RSC Energy Series – serie

A transition to renewable and low-carbon forms of energy is being widely debated as a means of securing a sustainable future for mankind. Hydrogen Energy Challenges and Prospects, a new book from the authors of Clean Energy, considers the prospects for hydrogen as a universal energy vector and fuel for the decades to come. With no emissions other than water arising from its combustion, the potential virtues of harnessing and utilizing hydrogen correlate with recent growing concern over the security of conventional fuel supply and global climate change. This book sets out to analyze the technical situation in an objective fashion, free from the constraints of political and industrial loyalties. Areas covered include pathways to hydrogen production, prospects for carbon capture and storage, options for hydrogen storage on vehicles, fuel cells, and fuel cell vehicles. Each of the many facets of hydrogen energy is discussed and the challenges to be faced are addressed. The authors acknowledge it is not possible to reach a simple, unequivocal conclusion regarding overall prospects, since the international energy scene is so complex, and predicting long-term futures is so notoriously difficult. Nevertheless, the reader will be given compelling pointers indicative of the way in which events might develop. This topical book is ideal for undergraduates, postgraduates and academics with an interest in hydrogen energy. Government agencies and energy professionals will also find this content to be a useful reference source.

Presently there is no single publication available which covers the topics related to photovoltaic (PV) or photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) technologies, thermal modelling, CO2 mitigation and carbon trading. This book disseminates the current knowledge in the fundamentals of solar energy, photovoltaic (PV) or photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) technologies, energy security and climate change and is aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students and professionals. The main emphasis of the book is on the design, construction, performance and application of PV and PV/T from the electricity and thermal standpoint. Hot topics covered in the book include: energy security of a nation, climate change, CO2 mitigation and carbon credit earned by using PV or PV/T technologies (Carbon Trading). This information will prove helpful in filling the gap between the researchers and professionals working on the application of photovoltaic and global climate change. It also covers economic, cost effective and sustainable aspects of photovoltaic technologies. The book gives a detailed history of the new technological developments in PV/T systems worldwide with system photographs and references and elaborates on the fundamentals of hybrid systems and their performances with thermal modelling. Energy and exergy analysis, techno-economic analysis and carbon trading are key chapters for research professionals. The book also includes important case studies to aid understanding of the subject for all readers.

Green energy is essential to the development of a sustainable society but its output can be unstable. It is therefore necessary to develop a network where both conventional and green energy systems cooperate to generate a stable, compound supply. Compound Energy Systems: Optimal Operation Methods describes the construction and operation of compound energy systems using the latest optimization methods. The authors examine the combination of traditional and alternative energy systems, which is becoming an increasingly popular solution to green energy. Important factors such as cost, efficiency and dynamic characteristics are all considered. The green energy sources discussed include fuel cells, bioethanol reformers, geo-thermal heat pumps, solar cells and wind power. This book, a distillation of information only touched upon in other books, is aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students, scientists, engineers and industrialists with an interest in the field.

Solar photovoltaics is one of the most promising renewable energy technologies, producing electricity on site directly from the solar radiation without harming the environment and depletion of materials. The Building Integrated Photovoltaic Thermal (BIPVT) system is a technology which merges PV and thermal systems, simultaneously providing both electric and thermal energy. Through this combination more energy is generated per unit surface area in comparison to the standalone photovoltaics system. Benefits of the BIPVT system include significantly increased electrical performance, faster payback than traditional systems, negligible impact on the environment and the product is easier and less expensive to install with low maintenance required. This book describes the recent developments in PV technologies, solar radiation available on the earth, various BIPVT systems and their applications, energy and exergy analysis, carbondioxide migration and credit earned, life cycle cost analysis and life cycle conversion efficiency. Presently there is no single book which covers all the basic and the advanced concepts related to the implementation of solar energy for the passive heating and cooling of the building. In addition to the basic concepts, the book includes the technology advances, modelling and analysis and ongoing research in the area of BIPVT. Key features of book include: -Solar heating and cooling concepts -Thermal comfort -Performance analysis of BIPVT system -Worldwide case studies -Energy payback period -Techno-economics and sustainability of the system The book, written by experts in the field with years of research and teaching, is intended for the specialists, scientists and people involved in research in the disciplines of renewable energy, energy studies, building energy or carbon credit. For the practicing professional, advanced senior or graduate student with work experience, the book should be used as part of an integrative program enabling them to make deep linkages and thus better decisions in the professional world.