Renewable Energy Based Solutions

This book discusses the main renewable energy resources, along with the current challenges that make it difficult achieve 100% decarbonized energy sources. It presents the perspectives of international expert authors in the field, giving readers a multi-dimensional view of the subject. The book explores numerous approaches for a smooth transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies, including those based on engineering methods, as well as policies, strategies, and social perceptions. It presents several case studies and examples from industry, showcasing the potential role of renewable sources and their challenges. The inclusion of both established methods and cutting-edge developments will make this book of interest to academics, industry professionals, policy makers, and graduate students alike.

This book is a call to action on climate change, filled with clear and detailed information on the strategies we need to adopt to ensure a sustainable future for the planet. Unlike other books on the subject, it brings together both the technology and policy issues to provide a truly interdisciplinary approach. Mark Diesendorf provides a guide to our future energy options, outlining the enormous recent changes in the energy sector in Australia and internationally. Diesendorf argues that we now have the technologies needed to transform our fossil-fuel based energy systems into an ecologically sustainable one, based on the efficient use of renewable energy. All we need is the political will to do so.

This book identifies second stage challenges and opportunities for expanding renewable energy into a mainstay of electricity generation that can replace fossil fuels and nuclear power, comparing Japan with several countries in East Asia and Northern Europe. Environmentally sustainable renewable energy technologies have now overtaken fossil fuel and nuclear technologies in terms of total global investment, and the costs of these technologies and related ones (e.g. storage batteries) are rapidly falling. Yet renewable energy use varies greatly from country to country. Major second stage obstacles to replacing fossil and nuclear-fueled electricity generation include the lack of electricity grid capacity and storage assets. Opportunities and solutions include expanding grids regionally and internationally, building flexible smart grids that offer better demand management, and policies that promote the expansion of storage assets, especially grid batteries and hydrogen. In addition, two key factors – electricity market restructuring through unbundling transmission from electricity generating companies; and electricity market liberalization, especially for retail customers – allow consumers to choose power companies based not only on price, but also on method of generation, especially fossil or nuclear generation versus renewable energy.

This Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report (IPCC-SRREN) assesses the potential role of renewable energy in the mitigation of climate change. It covers the six most important renewable energy sources - bioenergy, solar, geothermal, hydropower, ocean and wind energy - as well as their integration into present and future energy systems. It considers the environmental and social consequences associated with the deployment of these technologies and presents strategies to overcome technical as well as non-technical obstacles to their application and diffusion. SRREN brings a broad spectrum of technology-specific experts together with scientists studying energy systems as a whole. Prepared following strict IPCC procedures, it presents an impartial assessment of the current state of knowledge: it is policy relevant but not policy prescriptive. SRREN is an invaluable assessment of the potential role of renewable energy for the mitigation of climate change for policymakers, the private sector and academic researchers.

Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, human use of fossil fuels for energy has released tremendous amounts of pollutants and carbon dioxide into Earth's atmosphere. This has altered the environment in increasingly negative ways. All around the world, lawmakers, activists, and young innovators are taking steps and seeking energy solutions. This innovative book examines one of the most important topics of our time: clean, responsible, and renewable energy solutions for all. From solar power technology to the dream of nuclear fusion, people are stepping up to explore or put many different energy sources into practical use. Empower your readers to form and make the right decisions.

Renewable energy expert Mark Diesendorf issues a powerful challenge in this clear and comprehensive guide to the technology and policies we need to adopt to ensure an ecologically sustainable energy future for the planet." Sustainable Energy Solutions for Climate Change "brings together the science, technology, economics and policy issues to provide a unique and truly interdisciplinary approach. It details the enormous recent changes in the energy sector and profiles the renewable energy technologies that can transform our fossil-fuelled energy systems into ecologically sustainable ones. The book provides in-depth analysis of: scenarios for transitioning our polluting energy system to one basedon the efficient use of renewable energy sustainable transport and planning for better cities why nuclear energy is not the answer the politics and policies of climate change mitigation myths about wind and solar energy and energy efficiency what people can do to overcome vested interests and push reluctant governments to take effective action. Taking stock of the latest advances in energy efficiency and energy storage, the book is of interest to students at undergraduate and postgraduate level studying energy policy and economics, environmental policy and environmental politics as well as professionals and policy makers.

Over the next several decades, as human populations grow, the demand for energy will soar. But renewable energy sources have a large energy sprawl--the amount of land needed to produce energy--which can threaten biodiversity. In Energy Sprawl Solutions, scientists Joseph M. Kiesecker and David Naugle provide a roadmap for preserving biodiversity despite the threats of energy sprawl. Their strategy--development by design--identifies and sets aside land where biodiversity can thrive while consolidating development in areas with lower biodiversity value. This contributed volume features case studies from countries around the world, each describing a different energy sector and the way they have successfully maximized biodiversity protection. This book provides a needed guide for elected officials, industry representatives, NGOs and community groups who have a stake in sustainable energy-development planning.

A positive, proactive book that proposes a set of policies and strategies for implementing the most promising cleaner energy technologies by all spheres of government, business and community organisations.