Interest in renewable energy has never been greater, but much uncertainty remains as to the role the various technologies will play in the transition to a low-carbon future. This book sets out the facts - how the technologies work, where and to what extent they are currently employed, and where the greatest potential lies. Covering all the major fields - solar electricity, solar thermal, solar architecture, bioenergy, wind, geothermal, hydropower, as well as new energy technologies - it also includes sections on how best to promote the uptake of renewables and answers to common questions and opposition. The authors provide a number of German-sourced yet internationally relevant examples and strategies which have become increasingly significant in the promotion of renewable energy in recent years. The convenient layout mixes detailed explanation with clear, take-away facts and messages on each double-page spread. This straight-talking, information filled guide is the perfect primer for anyone who wants to better understand and promote renewable energy, whether in industry, study, policy or campaigns.
Author(s): Dieter Seifried, Walter Witzel
Publisher: Earthscan Publications Ltd.
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 257
Contents......Page 6
List of Figures......Page 10
Foreword......Page 13
Preface......Page 15
New Paths to the Future......Page 19
1.1 Our climate is at stake......Page 21
1.2 The inevitable fight for limited oil reserves......Page 23
1.3 Addiction to energy imports......Page 25
1.4 Nuclear energy is not an alternative......Page 27
1.5 Renewables are the way of the future......Page 29
1.6 We have enough sun......Page 31
1.7 Scenario for the solar future......Page 33
1.8 The solar strategy requires conservation......Page 35
1.9 Cogeneration – an indispensable part of our energy transition......Page 37
1.10 Liberalization of the German energy market......Page 39
1.11 Economic benefits......Page 43
2.1 Solar collectors......Page 45
2.2 Hot water from the sun......Page 47
2.3 Solar heating in district heating networks......Page 49
2.4 Cooling with the sun......Page 51
2.5 Solar drying – air collectors......Page 53
2.6 Solar thermal power plants......Page 55
3.1 The heart of a PV array – the solar cell......Page 57
3.2 Grid-connected PV arrays......Page 59
3.3 Off-grid PV arrays......Page 61
3.4 Solar energy as part of sustainable development......Page 63
3.5 The outlook for PV – lower costs from new technologies and mass production......Page 65
4.1 A third of the pie – space heating......Page 67
4.2 Passive solar energy......Page 69
4.3 The solar optimization of urban planning......Page 71
4.4 Solar thermal and PV in renovation......Page 73
4.5 The wall as a heater – transparent insulation......Page 75
4.6 Homes without heaters – passive houses......Page 77
4.7 The off-grid solar house – a model for the Solar Age?......Page 79
4.8 Plus-energy houses......Page 81
5.1 Fields and forests as solar collectors......Page 83
5.2 Biogas......Page 85
5.3 Biogas cogeneration units......Page 87
5.4 Wood as a source of energy......Page 89
5.5 District heating networks with woodchip systems......Page 91
5.6 Energy crops......Page 93
5.7 Fuel from the field – biodiesel......Page 95
5.8 Fuel from the plantation – ethanol......Page 97
5.9 Synthetic fuels (BTL)......Page 99
5.10 Is there enough land for biofuels?......Page 101
6.1 Wind power comes of age......Page 103
6.2 Wind power and nature conservation......Page 105
6.3 Wind velocity is key......Page 107
6.4 The success story of wind power since the 1990s......Page 109
6.5 The success story of wind power – the advantage of being first......Page 111
6.6 Wind power worldwide......Page 113
6.7 Wind power prospects – offshore turbines......Page 115
6.8 Wind power prospects – less is more through repowering......Page 117
7.1 Water power – the largest source of renewable energy......Page 119
7.2 Expanding hydropower – the example of Germany......Page 121
7.3 Hydropower and nature conservation......Page 123
7.4 The world’s largest hydropower plants......Page 125
7.5 Geothermal worldwide......Page 127
7.6 Underground heat......Page 129
7.7 Hot dry rock – power from underground......Page 131
7.8 Other possible sources of renewable energy......Page 133
8.1 Heat pumps......Page 135
8.2 Solar hydrogen......Page 137
8.3 How fuel cells work......Page 139
8.4 Stationary fuel cells......Page 141
8.5 Fuel cells in mobile applications......Page 143
9.1 The potential in Germany......Page 145
9.2 The future has already begun in Germany......Page 147
9.3 EU votes for renewables......Page 149
9.4 Expanding renewables in the EU......Page 151
9.5 Renewables worldwide......Page 153
9.6 A long-term solar scenario for Germany......Page 155
9.7 The 100 per cent target......Page 157
10.1 What do we do when the sun isn’t shining?......Page 159
10.2 How can we store large amounts of electricity?......Page 161
10.3 Can carbon emissions not be avoided less expensively?......Page 163
10.4 What is the energy payback?......Page 165
10.5 Are renewables job killers?......Page 167
10.6 Is the Solar Age the end of power monopolies?......Page 169
11.1 Research funding – not much money for the sun......Page 171
11.2 Start-up financing is needed......Page 173
11.3 Internalizing external costs......Page 175
11.4 Ecological taxation reform – protecting jobs and the environment......Page 177
11.5 Ecological taxation reform in increments......Page 179
11.6 Investment bonuses for solar thermal systems......Page 181
11.7 Solar energy in rental apartments – a problem child......Page 183
11.8 Compensation for solar power with a return on investment......Page 185
11.9 From the Feed-in Act to the Renewable Energy Act (EEG)......Page 187
11.10 The Renewable Energy Act (EEG)......Page 189
11.11 The EEG as a model for other countries......Page 191
11.12 Photovoltaic arrays as a ‘blight’ on the landscape......Page 193
11.13 Quotas and requests for proposals......Page 195
11.14 Solar thermal arrays required on new buildings......Page 197
11.15 Feed-in tariffs for heat in Germany?......Page 199
11.16 Emissions trading......Page 201
11.17 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)......Page 203
11.18 A cornucopia of instruments......Page 205
11.19 Phasing out nuclear......Page 207
11.20 Renewable energy here and in the developing world......Page 209
12.1 Everyone loves the sun......Page 211
12.2 ‘Green electricity’......Page 213
12.3 Not everyone owns the roof over their head – community solar arrays......Page 215
12.4 Solar brokers......Page 217
12.5 Service brings in new customers for all-in-one packages......Page 219
12.6 Investing in climate protection......Page 221
12.7 Utilizing new leeway......Page 223
12.8 Using new technologies......Page 225
Notes......Page 227
Glossary......Page 242
Index......Page 246
