Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Introducing renewable energy. Introduction -- Present-day energy use -- Fossil fuels and climate change -- Renewable energy sources -- Renewable energy in a sustainable future -- 2. Solar thermal energy. Introduction -- The rooftop solar water heater -- The nature and availability of solar radiation -- the magic of glass -- Low-temperature solar energy applications -- Active solar heating -- Passive solar heating -- Daylighting -- Solar thermal engines and electricity generation -- Economics, potential and environmental impact -- 3. Solar photovoltaics. Introduction -- Introducing photovoltaics -- PV in silicon : basic principles -- Crystalline PV : reducing costs and raising efficiency-- Thin film PV -- Other innovative PV technologies -- Electrical characteristics of silicon PV cells and modules -- PV systems for remote power -- Grid-connected PV systems -- Costs of energy from PV -- Environmental impact and safety -- PV integration, resources and future prospects -- 4. Bioenergy. Introduction -- Bioenergy past and present -- Biomass as a fuel -- Bioenergy sources I : Energy crops -- Bioenergy sources II : Wastes -- Combustion of solid biomass -- Production of gaseous fuels from biomass -- Production of liquid fuels from biomass -- Environmental benefits and impacts -- Economics -- Future prospects -- 5. Hydroelectricity. Introduction -- The Galloway hydros -- Hydro : the resource -- Stored energy and available power -- A brief history of water-power -- Types of hydroelectric plant -- The Francis turbine -- 'Propellers' -- Impulse turbines -- Ranges of application -- Small-scale hydroelectricity -- Environmental considerations -- Integration -- Economics -- Future prospects --

6. Tidal power. Introduction -- Technical factors -- Environmental factors -- Integration -- Economic factors -- Tidal energy potential -- Tidal streams -- Tidal current turbines : the next stage -- Tidal current assessment -- 7. Wind energy. Introduction -- The wind -- Wind turbines -- Aerodynamics of wind turbines -- Power and energy from wind turbines -- Environmental impact -- Economics -- Commercial development and wind energy potential --Offshore wind energy -- 8. Wave energy. Introduction -- Introductory case studies -- Physical principles of wave energy -- Wave energy resources -- Wave energy technology -- Economics -- Environmental impact -- Integration -- Future prospects -- 9. Geothermal energy. Geothermal energy-- an overview -- The physics of geothermal resources -- Technologies for geothermal resource exploitation -- Environmental implications -- Economics and world potential in the United Kingdom -- 10. Integration. Introduction -- The existing UK energy system -- How much renewable energy is available? Are renewable-energy supplies available where we want them? -- Are renewable-energy supplies available when we want them? -- Some system solutions -- Balancing economic options -- Promoting renewables -- Energy scenarios : Danish examples -- Global scenarios -- Conclusions.

This 2nd edition, edited by Godfrey Boyle, provides comprehensive and accessible coverage of the principal renewable energy sources available today.