Introduction to Renewable Energy

Vaughn C. Nelson, PhD, has been involved with renewable energy since the early 1970s. Dr. Nelson has published numerous papers and is the author of three books, including Wind Energy (2009, 2nd Ed 2013) and Introduction to Renewable Energy (2011) from CRC Press. His primary work has been on wind resource assessment, education and training, applied R&D, and rural applications of wind energy. He has received three awards from the American Wind Energy Association. His degrees include a PhD in physics from the University of Kansas; an EdM from Harvard University; and a BSE from Kansas State Teachers College.Kenneth Starcher has a BS in physics/computer science at West Texas State University (1980). He received an MS in engineering technology at WTAMU (1995). Starcher has been a field worker at the Alternative Energy Institute (AEI) Wind Test Center since 1980. He has been the educational funnel for onsite training and public information for students and public workshops for AEI, and has served as a trainer at wind and solar training workshops locally, nationally, and internationally. He has also served as a research technician, research associate, assistant director, director, and associate director for AEI over the past 35 years.

• Chapter 1 IntroductionChapter 2 EnergyChapter 3 Climate ChangeChapter 4 SunChapter 5 Heat Transfer and Storage ChapterChapter 6 Solar Heating and CoolingChapter 7 PhotovoltaicsChapter 8 Concentrating Solar PowerChapter 9 Solar SystemsChapter 10 Wind EnergyChapter 11 BioenergyChapter 12 Geothermal EnergyChapter 13 WaterChapter 14 StorageChapter 15 Institutional IssuesChapter 16 EconomicsChapter 17 Observations Chapter 18 Appendix