Renewable Energy Resource Assessment And Forecasting

In recent years, several projects and studies have been launched towards the development and use of new methodologies, in order to assess, monitor, and support clean forms of energy. Accurate estimation of the available energy potential is of primary importance, but is not always easy to achieve. The present Special Issue on ‘Renewable Energy Resource Assessment and Forecasting’ aims to provide a holistic approach to the above issues, by presenting multidisciplinary methodologies and tools that are able to support research projects and meet today’s technical, socio-economic, and decision-making needs. In particular, research papers, reviews, and case studies on the following subjects are presented: wind, wave and solar energy; biofuels; resource assessment of combined renewable energy forms; numerical models for renewable energy forecasting; integrated forecasted systems; energy for buildings; sustainable development; resource analysis tools and statistical models; extreme value analysis and forecasting for renewable energy resources.

In recent years, several projects and studies have been launched towards the development and use of new methodologies, in order to assess, monitor, and support clean forms of energy. Accurate estimation of the available energy potential is of primary importance, but is not always easy to achieve. The present Special Issue on 'Renewable Energy Resource Assessment and Forecasting' aims to provide a holistic approach to the above issues, by presenting multidisciplinary methodologies and tools that are able to support research projects and meet today's technical, socio-economic, and decision-making needs. In particular, research papers, reviews, and case studies on the following subjects are presented: wind, wave and solar energy; biofuels; resource assessment of combined renewable energy forms; numerical models for renewable energy forecasting; integrated forecasted systems; energy for buildings; sustainable development; resource analysis tools and statistical models; extreme value analysis and forecasting for renewable energy resources.

Solar Energy Forecasting and Resource Assessment is a vital text for solar energy professionals, addressing a critical gap in the core literature of the field. As major barriers to solar energy implementation, such as materials cost and low conversion efficiency, continue to fall, issues of intermittency and reliability have come to the fore. Scrutiny from solar project developers and their financiers on the accuracy of long-term resource projections and grid operators’ concerns about variable short-term power generation have made the field of solar forecasting and resource assessment pivotally important. This volume provides an authoritative voice on the topic, incorporating contributions from an internationally recognized group of top authors from both industry and academia, focused on providing information from underlying scientific fundamentals to practical applications and emphasizing the latest technological developments driving this discipline forward. The only reference dedicated to forecasting and assessing solar resources enables a complete understanding of the state of the art from the world’s most renowned experts. Demonstrates how to derive reliable data on solar resource availability and variability at specific locations to support accurate prediction of solar plant performance and attendant financial analysis. Provides cutting-edge information on recent advances in solar forecasting through monitoring, satellite and ground remote sensing, and numerical weather prediction.

The book “Assessment of Renewable Energy Resources with Remote Sensing" focuses on disseminating scientific knowledge and technological developments for the assessment and forecasting of renewable energy resources using remote sensing techniques. The eleven papers inside the book provide an overview of remote sensing applications on hydro, solar, wind and geothermal energy resources and their major goal is to provide state of art knowledge to contribute with the renewable energy resource deployment, especially in regions where energy demand is rapidly expanding. Renewable energy resources have an intrinsic relationship with local environmental features and the regional climate. Even small and fast environment and/or climate changes can cause significant variability in power generation at different time and space scales. Methodologies based on remote sensing are the primary source of information for the development of numerical models that aim to support the planning and operation of an electric system with a substantial contribution of intermittent energy sources. In addition, reliable data and knowledge on renewable energy resource assessment are fundamental to ensure sustainable expansion considering environmental, financial and energetic security.

Photovoltaic (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) systems for the conversion of solar energy into electricity are technologically robust, scalable, and geographically dispersed, and they possess enormous potential as sustainable energy sources. Systematic planning and design considering various factors and constraints are necessary for the successful deployment of PV and CSP systems. This book on solar power system planning and design includes 14 publications from esteemed research groups worldwide. The research and review papers in this Special Issue fall within the following broad categories: resource assessments, site evaluations, system design, performance assessments, and feasibility studies.

The book “Assessment of Renewable Energy Resources with Remote Sensing" focuses on disseminating scientific knowledge and technological developments for the assessment and forecasting of renewable energy resources using remote sensing techniques. The eleven papers inside the book provide an overview of remote sensing applications on hydro, solar, wind and geothermal energy resources and their major goal is to provide state of art knowledge to contribute with the renewable energy resource deployment, especially in regions where energy demand is rapidly expanding. Renewable energy resources have an intrinsic relationship with local environmental features and the regional climate. Even small and fast environment and/or climate changes can cause significant variability in power generation at different time and space scales. Methodologies based on remote sensing are the primary source of information for the development of numerical models that aim to support the planning and operation of an electric system with a substantial contribution of intermittent energy sources. In addition, reliable data and knowledge on renewable energy resource assessment are fundamental to ensure sustainable expansion considering environmental, financial and energetic security.

World Energy Resources is an explanatory energy survey of the countries and major regions of the world, their geographic and economic settings, and signif icant inter-relationships. This book attempts to combine several interacting energy themes that encompass a historical development, energy issues and forecasts, economic geography, environmental programs, and world energy use. The main thrust of this book -World Energy Resources - is based on princi ples of energy science, applied geology, geophysics, and other environmental sciences as they relate to the exploration, exploitation, and production of resources in this country and throughout the world. This work is an analysis of the United States (USA) and world oil, gas, coal, and alternative energy resources and their associated issues, forecasts, and related policy. This book could not have been attempted without a broad geological exposure and international ge ographic awareness. Much information is scattered among federal and state agencies, schools, and other institutions, and this book has attempted to com bine some of the vast information base. This attempt can only skim the infor mation surface at best, but its regional and topical coverage is broad in scope. Part I introduces conventional energy resources and their historical develop ments, and includes chapters 1 to 7. The basic concepts and supporting facts on energy sources are presented here for the general education of energy analysts, policy makers, and scientists that desire a brief review of advanced technologies and history.

It is the purpose of this book to provide the meteorological knowledge and tools to improve the risk management of energy industry decisions, ranging from the long term finance and engineering planning assessments to the short term operational measures for scheduling and maintenance. Most of the chapters in this book are based on presentations given at the inaugural International Conference Energy & Meteorology (ICEM), held in the Gold Coast, Australia, 8-11 November 2011. The main aim of the conference was to strengthen the link between Energy and Meteorology, so as to make meteorological information more relevant to the planning and operations of the energy sector. The ultimate goal would be to make the best use of weather and climate data in order to achieve a more efficient use of energy sources. This book seeks to realise the same objective.