes from nuclear fuels, and another 14 per cent from combustion of biomass, and hydroelectricity accounts for 6 per cent of all energy consumption.

Current trends indicate the world wide burning of fossil fuels is likely to flare by 50 percent between 1990 and 2010.

Is Nuclear energy life threatening?No.New pebble reactors will provide safe energy and safeguard against the possibility a critical chain reaction.France is building a new experimental fusion reactor and if successful could move the world into a hydrogen society.Long-term the world has infinite energy.

Scheer wants an immediate shift away from "life threatening fossil fuel resource trap"Solar=Hydrogen=electrical, "Only with the transition to renewable resources, and thus to a solar global economy can economic logic and with it the future path of economic development be radically altered."

Fallacy #1: Sheer says, increases in productivity and efficiency must stabilize resource consumption at its current level. Energy stabilize needs to be replaced with energy expansion.Life gets better as more energy becomes available. Energy consumption will only increase, increasing many fold over the next decade.Allocative efficiency favors big business and restricts competition.

Fallacy #2: Sheer says, "as reserves of crude oil, natural gas and certain strategically important minerals approach exhaustion, resource crisis are becoming more intense."Who has economic control?Who sets the prices for crude?And in the end Who will pay for them?It takes time to migrate from one energy source to another.Large capital investment is required to build infrastructure. The point of no return begins as banks and corporations begin building the new energy future. Energy shortages are short term crisis that push innovation and adoption of newer and cheaper fuels.Capitalist use their profits from a crisis to build the new infrastructure and world keeps on running.

Fallacy #3. Sheer says, "Energy and mineral resources are found in relatively few locations around the globe". Wow, amazing fear factor.In the 70s and 80s the US reduced dependancy on foreign oil by 50% before oil became cheap again.Today, the US and Canada represent a vast empty quarter of oil in the form of shale and tar. Canada is becoming an important source of oil.Wyoming will be developed as a new Texas oil source.Cheaper oil extraction system will become popular and make accessible oil in the western hemisphere.

Sheer is the realist.Sheer responses "but which the modern techno-pundits now imbue with bright promise) has been dazzled by partial, faddishly exaggerated and overgeneralized reports of the actual developments". Change requires risk.Innovation surges and falls before maturing.

Tough read, but interesting
The first time I tried to read this book, it confused me so much I had to put it down for a year.The author mixes a paragraph or two of insight and vision within pages of example and data.On, this my second, read I am doing better by skimming past the long lists of examples.
I would love to see this book boiled down to about 20 pages, with another 20 of optional documentation.
What the author does for the reader is lay out the foundation of the modern energy system, and its hidden costs. In great detail. Then he addresses the technical aspect of several different forms of "solar" or renewable energy technologies, and their potential.
I am learning quite a bit, even if I have to take it in small doses

A warning...
Scheer's previous work on this matter was entitled "A Solar Manifesto".That should give you a pretty accurate idea as to his opinions on the matter.If you looking for a somewhat-balanced view of the coming renewable energy economy, look elsewhere (for example, Hawken's "Natural Capitalism").If you looking for a neo-Luddite environmentalist rant, this book is exactly what you are looking for.

There are numerous flaws in Scheer's reasoning.For example,

1:He repeatedly calls lack of taxes a "subsidy".

2:He ignores that the most promising photovoltaic technologies are based on things like titanium and ruthenium, which are not renewable and by his own data are in short supply.Even in the best case they are a complex technology that requires big, centralized plants to product (reasonably) cheaply.

3:He a priori dismisses anything big or centralized.

4:He considers a system that uses more human labor a GOOD thing.

5:In 325 pages, he never mentions the cost of PV in $$/kwh, because it would undermine his point.

6:He repeatedly insults everyone who isn't in his camp.The word "blind" must appear a hundred times in this work.

I think the greatest example of Scheer's muddled thinking is the final sentence of the book.

"Renewable resources will bring a new era of wealth-creating economic development - initiated not by bureaucratic fiat, but by the free choices of individuals".

I think many people would agree with this.Now, if Scheer hadn't spent the previous two chapters describing in detail the many bureaucratic fiats he wanted in order to enforce his ends upon free people, he may actually finished his book with a coherent point.

From a little earlier...

"Instead [eco-taxation proposals] must be founded on a clearly articulated strategy to drive nuclear and fossil fuel out of the market...

At least he is honest.




... Read more

Product Description
Scientist and engineers working in the field renewable energy must overcome the challenges of conversion, transmission and storage before it can replace more traditional power sources such as oil and gas. In this book, Bent Sorenson provides strategies for the efficient conversion, transmission and storage of all forms of renewable energy.

The book provides the reader with a complete background on how renewable energy is transformed into power and the best methods for transmitting and storing the energy produced. Specific to this book is a discussion of conversion processes and storage methods for: geothermal energy, biological and liquid fuels, wave energy, and photovoltaic. In addition the book will cover renewable energy conversions for powering small electrics, as well as battery applications for portable power, and energy bands in semiconductors.


*Energy conversion methods for all types of renewable energy
*Energy conversion and storage for small *Electronics portable power
*Battery applications for portable power
*Energy bands and semiconductors ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Get his Renewable Energy 3rd edition for less, or look elsewhere
This is an extract of material from Sorensen's thick 3rd ed Renewable Energy (RE) which is $25 less new or $40 less used than this slim subset; quite a premium for portability. Renewable Energy is browseable at amazon if you want to see if his dry style appeals. The field needs a definitive book on storage of renewable energy, covering battery cells, flow batteries, super-capacitors, and fuel cells -- all very rapidly developing technologies. This pricey overview is not it. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Introducing Young Scientists to Projects for Alternative Energy
Mike Rigsby's//Doable Renewables: 16 Alternative Energy Projects for Young Scientists// is full of illustrative photographs, straightforward explanations and probing questions. The questions serve to push the young scientist to understand each project and focus on shifts that might occur: what else changes? Such prompts serve the book well, helping a student to fully comprehend the end results and any alterations along the way.

//Doable Renewables// is not for a youngster unaccustomed to listening or following safety instructions. These experiments often require safety equipment. However, for those who have access to the materials, tools and safety gear, this is a fascinating book. In his introduction, Rigsby explains the excitement of exploration, which can often begin with the humblest of instruments. Rather than expecting students to build full-scale solar panels to power their own schools, Rigsby points out that the assignments are to be thought of as seeds to germinate other ideas. Among the 16 undertakings, //Doable Renewables// contains instructions on constructing a simple heat engine, a solar cell with concentrated sunlight, a windmill, and a heat-powered fan. While these are geared toward the young scientist and novices, all should tread carefully.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Humphrey ... Read more

Product Description

The only complete design resource for sustainable energy systems geared towards engineers

This highly visual resource goes beyond theory and provides solid, hands-on mechanical and electrical engineering information on the design and installation of sustainable energy systems. You will find everything you need --including real-world case studies -- to develop the most energy efficient systems possible for a wide variety of projects.

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Text on Solar Energy
Dr. Gevorkian has done great work in writing on one of the most important technologies in the world today. The book is well organized, easy to read, and useful for those with engineering or non engineering backgrounds. I read it as a business student, with no engineering background, to increase my knowledge of renewable energy. I found even the technical sections relatively easy to understand. The book not only discusses solar technology, it also gives examples of solar applications, and lists leading solar companies. The end of the book gives a good overview of the other renewable technologies. This text is highly recommended.

Mark Gangi AIA
After reading the first of Dr. Gevorkian's works on sustainable energy systems I thought it would be interesting to see what could possibly be added to his latest.The second book is intense in its content.Packed with so much information it would be overwhelming to read cover to cover - rather it is like an encyclopedia on the subject and a very useful reference.For an architect or engineer wanting to learn how some of these systems might be integrated in a project they are working on, or for a layman to have a savants knowledge of these subjects, I give it a high recomendation. ... Read more

Product Description
The prospect of producing clean, sustainable power in substantial quantities from renewable energy sources is arousing interest world-wide.This book provides a comprehensive overview of the principal renewable energy sources: solar thermal, biomass, tidal, wave, photovoltaic, hydro, wind, and geothermal. With the aid of detailed illustrations and tables of data, it explains the physical and technological principles underlying each source and examines its environmental impact and future prospects. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good overview of renewable technologies with UK focus
This is the textbook for the Open University course on renewable energies. Well written, well illustrated, lots of detailed examples, data and references. ... Read more

Product Description
Wind energy today is a booming worldwide industry. The technology has truly come of age, with better, more reliable machinery and a greater understanding of how and where wind power makes sense--from the independent homestead to a grid-connected utility-wide perspective. Heightened concerns about our environment mean that this resurgence of interest in wind--a natural and widespread power source--is here to stay.Wind Power is the completely revised and expanded edition of Paul Gipe's definitive 1993 book, Wind Power for Home and Business. In addition to expanded sections on gauging wind resources and siting wind turbines, this edition includes new examples and case studies of successful wind systems, international sources for new and used equipment, and hundreds of color photographs and illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Wind Power
This is a very well written book.I love reading it.The book was received in a timely manner and at a great price.Thank you.

An almost complete book on wind power
Certainly in this book is covered in detail all that one must know about wind power, except evidently grid-tie systems without batteries as the chapter about it, Interconnection with the Utility, has little technical information about this new topic in which the Inverter and its Anti-Islanding requisite to protect the Utility maintenance personnel during outages, makes the wind generator useless when it is more needed, as the inverter must shut down the whole system during that time when the grid is off.

In fact most books about wind power has little to say about this topic either, they usually are about systems with batteries; even excellent references as the must-read books by Hugh Piggott, A Wind Turbine Recipe Book and How to Build a Wind Turbine, and The Renewable Energy Handbook by William H. Kemp they do not touch this topic for which I was looking for a solution because in my particular project it is a real need: during outages I have much wind.

Because of a long and kind conversation with a Power One engineer, I think I have found a solution for this problem, that I pretend to test in the very near future in my own place, and that I want to share with the wind power community through this great opportunity offered by Amazon; the solution is to install a similar controller(without the bridge rectifier)with dump loads on the AC side of the inverter, i.e., 240Vac, as that one used on the controller on the AC side of the wind generator to prevent over voltages when there is too much wind. Additionally we must have a small power plant(instead of batteries) with good frequency and voltages to simulate the grid during outages but connected manually, with a corresponding disconnect switch for the grid, a so called transfer switch.

I really would appreciate any comment about this problem!!!

Edgar

Lots of information
Indeed a lot of information on windpower, from mini-systems to full scale development and everything in between. Interesting reading, but too detailed for general reading (although using it as a reference document certainly is valuable) and not enough details if you really want to design or install your own full fledged system. However, if you plan to buy a unit, this book gives you lots information to prevent circumvent the pitfalls.

Very god book but..........
This book is very good but the author need to go first from the general to the particular, specially in formulas. Going first from the particular then later jumping to the general formulas make the understanding kind of confusing.
Also the formulas are written in smaller fonts than that used in the wording text, for me some times were difficult to read. I rather would save some space in some many post card type pictures and and use it for bigger fonts in the formulas.
Other than this, the book is very good for a general understanding of wing power generation technology with so many graphs, tables, information, references and.... pictures.


M Sanchez

Almost one stop shopping
Paul Gipe has provided a thoroughly readable text presenting all details necessary for selecting and managing a windfarm. It is clear that he has dedicated his life to this technology.

This text provides charts and equations for sizing windmills. It includes numerous recommendations for selecting vendors and contractors for installing a windmill, and lots of maintenance details. What I found particularly interesting was his descriptions of past failures and why they failed. He warns you of danger signals when buying a windmill such as:

The maximum capacity for generating electricity from a windmill is determined by its rotor not its generator.

I am still in the process of reading this massive text but the first 200 pages have been enlightening. I highly recommend this text for anyone involved in establishing a windfarm for municipalities and others. This is a must read.

If this review was helpful, please add your vote. Thanks.
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Product Description
The availability of clean, renewable power is without question going to be the defining challenge and goal of the 21st century, and wind will lead the way.

Customer Reviews (5)

Windpower is freedom from fossil fuels !
Fantastic and easy-to-read explanation of what can be done NOW to make our cities and countries free from fossil fuels.

As the title reveals, this is a Basic introduction without too many technical details of how a homeowner or small business / estate can go about 'getting off the grid', with many examples of who has done it, how they do it, and how they profit from it.

Knowledge is power, so empower yourself by reading this and spreading the power of wind !

Superb book for Wind Power Basics and Public Policy
Paul has well captured the basics of wind power in an easy and understandable way.The book is a delight to read.What I didn't expect and have not read before is Paul's excellent commentary on wind power public policy.Europeans tend to build community based wind whereas Americans build corporate based wind.This means that in Europe, individuals tend to benefit financially from wind whereas as in the America, corporations tend to benefit. Very interesting stuff here.Also, public policy is very different as well, with feed-in tariffs being popular in Europe and the USA tending to supply money up front to build projects (a big mistake).Additionally, anyone considering vertical axis wind mills or ducted fan based windmills might want to read what Paul has to say first.

John C. Briggs

Not what I expected
An interesting book, just not what I expected.Thought it would give me information about how to select a wind turbine and it is all about telling you to invest in a commercial size unit rather than a household size unit.Not much information about starting an LLC or raising millions either.

Good introduction to wind energy
Paul Gipe is not only a leading authority on wind energy but he is an exceptional teacher. This second edition of Wind Energy Basics covers most of the current models of wind turbines on the consumer and commercial market as of 2009. The book is an excellent introduction to wind energy that will serve both potential wind turbine buyers and those interested in wind energy well. There is some math involved but nothing over basic high school algebra and it is kept to a minimum. This is a great, inexpensive way to learn about wind turbines. If you are more interested in design and want more in depth analysis, Paul's other book, "Wind Energy", is an excellent choice.

The perfect pick for any lending library
The availability of clean, renewable energy is the world's modern challenge and wind-energy expert Paul Gipe predicts wind will lead the way. His second revised, expanded edition of a classic primer offers homeowners and consumers insights on wind energy, from applications to political and social policies, and includes a new section on the concept of 'community wind'. Charts and color photos pepper a user-friendly introduction to all aspects of wind energy, making it the perfect pick for any lending library. ... Read more

Product Description
Natural Home Heating is the first comprehensive guide to heating your home with renewable energy sources. Greg Pahl offers a well-organized, easy-to-understand tour of all available renewable home-heating options, including wood, pellet, corn and grain-fired stoves, fireplaces, furnaces and boilers as well as masonry heaters, active and passive solar systems, and heat pumps.Learn how to burn environmentally friendly biodiesel fuels, not just in your car, but in your furnace or boiler.Included is everything you need to know about the fuels, systems, technologies, costs, and advantages and disadvantages of each option. Pahl teaches homeowners how to retrofit existing heating systems and choose renewable replacements, or design an entirely new house that can be heated comfortably with minimal environmental and financial impact.

Consider:
- 95% of American homes are heated with fossil fuels (or electricity, which is generated mainly by fossil fuels).
- Oil and gas prices will continue to rise as supplies dwindle and sources become less reliable.
- Home heating costs could double or even triple in the event of a fuel crisis.
- The use of fossil fuels is the primary contributor to global warming.
- There are viable, clean, healthy, and affordable home heating alternatives!

Learn how to burn environmentally friendly bio-diesel fuels, not just in your car, but in your furnace. Find out how a ground-source heat pump works and why it can achieve 400% heating efficiency. Discover what it takes to make burning wood truly sustainable. Natural Home Heating explains all these details and more, making it unique for homeowners everywhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Busy hippie chick's dream
Greg Pahl's book organizes everything you need to know about heating with alternative fuels in a very "non-techy, quick to find salient facts" manner.I used his book to help me make choices in buying and installing a new wood stove to heat my dome house in Maine.With all of the alternatives out there, this book helped me intelligently sort through a myriad of choices and get a stove just right for my needs. ... Read more

Product Description
This dazzling introductory textbook encompasses the full range of today's important renewable energy technologies.

Solar thermal, photovoltaic, wind, hydro, biomass and geothermal energy receive balanced treatment with one exciting and informative chapter devoted to each. As well as a complete overview of these state-of-the-art technologies, the chapters provide:

• clear analysis on their development potentials;
• an evaluation of the economic aspects involved;
• concrete guidance for practical implementation; how to reduce your own energy waste.

If we do not act now to stop climate change, the consequences will be catastrophic. The current world situation is demonstrated here with the aid of full-colour figures and photographs, data diagrams and simple calculations and results. A multiplicity of impressive examples from countries across the globe show international ‘alternative’ energy in action.

With its easy-to-read approach, this is an essential textbook for students on renewable energy courses, also environment and sustainability courses. Planners, operators, financers and consultants will find this an excellent manual for planning and realizing climate protection. Furthermore, this book makes great background reading for energy workers, designers, politicians and journalists, and anyone who is interested in the topic of climate change.

Looking for further study? Visit the complimentary website; it hosts many useful related internet sites: www.wiley.com/go/quaschning_renewable ... Read more

Product Description

Are renewable and alternative energy solutions needed to combat many of the negative effects of fossil fuel (including global warming)? Can such solutions be "clean," and still economically viable? For readers wanting clear, objective answers to questions like these, this fascinating, highly informative volume is the ideal source.

Renewable and Alternative Energy Resources: A Reference Handbook provides an authoritative, unbiased overview of existing and potential renewable and alternative energy technologies, covering the benefits and drawbacks associated with each. It then looks at a number of specific questions and controversies on this issue, examining the social, political, and economic aspects of renewable and alternative energy use in the United States and other countries—detailing different approaches and activities of international organizations, national governments, and private sector initiatives.

Customer Reviews (4)

These Two Books are Different!
I wanted to clarify what the reviewer above says about this book and "Smart Power". This book (The Renewable Energy Handbook) is geared more towards off-grid applications whereas Smart Power is for on-grid folks. Not surprisingly, there is some overlap between the two books but their focus is different, especially since The Renewable Energy Handbook has been revised and updated and is almost twice the size.

Basic RE and conservation information
This book is for the novice.Do not buy if you have purchased - Smart Power: An Urban Guide To Renewable energy and efficiency... they are almost identical.

Renewable Energy Handbook for Homeowners
i found more useful info on the internet for free

A clear and competent introduction
Here is a clear and thorough introduction for anyone interested in home renewable energy and energy efficiency. In my 30 years' professional experience in this field, I've seen good books, bad books, and obsolete books, so I appreciate this one! It's up-to-date for 2005, and will remain useful for years to come. The author gets his priorities straight, putting emphasis on conservation and efficiency, which is the key to making solar power economical. His coverage of system design and components is very good. This book will be useful for students, homeowners, and professionals who need an easy introduction. ... Read more