The science of renewable energy

Content: Post-Oil EnergyThe Gathering StormPeak OilA Malthusian Catastrophe?Weathering the StormAlternative and Renewable EnergyFuture of Renewable Energy and Employment in the Renewable Energy FieldBottom Line: The Need for InnovationDiscussion and Review QuestionsReferences and Recommended ReadingEnergy BasicsRenewable Energy: Perspective on EnergyEnergyMeasuring EnergyUnits, Standards of Measurement, and ConversionsClean Energy Parameters and CalculationsDiscussion and Review QuestionsReferences and Recommended ReadingPrinciples of Basic ElectricityIntroductionBasic Electrical PrinciplesBattery-Supplied ElectricityDC CircuitsOhm's LawElectric PowerElectric EnergySeries DC Circuit CharacteristicsParallel DC CircuitsSeries-Parallel CircuitsConductorsElectromagnetismAC TheoryCharacteristic Values of AC Voltage and CurrentResistance in AC CircuitsInductanceCapacitanceInductive and Capacitive ReactanceAC Circuit TheoryGeneratorsElectric MotorsTransformersPower Distribution System ProtectionElectrical DrawingsDiscussion and Review QuestionsReferences and Recommended ReadingSolar EnergyIntroductionSolar Historical TimelineConcentrating Solar PowerPhotovoltaicsDomestic and Industrial Use of Solar EnergyLet There Be Natural LightOther Solar Energy ApplicationsEnvironmental Impacts of Solar EnergyEcological Impacts of Solar EnergySolar Energy Job HazardsFuture Direction for Solar EnergyBottom Line on Solar EnergyDiscussion and Review QuestionsReferences and Recommended ReadingWind EnergyIntroductionKey Terms for Wind Energy DevelopmentAir in MotionWind EnergyWind Power BasicsWind Turbine TypesWind Turbine ComponentsWind Energy and Power CalculationsSmall-Scale Wind PowerEnvironmental Impacts of Wind PowerWind Energy Construction ImpactsWind Energy Operations ImpactsWind Energy Impacts on WildlifeWind Energy Impacts on Human HealthPower Transmission LinesWind Turbine Operations and Maintenance Personnel Safety ConcernsBottom Line on Wind PowerDiscussion and Review QuestionsReferences and Recommended ReadingHydropowerIntroductionKey TermsHydropower Basic ConceptsReservoir Stored EnergyWater TurbinesAdvanced Hydropower TechnologyEnvironmental and Ecological Impacts of HydropowerBiological Impacts of Flow FluctuationsLow Water Levels and Evaporation of ReservoirsHydropower SecurityImpacts on Human Health and SafetyBottom Line on HydropowerDiscussion and Review QuestionsReferences and Recommended ReadingBioenergyIntroductionKey TermsBiomassPlant BasicsFeedstocksBiothanol Production by Dry Corn Mill ProcessBiomass for BiopowerBiomass for BioproductsBiodieselBiogas (Methane)Environmental Impacts of Biomass Energy GenerationBiomass Feedstock Production ImpactsImpacts on Human Health and SafetyBottom Line on BiofuelsDiscussion and Review QuestionsReferences and Recommended ReadingGeothermal EnergyIntroductionGeothermal Energy: The BasicsEnergy ConversionGeothermal Power Plant TechnologiesEnhanced Geothermal SystemsGeothermal Heat PumpsEnvironmental Impacts of Geothermal Power DevelopmentImpacts on Human Health and SafetyGeothermal Energy: The Bottom LineDiscussion and Review QuestionsReferences and Recommended ReadingBlue EnergyIntroductionOceans and Their MarginsOcean FloorOcean Tides, Currents, and WavesCoastal Erosion, Transportation, and DepositionWave EnergyWave Energy Conversion TechnologyTidal EnergyOcean Thermal Energy ConversionOcean Energy Environmental ImpactsEnvironmental Impacts of Hydrokinetic EnergyBlue Energy: The Bottom LineDiscussion and Review QuestionsReferences and Recommended ReadingFuel CellsIntroductionHydrogen Fuel CellsHydrogen StorageHow a Hydrogen Fuel Cell WorksProperties of HydrogenOther Types of Fuel CellsEnvironmental Impacts of Fuel CellsDiscussion and Review QuestionReferences and Recommended ReadingCarbon Capture and SequestrationIntroduction to Carbon Capture and SequestrationTerrestrial Carbon SequestrationGeologic Carbon SequestrationPotential Impacts of Terrestrial SequestrationPotential Impacts of Geologic SequestrationImpacts on Human Health and SafetyDiscussion and Review QuestionsReferences and Recommended ReadingAfterword: Is it the Beginning of the End or the Beginning of the Beginning?Glossary