The second edition of this popular textbook has been extensively revised and brought up-to-date with new chapters addressing energy storage and off-grid systems. It provides a quantitative yet accessible overview of the renewable energy technologies that are essential for a net-zero carbon energy system. Covering wind, hydro, solar thermal, photovoltaic, ocean and bioenergy, the text is suitable for engineering undergraduates as well as graduate students from other numerate degrees. The technologies involved, background theory and how projects are developed, constructive and operated are described. Worked examples demonstrate the simple calculation techniques used and engage students by showing them how theory relates to real applications. Tutorial chapters provide background material supporting students from a range of disciplines, and there are over 150 end-of-chapter problems with answers. Online resources, restricted to instructors, provide additional material, including copies of the diagrams, full solutions to the problems and examples of extended exercises.

The second edition of this popular textbook has been extensively revised and brought up-to-date with new chapters addressing energy storage and off-grid systems. It provides a quantitative yet accessible overview of the renewable energy technologies that are essential for a net-zero carbon energy system. Covering wind, hydro, solar thermal, photovoltaic, ocean and bioenergy, the text is suitable for engineering undergraduates as well as graduate students from other numerate degrees. The technologies involved, background theory and how projects are developed, constructive and operated are described. Worked examples demonstrate the simple calculation techniques used and engage students by showing them how theory relates to real applications. Tutorial chapters provide background material supporting students from a range of disciplines, and there are over 150 end-of-chapter problems with answers. Online resources, restricted to instructors, provide additional material, including copies of the diagrams, full solutions to the problems and examples of extended exercises.

Wind energy is a major source renewable electricity generation in many countries and the diameter of wind turbine rotors is increasing. Onshore and offshore wind farms are described. The principles of wind turbine operation is explained and the importance of the power curve identified. Wind turbine rotors are analysed using axial momentum theory and the Betz limit; the power and torque coefficients are derived using the axial momentum factor. The generation of torque through lift on the blades is described and the principles of pitch and stall power regulation discussed. Fixed- and variable-speed operation of wind turbine rotors is described and variable-speed operations using two full-power converters demonstrated. Site wind speeds are described in terms of Weibull statistics and the method of bins discussed. The importance of wind turbulence and its effect on turbines is identified. Development of wind farms and the use of measure–correlate–predict to estimate long-term windspeeds is reviewed. The chapter is supported by 3 examples, 14 questions with answers and full solutions in the accompanying online material. Further reading and online resources are identified.

The second edition of this popular textbook has been extensively revised and brought up-to-date with new chapters addressing energy storage and off-grid systems. It provides a quantitative yet accessible overview of the renewable energy technologies that are essential for a net-zero carbon energy system. Covering wind, hydro, solar thermal, photovoltaic, ocean and bioenergy, the text is suitable for engineering undergraduates as well as graduate students from other numerate degrees. The technologies involved, background theory and how projects are developed, constructive and operated are described. Worked examples demonstrate the simple calculation techniques used and engage students by showing them how theory relates to real applications. Tutorial chapters provide background material supporting students from a range of disciplines, and there are over 150 end-of-chapter problems with answers. Online resources, restricted to instructors, provide additional material, including copies of the diagrams, full solutions to the problems and examples of extended exercises.

This chapter examines the regulation of renewable energy in Australia, with a specific focus on wind energy. Renewable energy is rapidly progressing and evolving and represents a crucial component of our approach to greenhouse gas reduction and the transition towards a sustainable, low-carbon society. The chapter examines the broader regulatory frameworks for renewable energy at both the state and federal levels. It reviews how the legal system supports the development of renewable energy as well as a transitioning energy framework. To this extent, the chapter examines the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 (Cth), the operation of the renewable energy target and the role that the various clean energy bodies have assumed in implementing this framework. It considers some of the economic implications for the energy transition. The nature of wind farming and the regulatory principles and best practices standards for South Australia and Victoria are reviewed.

Improvements in wind technology and reductions in cost mean that wind energy is now one of the most important sources of new electricity generation. This chapter looks at the history, physics and technological improvements leading to current wind turbine technology. Longer turbine blades and taller hub heights have played a key role in improving wind turbine performance. It also covers the development process required to build a wind farm including monitoring, energy assessment and financing aspects. A summary of pricing of recent wind energy projects from around the world demonstrates the economic competitiveness of the technology. We consider Denmark, and how it deals with the variability of obtaining more than 30% of its electricity from wind. Finally, it is demonstrated that a modest increase in wind installations to 72 gigawatts per year could see the world obtaining about 20% of electricity from wind power by 2040.

This chapter introduces the reader to the main global energy issues. It starts by illustrating the fundamental role of energy in modern societies, and it continues by outlying the key energy challenges facing the globe as a result of rising demand for energy. Among these, particular attention is devoted to climate change, energy access in developing countries and energy security.

This chapter focuses on modern renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and marine energy. For each technology option, the chapter outlines the fundamental technological aspects and the key global production and consumption trends. By doing so, the chapter also assesses the cost dimension of the various sources, by presenting the evolution of global levelized costs of electricity in the last decade. The chapter also discusses the applicability of renewables to both centralised and distributed power systems, and outlines the importance of digital technologies in facilitating the integration of variable renewable energy sources into the grid. The chapter concludes with an outline of the barriers to renewable energy implementation and of the strategies to address them.

Usage of composite materials is ubiquitous in the modern world. While global tonnages are still well below those of steel, they now find a wider range of applications and their value is starting to become comparable to that of steel products. As low weight and energy efficiency become increasingly important, this trend is likely to accelerate. In this chapter, the objective is to identify some of the issues involved in commercial exploitation of composites. This is done by means of case studies drawn from various industrial sectors. The examples cover a range of composite type, engineering complexity, manufacturing route, market size and competitive position relative to more traditional materials.

China’s state-directed technology development and deployment programs have led to unprecedented adoption of advanced technologies in its electricity sector. However, signs of inefficient capital allocation are widespread, such as continued coal plant capacity build-out amidst slowing electricity demand growth and underutilization of renewable energy investments. The separation of technology programs from durable local autonomies in electricity systems operation and planning, as well as unsuccessful central reforms to create a market for the fundamental commodity, electricity, contribute to uncaptured economic and public health benefits. China’s programs on high-efficiency coal-fired power plants demonstrate this important lesson for industrial upgrading: technological innovation and adoption do not reap their full benefits without comparable modernization of regulatory and policy frameworks. Ongoing power sector reforms may be insufficient to address these issues.