Renewable Energy Technology, Economics and Environment

The aim of this book is to outline and discuss the main fields of renewable energy applications, and thereby create a solid basis for their evaluation. For this purpose, both the physical foundations and the technical bases are presented. Additionally, key figures which allow for a classification of these options according to the demands of the energy system are elaborated. To ensure a simple, comprehensible and transparent presentation of the different options of using renewable energy for the provision of heat and power, the individual chapters describing the various options have been similarly structured whenever possible and sensible.In this context, the global energy system is presented and thus also the framework into which energy provision based on renewable energy sources has to be incorporated. Subsequently, the basic structure of the chapters of this book is explained more in detail, and technical terms used frequently throughout this book, are defined. Also the underlying methodological approaches with regard to the key figures, which are characteristic for the individual renewable energy application,are presented. To conclude, most important technologies for exploiting fossil energy carriers for the provision of heat and electricity are also briefly described and characterised; they set a base standard for evaluating energy provision options based on renewable energy sources.