Renewable Energy

I Renewable Energy Renewable Energy Edited by T J Hammons In-Tech intechweb.org Published by In-Teh In-Teh Olajnica 19/2, 32000 Vukovar, Croatia Abstracting and non-profit use of the material is permitted with credit to the source. Statements and opinions expressed in the chapters are these of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the editors or publisher. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of information contained in the published articles. Publisher assumes no responsibility liability for any damage or injury to persons or property arising out of the use of any materials, instructions, methods or ideas contained inside. After this work has been published by the In-Teh, authors have the right to republish it, in whole or part, in any publication of which they are an author or editor, and the make other personal use of the work. © 2009 In-teh www.intechweb.org Additional copies can be obtained from: publication@intechweb.org First published December 2009 Printed in India Technical Editor: Zeljko Debeljuh Renewable Energy, Edited by T J Hammons p. cm. ISBN 978-953-7619-52-7 V Preface Our goal in preparing this book was to discuss and publish new discoveries and improvements, innovative ideas and concepts, as well as novel and further applications and business models which are related to the field of Renewable Energy. Renewable Energy is energy generated from natural resources—such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat—which are naturally replenished. In 2008, about 18% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, such as wood burning. Hydroelectricity was the next largest renewable source, providing 3% (15% of global electricity generation), followed by solar hot water/heating, which contributed 1.3%. Modern technologies, such as geothermal energy, wind power, solar power, and ocean energy together provided some 0.8% of final energy consumption. Alternative energy includes all sources and technologies that minimize environmental impacts relative to conventional hydrocarbon resources and economic issues related to fossil fuel resources. Fuel cells and natural gas might be alternatives to coal or nuclear power. Throughout the book, the fundamentals of the technologies related to integration of such alternative and renewable energy sources are reviewed and described with authority, skill, and from critical engineering aspects for the end user of energy. Climate change concerns coupled with oil prices with its uncertainty and increasing government support is driving increasing renewable energy legislation, incentives and commercialization. Investment capital flowing into renewable energy climbed from $80 billion (US) in 2005 to $100 billion in 2006. The book provides the forum for dissemination and exchange of up-to-date scientific information on theoretical, generic and applied areas of knowledge. The topics deal with new devices and circuits for energy systems, photovoltaic and solar thermal, wind energy systems, tidal and wave energy, fuel cell systems, bio energy and geo-energy, sustainable energy resources and systems, energy storage systems, energy market management and economics, off-grid isolated energy systems, energy in transportation systems, energy resources for portable electronics, intelligent energy power transmission, distribution and inter-connectors, energy efficient utilization, environmental issues, energy harvesting, nanotechnology in energy, policy issues on renewable energy, building design, power electronics in energy conversion, new materials for energy resources, and RF and magnetic field energy devices. Open Access is a new direction in academic publishing where all chapters are available for full free access online. The book is published as open access fully searchable by anyone anywhere. ... - tailieumienphi.vn