Preface to third edition -- Preface to second edition -- Preface to first edition -- Contents -- Units and conversion factors -- Powers of 10 -- SI units -- Conversion factors -- 1. Perspectives -- 1.1 Current penetration of renewable energy technologies in the marketplace -- 1.2 The energy scene - its history and present state -- 1.3 The energy future and the role of renewable energy -- 1.4 Suggested topics for discussion -- 2. The Origin of Renewable Energy Flows -- 2.1 Solar radiation -- 2.1.1 Energy production in the interior of stars like the Sun -- 2.1.2 Spectral composition of solar radiation -- 2.2 Net radiation flux at the Earth -- 2.2.1 Radiation at the top of the atmosphere -- 2.2.2 Radiation at the Earth's surface -- 2.3 Physical and chemical processes near the Earth's surface -- 2.3.1 The atmosphere -- 2.3.2 The oceans and continents -- 2.3.3 The climate -- 2.4 The energy cycle of the Earth -- 2.4.1 The flows of energy and matter -- 2.4.2 Climate changes -- 2.A Origins of stellar energy -- 2.B Vertical transport in or near the boundary layer -- 2.C Modelling the atmosphere and the oceans -- 2.D Tides and waves -- 2.5 Suggested topics for discussion -- 3 The Individual Energy Sources -- 3.1 Solar radiation -- 3.1.1 Direct radiation -- 3.1.2 Scattered radiation -- 3.1.3 Total short-wavelength radiation -- 3.1.4 Long-wavelength radiation -- 3.1.5 Variability of solar radiation -- 3.2 Wind -- 3.2.1 Wind velocities -- 3.2.2 Kinetic energy in the wind -- 3.2.3 Power in the wind -- 3.2.4 Variability in wind power -- 3.3 Ocean waves -- 3.3.1 Wave spectra -- 3.3.2 Power in the waves -- 3.4 Water flows and tides -- 3.4.1 Ocean currents -- 3.4.2 River flows, hydropower and elevated water storage -- 3.4.3 Tides -- 3.5 Heat flows and stored heat -- 3.5.1 Solar-derived heat sources -- 3.5.2 Geothermal flows and stored energy.

3.6 Biological conversion and storage of energy -- 3.6.1 Photosynthesis -- 3.6.2 Productivity in different environments -- 3.7 Other energy sources -- 3.7.1 Atmospheric electricity -- 3.7.2 Salinity differences -- 3.7.3 Nuclear energy -- 3.8 Suggested topics for discussion -- 4. Energy Conversion Processes -- 4.1 Basic principles of energy conversion -- 4.1.1 Conversion between energy forms -- 4.1.2 Thermodynamic engine cycles -- 4.1.3 Thermoelectric and thermionic conversion -- 4.1.4 Turbines and other flow-driven converters -- 4.1.5 Photovoltaic conversion -- 4.1.6 Electrochemical conversion -- 4.2 Conversion of solar radiation -- 4.2.1 Heat generation -- 4.2.2 Applications for cooling, pumping, etc. -- 4.2.3 Solar electricity generation -- 4.3 Conversion of wind energy -- 4.3.1 Conversion of wind flow -- 4.3.2 Propeller-type converters -- 4.3.3 Cross-wind converters -- 4.3.4 Augmenters and other "advanced" converters -- 4.3.5 Heat, electrical or mechanical power, and fuel generation -- 4.3.6 Commercial wind power development -- 4.4 Conversion of wave energy -- 4.4.1 Pneumatic converter -- 4.4.2 Oscillating vane converter -- 4.5 Conversion of water flows or elevated water -- 4.6 Conversion of heat -- 4.6.1 Application to heating -- 4.6.2 Conversion of heat into work or electricity -- 4.7 Conversion of fuels -- 4.7.1 Fuel cell technologies -- 4.8 Conversion of biological material -- 4.8.1 Heat production from biomass -- 4.8.2 Fuel production from biomass: overview and generation -- of gaseous fuels -- 4.8.3. Fuel production from biomass: generation of -- liquid biofuels -- 4.9 Other conversion processes -- 4.9.1 Conversion of salinity gradient resources -- 4.A Energy bands in semiconductors -- 4.10 Suggested topics for discussion -- 5. Energy Transmission and Storage -- 5.1 Energy Transmission -- 5.1.1 Transmission of heat.

5.1.2 Transmission of electricity -- 5.1.3 Other types of transmission -- 5.2 Energy storage -- 5.2.1 Storage of heat -- 5.2.2 Storage of high-quality energy forms -- 5.3 Suggested topics for discussion -- 6. Energy Supply Systems -- 6.1 Energy systems -- 6.2 Simulation of system performance -- 6.2.1 Treatment of the time variable -- 6.2.2 Load structure -- 6.2.3 Source data -- 6.2.4 Photovoltaic power production -- 6.2.5 Wind power production -- 6.2.6 Food production -- 6.2.7 Biofuel production -- 6.2.8 System choice -- 6.3 Examples of local system simulations -- 6.3.1 Solar heat or heat-and-electricity producing systems -- 6.3.2 Wind electricity systems -- 6.4 A global energy scenario -- 6.4.1 Decentralised renewable energy 2050 scenario -- 6.4.2 Centralised renewable energy 2050 scenario -- 6.4.3 Implementation and resilience of scenario -- 6.5 Suggested topics for discussion -- 7. Socio-Economic Assessment of Energy Supply SystemsSYSTEMS -- 7.1 Framework of socio-economic analysis -- 7.1.1 Social values and the introduction of monetary economies -- 7.1.2 Economic theory -- 7.2 Direct cost evaluation -- 7.2.1 Treatment of inflation -- 7.2.2 Present value calculations -- 7.2.3 Cost profiles and break-even prices -- 7.3 Indirect economics -- 7.3.1 Resource and environmental management -- 7.3.2 Regional economy -- 7.3.3 National economy -- 7.3.4 World economy -- 7.3.5 Privatisation of the energy industry and related problems -- 7.4 Life-cycle analysis -- 7.4.1 Defining purpose and scope of LCA -- 7.4.2 Treatment of import and export -- 7.4.3 What to include in an LCA -- 7.4.4 Choosing the context -- 7.4.5 Aggregation issues -- 7.4.6 Monetising issues -- 7.4.7 Chain calculations -- 7.4.8 Matrix calculations -- 7.4.9 Communicating with decision-makers -- 7.4.10 Application of life-cycle analysis -- 7.4.11 LCA of greenhouse gas emissions.

7.4.12 LCA of power production chains -- 7.4.13 LCA of energy systems -- 7.5 Examples of break-even price estimations -- 7.5.1 Wind power system without energy storage -- 7.5.2 Wind power systems with storage -- 7.6 Suggested topics for discussion -- 8. Winding Up -- References -- Subject Index.