Renewable energy (RE) is a subject of great interest today. It is one of the two main means for implementing climate change mitigation programmes, and presently the only perceived means for replacing the declining global fossil fuel reserves. It also helps fight poverty and assists in the global quest for gender equity by taking clean energy where it is needed most for development. It is perhaps not surprising therefore that there is so much coverage of RE in both the conventional media and the internet by media and tech writers, economists and bloggers, many of who only have a partial understanding of the technology itself. The end result is mostly promotional rhetoric that says little about the true value of the technology, and leads to a confused picture for the serious individual or decision-maker who wants to know what the technology is really capable of doing. This book provides a clear and factual picture of the status of RE and its capabilities today. The need for such a book was first realized by the author when he was engaged in a renewable energy capacity-building project encompassing countries from Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Pacific. The book is largely non-technical in nature; it does however contain enough mention of the science and technology to enable readers to go further with their own investigations should they wish to. The book covers all areas of renewable energy (RE), starting from biomass energy and hydropower and proceeding to wind, solar and geothermal energy before ending with an overview of ocean energy. It begins with a simple introduction to the physical principles of the RE technologies, followed by an enumeration of the requirements for their successful implementation. The last two chapters consider how the technologies are actually being implemented today and their roles in climate change mitigation and poverty alleviation.

Reactor Pressure Vessels (RPVs) contain the fuel and therefore the reaction at the heart of nuclear power plants. They are a life-determining structural component: if they suffer serious damage, the continued operation of the plant is in jeopardy. This book critically reviews irradiation embrittlement, the main degradation mechanism affecting RPV steels, and mitigation routes for managing the RPV lifetime.

Part I reviews RPV design and fabrication in different countries, with an emphasis on the materials required, their important properties, and manufacturing technologies. Part II then considers RVP embrittlement in operational nuclear power plants using different reactors. Chapters are devoted to embrittlement in light-water reactors, including WWER-type reactors and Magnox reactors. Finally, Part III presents techniques for studying embrittlement, including irradiation simulation techniques, microstructural characterisation techniques, and probabilistic fracture mechanics."

Irradiation Embrittlement of Reactor Pressure Vessels (RPVs) in Nuclear Power Plants "provides a thorough review of an issue that is central to the safety of nuclear power generation. The book includes contributions from an international team of experts, and will be a useful resource for nuclear plant operators and managers, relevant regulatory and safety bodies, nuclear metallurgists and other academics in this field
Discusses reactor pressure vessel (RPV) design and the effect irradiation embrittlement can have, the main degradation mechanism affecting RPVsExamines embrittlement processes in RPVs in different reactor types, as well as techniques for studying RPV embrittlement

Current fleets of conventional and nuclear power plants face increasing hostile environmental conditions due to increasingly high temperature operation for improved capacity and efficiency, and the need for long term service. Additional challenges are presented by the requirement to cycle plants to meet peak-load operation. This book presents a comprehensive review of structural materials in conventional and nuclear energy applications. Opening chapters address operational challenges and structural alloy requirements in different types of power plants. The following sections review power plant structural alloys and methods to mitigate critical materials degradation in power plants.

As energy has become one of the crucial factors in ensuring the economic growth and the sustainable development of people, nations, societies and, ultimately, human civilisation in the 21st century global scenario, there is a pressing need for treating energy as a strategic commodity and for analysing national, regional and global strategies concerning energy. This is an attempt to debate and discuss various facets -- economic, technological and political -- of such strategies, and at the same time, to encompass concepts, like energy security and energy diplomacy, that form significant components of such strategies. Strategising of energy is an issue that is inextricably linked with the domestic and foreign policies of a nation or a region, and it is characteristically futuristic, as strategies are supposed to be made with a long-term perspective. Contemporary Asian realities serve as the perspective of such an analysis for several reasons. Asia is the home of two fast growing and energy-thirsty countries like China and India, as well as Japan and the ASEAN countries. There are at least three energy-producing regions in Asia that are crucial for global energy security, like West Asia, the traditional one, two upcoming regions of Central Asia and the area around South China Sea. The Indian Ocean is one of the most important energy transit routes for international energy transport. Even the smallest disruption in the production and transport-chain of energy within Asia has the potential of upsetting the global energy balance. This volume attempts to focus on a number of significant issues concerning the theme of strategising of energy. Contributors analyse, debate and discuss the questions from different viewpoints and different angles. Thus, this volume represents a wide spectrum of views-from a scientist's vision of a world with cleaner energy, to the strategist's comments on solutions to national energy issues; from journalists' views on the development of governmental policies on energy, to academicians' analyses of regional energy strategies; and from historians' analyses of the restructuring of the national energy infrastructure and the re-prioritising of national energy strategies, to debates on national, regional as well as maritime energy strategies by specialists on international relations.

"Distributed Generation and its Implications for the Utility Industry" examines the current state of the electric supply industry; the upstream and downstream of the meter; the various technological, business, and regulatory strategies; and case studies that look at a number of projects that put new models into practice.

A number of powerful trends are beginning to affect the fundamentals of the electric utility business as we know it. Recent developments have led to a fundamental re-thinking of the electric supply industry and its traditional method of measuring consumption on a volumetric basis. These developments include decreasing electricity demand growth; the rising cost of fossil fuels and its impact on electricity costs; investment in energy efficiency; increasing numbers of prosumers who generate for some or all of their own needs; and market reforms.

This book examines the implications of these trends in chapters focusing on distributed and decentralized generation, transactive energy, the role of electric vehicles, any much more.
Discusses the technological, business, and policy trends most impacting the electric utility sectorProvides an assessment of how fast and how soon distributed energy resources may make an impact on utility sales/revenuesExplores, through a series of international case studies, the implementation of strategies that may help retain the viability of the utility industryFeatures contributions from a number of scholars, academics, experts and practitioners from different parts of the world focused on examining the future of the electric supply industry

The management of global warming is a relevant issue throughout the world and has experts of various fields considering various methods to control Earth s atmospheric temperature. While microgrid technology is emerging as the next generation energy supply system, renewable energy is often unstable and requires the support of conventional energy equipment. Optimum Design of Renewable Energy Systems: Microgrid and Nature Grid Methods investigates the development of highly efficient energy storage equipment and of operation optimization technology of compound energy systems. This book is an essential reference source for technical consultants, urban environment engineers, and energy researchers interested in the development of efficient energy systems and operation optimization technology."

Smart technology has significantly enhanced the efficient management of electric power supply systems. Despite the benefits of these advances, the complexity of such systems has proven to be difficult for testing purposes. Smart Grid Test Bed Using OPNET and Power Line Communication: Emerging Research and Opportunities presents an innovative perspective on the design, development, and implementation of an expandable test bed for smart grid applications. Highlighting pertinent topics such as intrusion detection, user interface, and performance evaluation, this book is an ideal reference source for researchers, academics, engineers, students, and professionals interested in the latest advancements for smart grid technologies.

Interpreting nuclear regulations for nuclear power plants is a difficult and complex task. There is no single book that describes a proper method for this purpose, until now. This book describes a complete process for regulatory interpretation and demonstrates its application. This book is not meant as a practice guide for lawyers. This book is intended for individuals with technical backgrounds who want to learn a structured means of interpreting nuclear laws and regulations following principles generally consistent with those that would be employed by lawyers and judges.

The use of fracking is a tremendously important technology for the recovery of oil and gas, but the advantages and costs of fracking remain controversial. This book examines the issues and social, economic, political, and legal aspects of fracking in the United States. Hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells-known commonly as "fracking"-has been in use in the United States for more than half a century. In recent years, however, massive expansion of shale gas fracturing across the nation has put fracking in the public eye. Is fracking a "win win" like its proponents say, or are there significant costs and dangers associated with the use of this energy production technology? This book examines fracking from all angles, addressing the promise of the United States becoming energy independent through the use of the process to tap the massive amounts of natural gas and oil available as well as the host of problems associated with fracking-groundwater contamination and increased seismic activity, just to mention two-that raise questions about the long-term feasibility of the process as a source of natural gas. The first part of the book provides a historical background of the topic; a review of technical information about fracking; and a detailed discussion of the social, economic, political, legal, and other aspects of the current fracking controversy. The second part of the book provides a host of resources for readers seeking to learn even more in-depth information about the topic, supplying a chronology, glossary, annotated bibliography, and profiles of important individuals and organizations. Written specifically for students and young adults, the content is accessible to readers with little or no previous knowledge regarding fracking. Provides readers with a complete historical review of the origins, development, and expansion of the use of fracking Explains the technical principles related to the use of fracking in clear, nontechnical language Presents an unbiased review of the arguments for and against the use of fracking for the recovery of oil and gas Supplies a summary of the history of the use of fracking in the United States

"Combustion of Pulverised Coal in a Mixture of Oxygen and Recycled Flue Gas" focuses on a niche technology, combustion of coal in an oxygen rich environment, which is one approach to obtaining clean coal, by making it easier to capture carbon that is released in the combustion process. Toporov s book breaks ground on covering the key fundamentals of oxycoal technologies, which have not yet been covered in this depth.

"Combustion of Pulverised Coal in a Mixture of Oxygen and Recycled Flue Gas" summarizes the main results from a pioneering work on experimental and numerical investigations of oxyfuel technologies. It provides the theoretical background of the process, the problems to be faced, and the technical solutions that were achieved during these investigations.
Summarizes results from investigations of oxyfuel technologies performed at Aachen University, GermanyProvides theoretical background, as well as the primary problems of these technologies and how they can be solved"

This unique volume offers insights from renowned experts in energy efficient building from the world over, providing a multi-faceted overview of the state-of-the-art in energy efficient architecture. It opens by defining what constitutes a sustainable building, suggesting bases for sorely needed benchmarks, then explains the most important techniques and tools available to engineers and architects exploring green building technologies. It covers such pivotal issues as daylighting, LED lighting, integrating renewables such as solar thermal and cooling, retrofitting, LEED and similar certification efforts, passive houses, net-zero and close-zero structures, water recycling, and much more. Highlighting best practices for commercial buildings and private homes, in widely varied climates and within vastly different socio-economic contexts, this illustrated reference will guide architects and engineers in making sustainable choices in building materials and methods.
Explains the best methods and materials to support energy efficient building

Features case studies by experts from a dozen countries, demonstrating how sustainable architecture can be achieved in varied climates and economies

Covers both new constructions and retrofitting of existing structures

Researchers, students and engineers working with biofuels and biomass are increasingly expected to comprehend a new holistic systems perspective that begins with wise crop breeding and cultivation techniques and informs the entire conversion to energy process. This volume provides diverse examples of successfully implemented sustainable biomass research in Asia, highlighting the challenges faced by designers of new biomass production facilities and tips on how to develop approaches to overcome them. In addition to providing an authoritative guide on the utilization of the authors sample feedstocks, rice straw and sunflower, the authors provide lessons relevant to stakeholders involved with all manner of biomass production projects by drawing out important comparisons and contrasts that must be taken into account when deciding how to utilize biomass as an energy resource in a way that is economically feasible and environmentally sustainable.
Provides diverse examples of successfully implemented biomass research, highlighting insights on common bottlenecks and approaches developed to overcome themFeatures coverage of the full feedstock life cycle, from crop breeding to commercial
application, focusing on 3 key areas: biomass production, biofuel conversion technologies, and sustainable practicesExamines two regionally compatible feedstock, rice-straw and sunflower, performing a compare and contrast analysis of agricultural production methods, economics, conversion systems, and environmental impacts
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This book provides readers with up-to-date coverage of fault location algorithms in transmission and distribution networks. The algorithms will help readers track down the exact location of a fault in the shortest possible time. Furthermore, voltage and current waveforms recorded by digital relays, digital fault recorders, and other intelligent electronic devices contain a wealth of information. Knowledge gained from analysing the fault data can help system operators understand what happened, why it happened and how it can be prevented from happening again. The book will help readers convert such raw data into useful information and improve power system performance and reliability.

In today's modern society, to reduce the carbon dioxide gas emission from motor vehicles and to save mother nature, electric vehicles are becoming more practical. As more people begin to see the benefits of this technology, further study on the challenges and best practices is required. The Handbook of Research on Battery Management Systems and Routing Problems in Electric Vehicles focuses on the integration of renewable energy sources with the existing grid, introduces a power exchange scenario in the prevailing power market, considers the use of the electric vehicle market for creating cleaner and transformative energy, and optimizes the control variables with artificial intelligence techniques. Covering key topics such as artificial intelligence, smart grids, and sustainable development, this major reference work is ideal for government officials, industry professionals, policymakers, researchers, scholars, practitioners, academicians, instructors, and students.

Measurement is the basis of commerce between producers, royalty owners, transporters, process plants, marketers, state and federal government authorities, and the general public. In fact, accurate measurement of hydrocarbon fluids and materials has a significant impact on the Gross National Product of exporting and importing countries, the financial performance and asset base of global companies, and the perceived efficiency of operating facilities. The need for accurate fiscal measurement is obvious. This information-packed volume covers all aspects of natural gas measurement and provides a clear presentation of the measurement principles, state-of-the-art technology, and its applications in the real world.

Despite the urgent need for action, there is a widespread lack of understanding of the benefits of using green energy sources for not only reducing carbon emissions and climate change, but also for growing a sustainable economy and society. Future citizens of the world face increasing sustainability issues and need to be better prepared for energy transformation and sustainable future economic development. Cases on Green Energy and Sustainable Development is a critical research book that focuses on the important role renewable energy and energy efficiency play in energy transition and sustainable development and covers economic and promotion policies of major renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies. Highlighting a wide range of topics such as economics, energy storage, and transportation technologies, this book is ideal for environmentalists, academicians, researchers, engineers, policymakers, and students.

To maintain a healthy ecosystem for contemporary society and for future generations, policies must be implemented to protect the environment. This can be achieved by consistent evaluation of new initiatives and strategies. The Handbook of Research on Renewable Energy and Electric Resources for Sustainable Rural Development is a critical scholarly resource that examines efficient use of electric resources and renewable energy sources which have a positive impact on sustainable development. Featuring coverage on cogeneration thermal modules, photovoltaic (pv) solar, and renewable energy systems (RES) application practices, this publication is geared towards academics, practitioners, professionals, and upper-level students interested in the latest research on renewable energy and electric resources for sustainable rural development.