The Sun, our star, has inspired the research of many scientists and engineers and brings hope to many of us for a paradigm shift in energy. Indeed, the applications of solar energy are manifold, primarily because it concerns both light and heat. Photovoltaic (PV) conversion is the most well-known among these, but other modes of conversion include photochemical, photobiological, photoelectrochemical, thermal and thermochemical. This book covers the entire chain of conversion from the Sun to the targeted energy vector (heat, electricity, gaseous or liquid fuels). Beginning with the state of the art, subsequent chapters address solar resources, concentration and capture technologies, the science of flows and transfers in solar receivers, materials with controlled optical properties, thermal storage, hybrid systems (PV-thermal) and synthetic fuels (hydrogen and synthetic gas). Written by a number of experts in the field, Concentrating Solar Thermal Energy provides an insightful overview of the current landscape of the knowledge regarding the most recent applications of concentrating technologies.

Building Integrated Photovoltaic Thermal Systems: Fundamentals, Designs, and Applications presents various applications, system designs, manufacturing, and installation techniques surrounding how to build integrated photovoltaics. This book provides a comprehensive understanding of all system components, long-term performance and testing, and the commercialization of building integrated photovoltaic thermal (BIPVT) systems. By addressing potential obstacles with current photovoltaic (PV) systems, such as efficiency bottlenecks and product heat harvesting, the authors not only cover the fundamentals and design philosophy of the BIPVT technology, but also introduce a hybrid system for building integrated thermal electric roofing. Topics covered in Building Integrated Photovoltaic Thermal Systems are useful for scientists and engineers in the fields of photovoltaics, electrical and civil engineering, materials science, sustainable energy harvesting, solar energy, and renewable energy production.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Emerging Trends and Advanced Applications is highly focused on addressing all aspects of dye sensitized solar cell technology. In this book, the authors present systematic analysis and working principles and detailed studies of individual components, manufacturing methods, software assisted design surrounding the technology market, commercialization potential, and performance evaluations and detailed fabrication methods and parameters. As there is no specific book which could encircle all the aspects of dye sensitized solar cells from its very basic working principles to advanced approached to improve it efficiency, this book fills that gap. Providing a comprehensive study on dye sensitized solar cells, this reference covers basic working principles to advanced approaches in improving efficiency as well as thermodynamic and kinetic studies. It will be ideal for advanced stage researchers and engineers looking to get a grip on DSSC technology.

Microbial Fermentation of Biowastes summarizes new advances in the development of various strategies for enhanced microbial fermentation for organic waste conversion to bioenergy/biochemicals, and for biodegradation of plastic waste. Sections cover principles of additive strategies, multi-stage bioreactors, microbial bioaugmentation strategies, genetically engineered microorganisms, co-digestion strategies, feedstock pre-treatment strategies, enzyme technologies, and hybrid technologies methods. In addition, the book reviews progress in the conversion of common wastes to bioenergy and biochemicals via enhanced anaerobic digestion, also summarizing the significant progress achieved on enhancing anaerobic digestion via additive strategy, multi-stage bioreactor strategy, microbial bioaugmentation strategy, genetic engineering approach, and much more.

Recent Advances in Renewable Energy Technologies is a comprehensive reference covering critical research, laboratory and industry developments on renewable energy technological, production, conversion, storage, and management, including solar energy systems (thermal and photovoltaic), wind energy, hydropower, geothermal energy, bioenergy and hydrogen production, and large-scale development of renewable energy technologies and their impact on the global economy and power capacity. Technological advancements include resources assessment and deployment, materials performance improvement, system optimization and sizing, instrumentation and control, modeling and simulation, regulations, and policies. Each modular chapter examines recent advances in specific renewable energy systems, providing theoretical and applied aspects of system optimization, control and management and supports them with global case studies demonstrating practical applications and economical and environmental aspects through life cycle analysis. The book is of interest to engineering graduates, researchers, professors and industry professionals involved in the renewable energy sector and advanced engineering courses dealing with renewable energy, sources, thermal and electrical energy production and sustainability.

The concept of circular economy is based on strategies, practices, policies, and technologies to achieve principles related to reusing, recycling, redesigning, repurposing, remanufacturing, refurbishing, and recovering water, waste materials, and nutrients to preserve natural resources. It provides the necessary conditions to encourage economic and social actors to adopt strategies toward sustainability. However, the increasing complexity of sustainability aspects means that traditional engineering and management/economics alone cannot face the new challenes and reach the appropriate solutions. Thus, this book highlights the role of engineering and management in building a sustainable society by developing a circular economy that establishes and protects strong social and cultural structures based on cross-disciplinary knowledge and diverse skills. It includes theoretical justification, research studies, and case studies to provide researchers, practitioners, professionals, and policymakers the appropriate context to work together in promoting sustainability and circular economy thinking. Volume 1, Circular Economy and Sustainability: Management and Policy, discusses the content of circular economy principles and how they can be realized in the fields of economy, management, and policy. It gives an outline of the current status and perception of circular economy at the micro-, meso-, and macro-levels to provide a better understanding of its role to achieve sustainability. Volume 2, Circular Economy and Sustainability: Environmental Engineering, presents various technological and developmental tolls that emphasize the implementation of these principles in practice (micro-level). It demonstrates the necessity to establish a fundamental connection between sustainable engineering and circular economy.

Power to Fuel: How to Speed Up a Hydrogen Economy highlights how the surplus of electricity from renewable sources can be usefully accumulated thanks to hydrogen overcoming the obstacles that can prevent the final use of hydrogen on a large scale. The book includes an introduction and sections on the production of hydrogen, conversion of hydrogen into synthetic fuel, the power-to-fuel concept, and renewable energy source descriptions. The second and third levels are structured identically with a standalone approach that covers established and commercial pathways, emerging pathways, and cost analysis sections within each subject specific chapter, making the content easily referenced and applied. Readers will find details on the state-of-the-art and emerging technologies of various power to fuels options suitable for different final uses of the stored energy, as well as figures and diagrams that illustrate and compare the different processes. The book contains examples of existing plants and pilot projects that will be useful for academics dealing with renewable energies and energy storage.

Degradation, Mitigation and Forecasting Approaches in Thin Film Photovoltaics covers detailed descriptions of cell to module level fundamentals of photovoltaics including thin-film materials, performance, maintenance procedures and performance forecasting approaches. Designed to help readers better understand the complexities of photovoltaics, covering the most important aspects of PV cell design, fabrication and performance limiting issues coupled with case studies dedicated towards the forecasting approaches for performance degradations occurring in PV panels. Through theoretical and experimental techniques and methods for performance prediction of the PV cells and modules, this reference concludes with an analysis of the emerging PV technologies for the future. Particularly helpful to researchers because the chapters are aligned in a way that enables readers to start from the fundamentals of PVs and end up with a sound understanding of the current and upcoming PV challenges and ways to deal with them.

Energy managers need to learn new and diverse ways to approach energy management in their company's assets as technology continues to evolve. Built into one cohesive and fundamental resource, Introduction to Energy Essentials: Insight into Nuclear, Renewable, and Non-Renewable Energies delivers an informative tool to understand the main steps for introducing and maintaining an energy management system (EnMS). Starting with a high-level introduction, the reference then takes a structured approach and dives into different sources of energy along with their contribution to energy efficiency, focusing on nuclear power, renewable and non-renewable energies. Multiple options are further discussed including economic considerations and cost comparisons per energy source, energy storage technology, and how to introduce an energy management system into your company. More advanced topics include nuclear reactor power plant systems and their thermal hydraulic analysis as well as cyber resiliency for future electric power and well plant control systems. Authored by experts, Introduction to Energy Essentials: Insight into Nuclear, Renewable, and Non-Renewable Energies gives today's energy managers and engineers a solid starting point to meeting the energy demands of today and in the future.

Energy Storage Devices for Renewable Energy-Based Systems: Rechargeable Batteries and Supercapacitors, Second Edition is a fully revised edition of this comprehensive overview of the concepts, principles and practical knowledge on energy storage devices. The book gives readers the opportunity to expand their knowledge of innovative supercapacitor applications, comparing them to other commonly used energy storage devices. With new application case studies and definitions, this resource will strengthen your understanding of energy storage from a practical, applications-based point-of-view without requiring detailed examination of underlying electrochemical equations. Users will learn about various design approaches and real-time applications of ESDs. Electronic engineering experts and system designers will find this book useful to deepen their understanding on the application of electronic storage devices, circuit topologies, and industrial device data sheets to develop new applications. The book is also intended to be used as a textbook for masters and doctoral students who want to enhance their knowledge and understanding the concepts of renewable energy sources and state-of-the-art ESDs.

Includes details of the fundamental phenomenological theories of solar cells, Li ion/ Li-air/Li-S batteries, fuel cells and their energy storage mechanisms. Discusses properties of various energy materials in addition to their device operation and evaluation.

Solar Hybrid Systems: Design and Application discusses the key power generation characteristics of solar systems and explores the growing need for hybrid systems. The authors use real-life examples to explain the disadvantages of solar systems without hybridization and to demonstrate the various applications hybrid solar systems can be used for, paying special attention to its integration with energy storage systems. The book also discusses the impact of hybridization and how this can improve power generation quality along with investigating novel and advanced hybrid solar systems. This is a useful reference for engineers and researchers involved in both the development and application of hybrid solar systems, and features topics such as solutions for the intermittence of renewable energy sources; on-gird and off-grid solar hybrid systems; the simulation, design and application of hybrid solar systems; the role of energy storage systems in solar hybrid applications; and the future of electric vehicles using solar hybrid systems.

Reliability Analysis Using MINITAB and Python Complete overview of the theory and fundamentals of Reliability Analysis applied with Minitab and Python tools Reliability Analysis Using Minitab and Python expertly applies Minitab and Python programs to the field of reliability engineering, presenting basic concepts and explaining step-by-step how to implement statistical distributions and reliability analysis methods using the two programming languages. The textbook enables readers to effectively use software to efficiently process massive amounts of data while also reducing human error. Examples and case studies as well as exercises and questions are included throughout to enable a smooth learning experience. Excel files containing the sample data and Minitab and Python example files are also provided. Students who have basic knowledge of probability and statistics will find this textbook highly approachable. Nonetheless, it also covers material on basic statistics at the beginning, so students who are not familiar with statistics can follow the material as well. Written by a highly qualified author in the field, sample topics covered in Reliability Analysis Using Minitab and Python include: Establishing a basic statistical background, with a focus on probability, joint probability, union probability, conditional probability, mutually exclusive events, and bayes' rule Statistical distributions, with a focus on discrete cases, continuous cases, exponential distribution, Weibull distribution, normal distribution, and lognormal distribution Reliability data plotting, with a focus on straight line properties, least squares fit, linear rectification, exact failure times, and readout failure data Accelerated life testing, with a focus on accelerated testing theory, exponential distribution acceleration, and Weibull distribution acceleration System failure modeling, with a focus on reliability block diagram, series system model, parallel system model, k-out-of-n system model, and minimal paths and minimal cuts. Repairable systems, with a focus on corrective and preventive maintenances, availability, maintainability, and preventive maintenance scheduling Reliability Analysis Using Minitab and Python serves as an excellent introductory level textbook on the topic for both undergraduate and graduate students. It presents information clearly and concisely and includes many helpful additional learning resources to aid in understanding of concepts, information retention, and practical application.

Control of Standalone Microgrid looks at a practical and systematic elaboration of the architecture, design and control of standalone microgrids. It is oriented towards more advanced readers who want to enhance their knowledge in the fields of power engineering, sustainable energy, microgrids and their control. With an enriched collection of topics pertaining to the architecture and control of standalone microgrids, this book presents recent research that will bring advancements in the current power system scenario, discussing operational and technical issues due to high penetration of distributed generation units. Including executable plans for standalone microgrid systems this book enables researchers and energy executives to understand the future of energy delivery systems as well as global case studies and models to apply control techniques for standalone microgrids and protection schemes which provide a deeper level of understanding.

The increasing penetration of distributed energy resource (DER), distributed generation (DG) and energy storage system (ESS) units in distribution grids leads to the emergence of the concepts of active distribution networks (ADNs), microgrids, and virtual power plants. Nowadays, the use of electronically-coupled distributed energy resources is of great interest that can provide the power of demand side alone or in a small electricity grid. A microgrid is a small-scale power grid in low voltage network that must be able to locally solve energy issues and enhance the flexibility and can operate either in grid-connected or islanded/autonomous mode of operation. To study them, researchers need an appropriate set of methods, software tools, analogous to those exist for large interconnected power systems. The book Microgrids and Methods of Analysis addresses systematic analysis, control/protection systems design, and optimal operation of a distribution system under high penetration of DERs analogous to those that exist for large interconnected power systems.

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURED DIRECTED BY AND STARRING CHIWETEL EJIOFOR - AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX When William Kamkwamba was just 14 years old, his family told him that he must leave school and come home to work on the farm - they could no longer afford his fees. This is his story of how he found a way to make a difference, how he bought light to his family and village, and hope to his nation. Malawi is a country battling AIDS, drought and famine, and in 2002, a season of floods, followed by the most severe famine in fifty years, brought it to its knees. Like the majority of the population, William's family were farmers. They were totally reliant on the maize crop. By the end of 2001, after many lean and difficult years, there was no more crop. They were running out of food - had nothing to sell - and had months until they would be able to harvest their crop again. Forced to leave school at 14 years old, with no hope of raising the funds to go again, William resorted to borrowing books from the small local library to continue his education. One day, browsing the titles, he picked up a book about energy, with a picture of a wind turbine on the front cover. Fascinated by science and electricity, but knowing little more about the technology, William decided to build his own. Ridiculed by those around him, and exhausted from his work in the fields every day, and using nothing more than bits of scrap metal, old bicycle parts and wood from the blue gum tree, he slowly built his very own windmill. This windmill has changed the world in which William and his family live. Only 2 per cent of Malawi has electricity; William's windmill now powers the lightbulbs and radio for his compound. He has since built more windmills for his school and his village. When news of William's invention spread, people from across the globe offered to help him. Soon he was re-enrolled in college and travelling to America to visit wind farms. This is his incredible story. William's dream is that other African's will learn to help themselves - one windmill and one light bulb at a time - and that maybe one day they will be able to power their own computers, and use the internet, and see for themselves how his life has changed after picking up that book in the library.

Sustainable Biofuels: Opportunities and challenges, a volume in the "Applied Biotechnology Reviews" series, explores the state-of-the-art in research and applied technology for the conversion of all types of biofuels. Its chapters span a broad spectrum of knowledge, from fundamentals and technical aspects to optimization, combinations, economics, and environmental aspects. They cover various facets of research, production, and commercialization of bioethanol, biodiesel, biomethane, biohydrogen, biobutanol, and biojet fuel. This book discusses biochemical, thermochemical, and hydrothermal conversion of unconventional feedstocks, including the role of biotechnology applications to achieve efficiency and competitiveness. Through case studies, techno-economic analysis and sustainability assessment, including life cycle assessment, it goes beyond technical aspects to provides actual resources for better decision-making during the development of commercially viable technology by researchers, PhD students, and practitioners in the field of bioenergy. It is also a useful resource for those in adjacent areas, such as biotechnology, industrial microbiology, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, and sustainability science, who are working on solutions for the bioeconomy. The ability to compare different technologies and their outcome that this book provides is also beneficial for energy analysts, consultants, planners, and policy-makers. The "Applied Biotechnology Reviews" series highlights current development and research in biotechnology-related fields, combining in single-volume works the theoretical aspects and real-world applications for better decision-making.

Advances in 2nd Generation of Bioethanol Production presents a comprehensive overview of technologies and strategies for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass. This includes issues like sustainable production, environmental and economic benefits, and the main hurdles for upscaling and achieving commercial viability. The book assesses the current biomass conversion technologies, their readiness level for commercial production, and applications of bioethanol in bioenergy and chemical feedstock. The essential conversion process of 2nd generation biofuels, including feedstock composition and pretreatment, is then broken down, with special focus on advantages and pitfalls of each feedstock and process. It also explores the advances and challenges of bioprocessing, hydrolysis technologies and simultaneous fermentation of pentose and hexose. Finally, it presents the current status and bottlenecks for industrial production of bioethanol, as well as its future prospects. Its interdisciplinary approach, drawing upon plant biology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, and genetics, makes Advances in 2nd Generation of Bioethanol Production a must-have reference for researchers in academia and industry R&D. It allows them to compare challenges and opportunities of new technologies and identify the gaps where new technology is needed. Practitioners in the industry also benefit from the information on working principles, design and control of the bioethanol production process, highlighting areas where technology innovation and investment should be placed. Graduate students and researchers newly entered in this field find here a key-resource to thoroughly understand the process as well as the fundamentals of bioethanol and bioproducts production from lignocellulosic biomass.

There has been a strong need to enhance the utilization of renewable energy systems (RESs) from onshore to offshore applications where oil and gas companies are pivoting to integrate such renewable energy options into their offshore operations to lower their carbon footprint, extend the lifetime of their assets, and expand their market. In this regard, innovative hybrid energy systems, such as "Power to Gas" (P2G) and "Power to Liquid" (P2L) options, as well as novel integration strategies for "Gas to Power" (G2P) systems, offer the opportunity to implement solutions energy transition, paving the way to offshore RES deployment. Hybrid Energy Systems for Offshore Applications delivers a comprehensive presentation of state of the art and perspective developments of offshore RES exploitation strategies and technologies, and provides a unique portfolio of decision-making methodologies supporting the selection of the most suitable options for offshore renewable energy production at a specific site. System modeling and analysis along with the definitions of multicriteria methodologies and strategies based on sustainability, environmental impact, and safety performance indicators are addressed in an integrated fashion. Rounding out with both research and practical applications explained, this book gives academicians and industrial professionals fundamentals and methods for integrated performance analysis of innovative systems addressing offshore RES exploitation, sustainable chemical and power production, better efficiency, lower costs, lower environmental impact, and higher inherent safety.

The support for polygeneration lies in the possibility of integrating different technologies into a single energy system, to maximize the utilization of both fossil and renewable fuels. A system that delivers multiple forms of energy to users, maximizing the overall efficiency makes polygeneration an emerging and viable option for energy consuming industries. Polygeneration Systems: Design, Processes and Technologies provides simple and advanced calculation techniques to evaluate energy, environmental and economic performance of polygeneration systems under analysis. With specific design guidelines for each type of polygeneration system and experimental performance data, referred both to single components and overall systems, this title covers all aspects of polygeneration from design to operation, optimization and practical implementation. Giving different aspects of both fossil and non-fossil fuel based polygeneration and the wider area of polygeneration processes, this book helps readers learn general principles to specific system design and development through analysis of case studies, examples, simulation characteristics and thermodynamic and economic data.

Renewable Energy Systems: Modelling, Optimization and Control aims to cross-pollinate recent advances in the study of renewable energy control systems by bringing together diverse scientific breakthroughs on the modeling, control and optimization of renewable energy systems by leading researchers. The book brings together the most comprehensive collection of modeling, control theorems and optimization techniques to help solve many scientific issues for researchers in renewable energy and control engineering. Many multidisciplinary applications are discussed, including new fundamentals, modeling, analysis, design, realization and experimental results. The book also covers new circuits and systems to help researchers solve many nonlinear problems. This book fills the gaps between different interdisciplinary applications, ranging from mathematical concepts, modeling, and analysis, up to the realization and experimental work.

Lignocellulosic Biomass to Value-Added Products: Fundamental Strategies and Technological Advancements focuses on fundamental and advanced topics surrounding technologies for the conversion process of lignocellulosic biomass. Each and every concept related to the utilization of biomass in the process of conversion is elaborately explained, with importance given to minute details. Advanced level technologies involved in the conversion of biomass into biofuels, like bioethanol and biobutanol, are addressed, along with the process of pyrolysis. Readers of this book will become fully acquainted with the field of lignocellulosic conversion, from its basics to current research accomplishments. The uniqueness of the book lies in the fact that it covers each and every topic related to biomass and its conversion into value-added products. Technologies involved in the major areas of pretreatment, hydrolysis and fermentation are explained precisely. Additional emphasis is given to the analytical part, especially the established protocols for rapid and accurate quantification of total sugars obtained from lignocellulosic biomass.

Thermodynamic Analysis and Optimization of Geothermal Power Plants guides researchers and engineers on the analysis and optimization of geothermal power plants through conventional and innovative methods. Coverage encompasses the fundamentals, thermodynamic analysis, and optimization of geothermal power plants. Advanced thermodynamic analysis tools such as exergy analysis, thermoeconomic analysis, and several thermodynamic optimization methods are covered in depth for different configurations of geothermal power plants through case studies. Interdisciplinary research with relevant economic and environmental dimensions are addressed in many of the studies. Multiobjective optimization studies aimed at better efficiency, lower cost, and a lower environmental impact are also discussed in this book.

Ice-Houses: Energy, Architecture and Sustainability presents new and novel technologies and approaches surrounding daily and seasonal ice storage, along with discussions on passive cooling and natural technologies using different methods, including heat pumps. The book covers different aspects of ice-houses and cold energy production, storage and utilization. By addressing various issues connected to the technology and structure of traditional ice-houses and natural and artificial ice making, this refences looks at new technological approaches for the reduction of electrical energy consumption in buildings. Users will find this to be a comprehensive overview of ice house storage that includes worked examples and global case studies. It is an essential resource for researchers and engineers looking to advance their understanding of this method of thermal storage.