Prof. Dr. N. El Bassam is the founder and director of the International Research Centre for Renewable Energy (IFEED), Germany, India and USA; Chairperson at World Council of Renewable Energy (WCRE) Scientific Advisory Board, Federal Association of Regenerative Mobility, and Vice President of the Climate Protection Agency North Germany; Chairman of the Working Group Sustainable Rural Energy Network (SREN), FAO, United Nations, Rome; ); Program Head of the Projects wind energy and Concentrating Solar Power for Power (CSP) Supply and Seawater Desalination Middle East and North Africa (DESERTEC).He coordinates the Centre activities, technology transfer of and the co-operation in national and international organizations (UN, EU, and Club of Rome), the integration and application of renewable energy resources available in various regions for electricity, water and food supply with aims of empowering the countryside. El Bassam is well-known as Poverty Researcher, in this context he initiated the strategy and project “Empowering Urban Cities and Rural Habitats in Africa” which considered as a Marshal Plan for sustainable economic development and combating Poverty, migration, and Depopulation of urban cities and Rural Communities worldwide.He contributes as an editor in the journals: International Journal “Sustainability Science, Springer Scientific Publishing Services; Jordan Journal of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and the American Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences (AJEAS). El Bassam published 12 books, authored numerous publications, and received several awards Dr. Maegaard is Director of the Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy, an institute for the development and implementation of renewable energies located in Denmark. The center has, under his leadership, provided transfer of renewable energy technology to many countries. Dr. Maegaard was appointed the first president of the World Wind Energy Institute, first president of the World Wind Energy Association, and has served as a Renewable Energy Adviser to the President of Mali. For over three decades, Dr. Maegaard has been a director, organizer, and speaker at numerous international seminars, workshops and conferences. He has authored numerous reports, books, and articles in Danish, English, German and Japanese on renewables and sustainable development.

"This book offers options that meet the needs of people and communities for energy and engage them in identifying and planning their own provision. It describes updated renewable energy technologies and offers strategies and guidelines for the planning and implementation of sustainable energy supply for individuals and communities." --Energy, 2004

• Preface. Index of figures. Index of tables. Foreword. 1. Introduction.2. Overview of energy requirements for rural communities.2.1 Heat. 2.2 Electric power. 2.3 Water. 2.4 Lighting. 2.5 Cooking. 2.6 Health and sanitation. 2.7 Communications. 2.8 Transportation. 2.9 Agriculture. 2.10 Basic and extended needs. 3. Calculating energy and food production potential and requirements.3.1 Modelling approaches. 3.2 Data acquisition. 3.3 Determination of energy and food requirements. 3.4 Energy potential analysis. 3.5 Data collection and processing for energy utilization. 3.6 Wind energy. 3.7 Biomass. 3.8 Energetic use of biomass. 4. Planning of integrated energy systems for rural communities.4.1 Scenario 1. 4.2 Scenario 2. 4.3 Case study I: Implementation of IEF under climatic conditions of Central Europe. 4.4 Case study II: Arid and semi arid regions. 5. Renewable energy resources and technologies.5.1 Biomass and bioenergy. 5.2 Regional availability. 5.3 Deployment of biogas: Denmark as a case study. 5.4 Plant oils. 5.5 Ethanol. 5.6 Combustion. 5.7 Gasification. 5.8 Pyrolysis. 5.9 Cogeneration. 5.10 Wind energy. 5.11 Solar energy. 5.12 Hydropower. 5.13 Geothermal energy. 5.14 Marine energy (general). 5.15 Ocean thermal energy. 5.16 Tidal energy. 5.17 Wave energy. 5.18 Hydrogen. 5.19 Fuel cells. 5.20 Stirling engines for power and heat generation. 5.21 Tractors as power generator (dual uses). 5.22 Batteries. 5.23 Alternative transportation fuels. 6. Applications of renewable energy technologies. 6.1 Cookers and stoves. 6.2 Air conditioning, cooling, refrigeration and ice making. 6.3 Solar powered village scale potable water system. 6.4 Telecommunication. 6.5 Mobility and alternative fuel vehicles. 7. System integration.7.1 The integrated energy farm. 7.2 New achievement in the utilization of biomass for energy in China. 8. Buildings and energy saving.9. Environmental assessment. 10. Economic dimensions.10.1 Economic aspects. 10.2 Recent and future market. 10.3 Financing and investment. 10.4 Development. 10.5 Marketing strategy. 11. Legislative structures.Appendices.1. Glossary. 2. Abbreviations and acronyms. 3. Conversion factors. 4. Inventory of PV systems for sustainable agriculture and rural development. 5. Solar restaurant in Chile. 6. Biomass turbo stove BAFOB 5KW. 7. Illuminating the path. 8. Renewables and tourism. Sources of figures and tables. Subject index. References.