This textbook is intended for engineering students taking courses in power electronics, renewable energy sources, smart grids or static power converters. It is also appropriate for students preparing a capstone project where they need to understand, model, supply, control and specify the grid side power converters. The main goal of the book is developing in students the skills that are required to design, control and use static power converters that serve as an interface between the ac grid and renewable power sources. The same skills can be used to design, control and use the static power converters used within the micro-grids and nano-grids, as the converters that provide the interface between such grids and the external grid. The author's approach starts with basic functionality and the role of grid connected power converters in their typical applications, and their static and dynamic characteristics. Particular effort is dedicated to developing simple, concise, intuitive and easy-to-use mathematical models that summarize the essence of the grid side converter dynamics. Mathematics is reduced to a necessary minimum, solved examples are used extensively to introduce new concepts, and exercises are used to test mastery of new skills.

Advanced Materials for Wastewater Treatment and Desalination: Fundamentals to Applications offers a comprehensive overview of current progress in the development of advanced materials used in wastewater treatment and desalination. The book is divided into two major sections, covering both fundamentals and applications. This book: Describes the synthesis and modification of advanced materials, including metal oxides, carbonaceous materials, perovskite-based materials, polymer-based materials, and advanced nanocomposites Examines relevant synthesis routes and mechanisms as well as correlates materials' properties with their characterization Details new fabrication techniques including green synthesis, solvent-free, and energy-saving synthesis approaches Highlights various applications, such as removal of organic contaminants, discoloration of dye wastewater, petrochemical wastewater treatment, and electrochemically-enhanced water treatment With chapters written by leading researchers from around the world, this book will be of interest to chemical, materials, and environmental engineers working on progressing materials applications to improve water treatment technologies.

This book describes in detail different types of vibration signals and the signal processing methods, including signal resampling and signal envelope, used for condition monitoring of drivetrains. A special emphasis is placed on wind turbines and on the fact that they work in highly varying operational conditions. The core of the book is devoted to cutting-edge methods used to validate and process vibration data in these conditions. Key case studies, where advanced signal processing methods are used to detect failures of gearboxes and bearings of wind turbines, are described and discussed in detail. Vibration sensors, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), portable data analyzers and online condition monitoring systems, are also covered. This book offers a timely guide to both researchers and professionals working with wind turbines (but also other machines), and to graduate students willing to extend their knowledge in the field of vibration analysis.

Many islands currently rely on heavy fuel oil as their primary energy source. As the issue of pollution and climate change became a reality, many countries, including island nations, began looking to reduce their carbon emissions by launching programs and policies designed to ease their transition from oil to alternative energy technologies that are more environmentally friendly. Transitioning Island Nations Into Sustainable Energy Hubs: Emerging Research and Opportunities provides the latest research exploring the theoretical and practical aspects of establishing renewable energy source systems on islands. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as the vision of future energy networks and its role in creating the idea of energy hubs, this book is ideally designed for academicians, environmental professionals, researchers, policy makers, environmental engineers, and individuals seeking current research on renewable energy development.

Sustainable Advanced Solar Passive House provides a platform to disseminate knowledge regarding the basics of solar energy, heat transfer, and solar houses, including designing concepts. Apart from a brief introduction to solar physics and thermodynamics, the book primarily deals with the technical description of solar houses and associated concepts. Different types of photovoltaic modules and their integration with the buildings are discussed with case studies, including energy balance equations and fundamental energy matrices. It discusses concepts like energy matrices, solar passive heating/cooling, architecture design, low-cost building, energy/exergy analysis, building integrated photovoltaic, and energy conservation.

In Contesting Hydropower in the Brazilian Amazon, Ed Atkins focuses on how local, national, and international civil society groups have resisted the Belo Monte and Sao Luiz do Tapajos hydroelectric projects in Brazil. In doing so, Atkins explores how contemporary opposition to hydropower projects demonstrate a form of 'contested sustainability' that highlights the need for sustainable energy transitions to take more into account than merely greenhouse gas emissions. The assertion that society must look to successfully transition away from fossil fuels and towards sustainable energy sources often appears assured in contemporary environmental governance. However, what is less certain is who decides which forms of energy are deemed 'sustainable.' Contesting Hydropower in the Brazilian Amazon explores one process in which the sustainability of a 'green' energy source is contested. It focuses on how civil society actors have both challenged and reconfigured dominant pro-dam assertions that present the hydropower schemes studied as renewable energy projects that contribute to sustainable development agendas. The volume also examines in detail how anti-dam actors act to render visible the political interests behind a project, whilst at the same time linking the resistance movement to wider questions of contemporary environmental politics. This interdisciplinary work will be of great interest to students and scholars of sustainable development, sustainable energy transitions, environmental justice, environmental governance, and development studies.

Provides insight to extremophiles. Unveils the mysticism of extreme environments. Explores applications of extremophiles in biorefineries. Throws light on the advancement of industrially important extremozymes. Explores applications in biofilms and microbial corrosion.

The 20th century is known to the entire world as a century of American greatness. Innovations in energy drove that American superiority; innovations such as oil pipelines, petroleum-based fuel, the light bulb, electricity, and the power grid. However, our legacy energy economy leaves us wanting in the 21st century. Centralized vulnerability, wasted generation capacity, dependence on foreign fuel, and climate change are financed by every one of us at the pump and in our monthly utility bill. However, "Energy Freedom" is not about what is wrong with our current energy economy; rather it describes a bright future that is waiting to be unlocked. It presents a plan where the average homeowner can not only achieve Energy Freedom for their household, but usher in the new energy economy.

In solar cell production, metallization is the manufacturing of metal contacts at the surfaces of solar cells in order to collect the photo-generated current for use. Being one of the most expensive steps in solar cell fabrication, it plays both an electrical and an optical role, because the contacts contribute to shading, and to the series resistance of solar cells. In addition, metal contacts may reduce the solar cells voltage due to charge carrier recombination at the metal / silicon interface. Addressing these challenges could increase solar cell conversion efficiency while cutting their production costs. This work presents state of the art methods for the metallization of crystalline Si solar cells for industrial production as well as for research and development. Different metallization technologies are compared, and ongoing R&D activities for the most relevant silicon solar cell metallization technologies are described in detail. Chapters cover fundamentals of metallization and metallization approaches, evaporated, plated and screen-printed contacts, alternative printing technologies, metallization of specific solar cell types, module interconnection technologies, and also address module technology. Written by a selection of world-renowned experts, the book provides researchers in academia and industry, solar cell manufacturing experts and advanced students with a thorough and systematic guide to advanced metallization of solar cells.

Covers the analytical and numerical modelling of wave energy converter technologies Accesible to advanced students as well as specialist engineers. Uniquely explains a series of practical devices and systems

This book presents and facilitates the interchange of new research and development results concerned with hot topics in thermoelectric generators (TEGs) research, development and production. Topics include prospective thermoelectric materials for manufacturing TEGs operating in low-, mid-, and high temperature ranges, thermal and mechanical degradation issues in prospective thermoelectric materials and TEG modules, theoretical study of novel inorganic and organic thermoelectric materials, novel methods and apparatus for measuring performance of thermoelectric materials and TEGs, and thermoelectric power generators simulation, modeling, design and practice.This book helps researchers tackle the challenges that still remain in creating cheap and effective TEGs and presents the latest trends and technologies in development and production of advanced thermoelectric generation devices. Provides a concentration of new research and development in the field of Thermoelectric energy generation; Facilitates the interchange of new ideas and results to react effectively to the challenges of Thermoelectric generators; Explains both the advancements and challenges in TEGs.

The gathering and storage of data indexed in space and time are experiencing unprecedented growth, demanding for advanced and adapted tools to analyse them. This thesis deals with the exploration and modelling of complex high-frequency and non-stationary spatio-temporal data. It proposes an efficient framework in modelling with machine learning algorithms spatio-temporal fields measured on irregular monitoring networks, accounting for high dimensional input space and large data sets. The uncertainty quantification is enabled by specifying this framework with the extreme learning machine, a particular type of artificial neural network for which analytical results, variance estimation and confidence intervals are developed. Particular attention is also paid to a highly versatile exploratory data analysis tool based on information theory, the Fisher-Shannon analysis, which can be used to assess the complexity of distributional properties of temporal, spatial and spatio-temporal data sets. Examples of the proposed methodologies are concentrated on data from environmental sciences, with an emphasis on wind speed modelling in complex mountainous terrain and the resulting renewable energy assessment. The contributions of this thesis can find a large number of applications in several research domains where exploration, understanding, clustering, interpolation and forecasting of complex phenomena are of utmost importance.

This book examines the synthesis of graphene obtained from different natural raw materials and waste products as a low-cost, environmentally friendly alternative that delivers a quality final product. Expert researchers review potential sources of natural raw materials and waste products, methods or characterization, graphene synthesis considerations, and important applications. FEATURES Explores the different approaches to the synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) from natural and industrial carbonaceous wastes Outlines the modification and characterization methods of GO and rGO Addresses the characterization methods of GO and rGO Details applications of GO and rGO created from natural sources Graphene is a multidisciplinary material with applications in almost every sector of science and engineering. Graphene from Natural Sources: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications is a noteworthy reference for material scientists and engineers in academia and industry interested in reducing costs and employing green synthesis methods in their work.

This thesis outlines the investigation of various electrode materials for Li-ion battery (LIB) applications. Li-ion batteries are widely used in various portable electronic devices owing to their compactness, light weight, longer life, design flexibility and environment friendliness. This work describes the detailed synthesis and structural studies of various novel phosphate based cathode materials and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites as anode materials. Their electrochemical characterization as electrode for LIBs has been investigated in detail. The thesis also includes a comprehensive introduction for non-specialists in this field. The research could benefit and will appeal to scientists, especially new researchers working in the field of energy storage.

The depletion of fossil fuel reserves and concerns for environmental degradation due to the fossil fuel burning have led the scientific community to look for alternative renewable energy sources. Among the available renewable energy sources, bioenergy derived from biomass and waste resources have great potential to not only prevent environmental pollution but also be a carbon neutral energy source. In addition, adaptation of this technology could streamline new green products, alternative energy sources into real-world applications and promote a circular economy towards zero-waste approach. This book tries to bridge the existing knowledge gap in the area of bioenergy resources. The first two chapters provide introduction to the anaerobic digestion (AD) technologies and direct interspecies electron transfer in AD. The next three chapters are on biomass pretreatment technologies for process improvement. The sixth to eighth chapter discuses biogas and other by-product production from specific wastes such from dairy, food and agricultural solid waste. The following two chapters focuses on the downstream processing of anaerobic digestate and on biochar production. Integration of AD in biorefineries using bioelectrochemical systems, syngas fermentation and electricity production are discussed in the next three chapters. The final two chapters elaborates on life cycle assessment of AD based technologies.

This book discusses how to reduce the impact of dust and heat on photovoltaic systems. It presents the problems caused by both dust accumulation and heat on PV systems, as well as the solutions, in a collected piece of literature. The Effects of Dust and Heat on Photovoltaic Modules: Impacts and Solutions begins by discussing the properties of dust accumulation on PV modules. It then presents several solutions to this, such as hydrophobic coatings and surface texturing. The second half of the book is used to discuss the effects of heat on silicon PV modules, as well as various cooling approaches. These include water cooling and carbon-based materials. Due to the prevalence of PV systems in renewable energy, this book will be of interest to numerous students, researchers and practitioners.

This book discusses various renewable energy resources and technologies. Topics covered include recent advances in photobioreactor design; microalgal biomass harvesting, drying, and processing; and technological advances and optimised production systems as prerequisites for achieving a positive energy balance. It highlights alternative resources that can be used to replace fossil fuels, such as algal biofuels, biodiesel, bioethanol, and biohydrogen. Further, it reviews microbial technologies, discusses an immobilization method, and highlights the efficiency of enzymes as a key factor in biofuel production. In closing, the book outlines future research directions to increase oil yields in microalgae, which could create new opportunities for lipid-based biofuels, and provides an outlook on the future of global biofuel production. Given its scope, the book will appeal to all researchers and engineers working in the renewable energy sector.

Presents dual aspects of hyperaccumulators in phytoremediation and bioenergy production. Highlights the future face of industries in phytoremediation and bioenergy production. Focuses the promising candidates exploits as hyperaccumulator and biomass producers. Explains the role of algae and microbes in bioremediation and bioenergy production. Represents a comprehensive, up to date analysis in the field of phytoremediation as well as bioenergy production.

This thesis reports on innovations in the design and direct synthesis of graphene-based woven fabric (GWF) and multi-layer graphene/porous carbon woven fabric films (MLG/PC) by means of chemical vapor deposition (CVD), using woven copper mesh and nickel mesh as the template. Further, it presents the successful applications of these materials as a platform for solar cells, super capacitors and sensors, making it especially of interest to researchers and graduate students in the fields of materials sciences, nanotechnology and renewable energy.

This book discusses the biorefinery of biomass feedstocks. In-depth chapters highlight the scientific and technical aspects and present a techno-economic analysis of such systems. By using a TEA approach, the authors present feasible pathways for the conversion of biomass (both residual biomass, energy crops, and algae biomass), showing the different possibilities for the production of biochemical materials, biofuels, and fertilizers. The concepts presented in this book will link companies, investors, and governments by providing a framework that will help reduce pollutants and create a biomass-related economy that incorporates the newest developments and technologies in the area.

This book contains high-quality and original research on computational intelligence for green smart cities research. In recent years, the use of smart city technology has rapidly increased through the successful development and deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) architectures. The citizens' quality of life has been improved in several sensitive areas of the city, such as transportation, buildings, health care, education, environment, and security, thanks to these technological advances Computational intelligence techniques and algorithms enable a computational analysis of enormous data sets to reveal patterns that recur. This information is used to inform and improve decision-making at the municipal level to build smart computational intelligence techniques and sustainable cities for their citizens. Machine intelligence allows us to identify trends (patterns). The smart city could better integrate its transportation network, for example. By offering a better public transportation network adapted to the demand, we could reduce personal vehicles and energy consumption. A smart city could use models to predict the consequences of a change, such as pedestrianizing a street or adding a bike lane. A city can even create a 3D digital twin to test hypothetical projects. This book comprises many state-of-the-art contributions from scientists and practitioners working in machine intelligence and green smart cities. It aspires to provide a relevant reference for students, researchers, engineers, and professionals working in this area or those interested in grasping its diverse facets and exploring the latest advances in machine intelligence for green and sustainable smart city applications.

Solid-Liquid Thermal Energy Storage: Modeling and Applications provides a comprehensive overview of solid-liquid phase change thermal storage. Chapters are written by specialists from both academia and industry. Using recent studies on the improvement, modeling, and new applications of these systems, the book discusses innovative solutions for any potential drawbacks. This book: Discusses experimental studies in the field of solid-liquid phase change thermal storage Reviews recent research on phase change materials Covers various innovative applications of phase change materials (PCM) on the use of sustainable and renewable energy sources Presents recent developments on the theoretical modeling of these systems Explains advanced methods for enhancement of heat transfer in PCM This book is a reference for engineers and industry professionals involved in the use of renewable energy systems, energy storage, heating systems for buildings, sustainability design, etc. It can also benefit graduate students taking courses in heat transfer, energy engineering, advanced materials, and heating systems.