Energy Options An Introduction to Small-Scale Renewable Energy Technologies

About this book

Renewable energy can present a baffling array of options to non-specialist aid agency programme and project managers, government officials, and multilateral advisers. While there can be no simple answer to the question of which energy technology is best in any given situation, the generalist - and probably quite often the specialist - will find here the information needed to dispel confusion and facilitate decision making. This informative, illustrated book brings together experts from ITDG, IT Power, and Energy for sustainable development, to contrast the relative merits of biomass, solar, hydro and wind power, as well as detailing some direct applications of different forms of renewable energy, to help enable the decision maker weigh up the alternatives. Once a renewable energy technology has been selected, there is useful advice on implementation, with formulae for calculating energy demand and capacity, and lists of energy suppliers.

Contents

Introduction - the increasing demand for energy, the role of renewables, renewable versus non-renewable - some issues; power from solar energy - photovoltaics, water pumping, refrigeration of vaccines, lighting; heat from solar energy - distillation, water heating, drying; power from the wind - wind energy conversion, water pumping, wind generators; water power - micro-hydro, hydraulic ram pumps, the water current turbine; biomass - end uses of biomass, processing technologies, heat conversion, power for conversion. Appendices: Further information; equipment suppliers and manufacturers; glossary.

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