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This undergraduate text aimed primarily at high schoolers and lower level undergraduates focuses on explaining how the various forms of renewable energy work and the current ongoing research. It includes sections on non-scientific aspects that should be considered such as availability of resources. A final chapter covers methods of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Renewable energy is currently on everyone's mind in the context of climate change. This text provides students with an introduction into the science behind the various types of renewable energy enabling them to access review literature in the field and options that that should be considered when selecting methods.
Features
Collates the most relevant and up to date information on renewable energy systems in a user friendly format for undergraduate and high school students.
Focuses on power production technologies from renewable energy sources.
An introduction to how sources of renewable energy work; their advantages and drawbacks.
Timely text with the need for fast adoption of renewable energy technologies around the world.
Suitable for a diverse audience including students with some scientific background such as final year in high school wanting to know more about combatting climate change.
List of contents
1. Introduction
2. Solar Energy
2.1. Photovoltaic (solar) cells
2.1.1 Semiconductors
2.1.2. The p-n junction
2.1.3. Materials
2.1.4. Other solar cells
2.2. Other Considerations
2.3. Solar thermal panels
2.3.1 Materials
2.3.2 Other Considerations
Questions
3. Wind power
3.1. Wind turbines
3.2. Electrical generators
3.3. Materials
3.4. Other Considerations
Questions
4. Water power
4.1. Hydroelectric dams
4.2. River turbines
4.3. Wave power
4.4. Tidal power
4.5. Material
4.6. Other Considerations
Questions
5. Geothermal Energy
5.1. The origin of geothermal energy
5.2. Accessing geothermal energy
5.2.1 Using geothermal energy for heating
5.2.2 Using geothermal energy to produce electricity
5.3. Considerations
Questions
6. Hydrogen
6.1. Hydrogen production
6.1.1. Electrolysis
6.1.2. Chemical Reactions
6.1.3. Biohydrogen production
6.2. Storage and transport
6.3. Hydrogen use
6.3.1. Fuel cells
6.4. Considerations
Questions
7. Biomass
7.1. How is energy produced from biomass?
7.2. Why is energy derived from biomass considered renewable?
7.3. Types of biomass
7.3.1. Wood
7.3.2. Crops and Grasses
7.3.3. Algae
7.3.4. Waste
7.4. Considerations
Questions
8. Energy storage
8.1. How rechargeable batteries work
8.2. Batteries for storage
8.2.1 Kead-acid batteries
8.2.2. Lithium-ion batteries
8.2.3. Sodium based batteries
8.2.4. Redox flow batteries
8.3. Batteries for transport
8.3.1. Lithium-based batteries
8.4. Capacitors
8.5. Pumped storage hydropower
Questions
9. Carbon capture, storage and conversion
9.1. Carbon capture and storage
9.1.1. Trees and peat bogs
9.1.2. Construction materials and minerals
9.1.3. Porous solids
9.1.4. Absorbance by liquids
9.2. Conversion of captured carbon dioxide
9.2.1. Mineralisation
9.2.2 Chemicals and Fuels
Questions
About the author
Elaine A. Moore has worked in hospital laboratories for more than 30 years, primarily in immunohematology and toxicology. She is a freelance medical writer and laboratory consultant. For more information, visit her website at www.elaine-moore.com. She lives in Sedalia, Colorado.
Summary
Renewable energy is the solution to mitigation of fossil carbon emissions. Understanding the principles, advantages and challenges of renewable energy will help accelerate wider adoption of renewable energy solutions and carbon mitigation.
