Renewable Energy Resources is a numerate and quantitative text. It covers the many renewables technologies implemented worldwide by harnessing sustainable resources, mitigating pollution and climate change, and providing cost effective services.
This fourth edition is extensively updated by John Twidell with global developments as underpinned by fundamental analysis and illustrated by case studies and worked examples. Efficiency of end-use and cost-effectiveness is emphasized. Each chapter begins with fundamental scientific theory, and then considers applications, environmental impact and socio-economic aspects, before concluding with Quick Questions for self-revision, Problems and new Exercises. Basic theory underlying the technologies is covered in succinct Reviews of electrical power, fluid dynamics, heat transfer and solid-state physics. Common symbols and cross-referencing apply throughout; essential data are tabulated in Appendices.
Renewable Energy Resources supports multidisciplinary master’s degrees in science and engineering, and specialist modules at undergraduate level. Practicing scientists and engineers will find it a useful introductory text and reference book.
1. Principles of renewable energy
2. Solar radiation characteristics and impacts: including the greenhouse effect
3. Solar water heating
4. Other solar thermal applications
5. Photovoltaic (PV) power technology
6. Hydropower
7. Wind resource
8. Wind power technology
9. Biomass resources from photosynthesis
10. Bioenergy technologies
11. Wave power
12. Tidal-current and tidal-range power
13. Ocean gradient energy: OTEC and osmotic power
14. Geothermal energy
15. Energy systems: integration, distribution and storage
16. Solar-buildings and efficient energy use; including transportation, manufacture and homes
17. Institutional and economic factors
Review 1. Electrical power for renewables
Review 2. Essentials of fluid dynamics
Review 3. Heat transfer
Review 4. Solid-state physics for photovoltaics
Appendices
App A Units and conversions
App B Data and fundamental constants
App C Some heat transfer formulas
Answers to the Exercises at the end of chapters and reviews
Short answers to selected Problems at end of chapters
Biography
John Twidell has considerable experience in renewable energy as an academic professor in both the UK and abroad, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses and supervising research students and fellows. He has participated in the extraordinary growth of renewable energy as a researcher, journal editor, board member of wind and solar professional associations, and company director. University positions have been in Scotland, England, Sudan and Fiji. The family home operates with solar heat and electricity, biomass heat, all-electric cars, energy management and a large vegetable garden; the aim is to practice what is preached!
Online Resources
Julie Alexander has been teaching physics for 35 years at the University of Victoria and Camosun College in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. She holds a PhD in climate modeling and has recently developed a one semester course in renewable energy that she teaches to second year mechanical engineering students. After an extensive search for a suitable textbook she chose the third edition of Renewable Energy Resources by John Twidell and Tony Weir. She is looking forward to using the updated fourth edition of this book for her courses in the future. Julie also enjoys competitive rowing and playing the violin.
https://juliealexander.ca
"Renewable energy requires an active approach, based on facts and data. The 4th edition of Renewable Energy Resources, draws on decades of experience, making this come alive by documenting the connections between basic theoretical concepts in energy and the workings of real systems. It is a delight to see the field having advanced to this level so Renewable Energy Resources can focus on the very real experiences of the energy systems, and a rich analytic and policy landscape." -- Professor Daniel Kammen, Director, Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, USA
"A veritable revolution has transformed the world of renewables over the last five years – as revealed so eloquently in this new edition of Renewable Energy Resources. This textbook also allows us to envisage the astonishing transformation in energy markets around the world that renewable energy now makes possible – providing by far the biggest contribution to addressing today’s Climate Emergency of all the different technological solutions available to us. Politicians would just need to recognise the full extent of this potential, and reframe energy markets accordingly." -- Jonathon Porritt CBE, Co-Founder ‘Forum for the Future’, Chancellor of Keele University, UK
"The generation of electricity from renewables, especially by the globally effective technologies of solar and wind, is now recognised for cost effectiveness and the mitigation of climate change. All these technologies need increasing numbers of qualified and committed graduates. Renewable Energy Resources provides the scientific knowledge, motivation and background to set them on their path." – Professor Martin Green FRS, FAA, Director, Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics, University of New South Wales, Australia
"I highly recommend this book for its thorough introduction to all the important aspects of the topic of renewable energy resources. The book is excellent in its completeness and description of the relevant different sources. Moreover it is strong in theory and applications. From a scientific and engineering point this book is a must." – Professor Henrik Lund, Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Energy, Aalborg University, Denmark
"Building on its detailed analysis of the science and engineering of renewable energy, the new 4th edition includes improved treatment of key issues for mass deployment, including how renewable energy is used and integrated into the wider energy system. John Twidell and Tony Weir have brought their huge expertise to this classic text for 25 years. As more people realise that a renewable powered energy system is possible and desirable, the revised and updated edition becomes even more important." -- Nick Eyre, Professor of Energy and Climate Policy, University of Oxford, UK
"The new edition of this superb book is very much welcomed. Each previous edition has been a recommended text for our MSc programme in Renewable Energy at the University of Reading. It is ideal for students as it is authoritative, comprehensive and has detailed explanation of the various technologies. It includes learning outcomes at the start of each chapter and worked examples throughout the text. Very useful quick questions and further exercises are at the end of each chapter. The text is supported by great diagrams, photographs, case studies and plenty of refences for further study. I am looking forward to using the updated edition in my classes." -- Maria Vahdati, Associate Professor in Renewable Energy, University of Reading, UK
"The 4th edition of Renewable Energy Resources is an excellent text for engineering educators in the field of Renewable Energy. Updated and extended, the topic coverage is comprehensive and continues to strike an excellent balance between theory and practice. I am sure this new updated edition will be a valuable resource to both educators and students." – Professor Alistair Sproul, Professor Alistair Sproul, Head of the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia
"As the Pacific islands fight the triple challenges of energy access, energy security and climate change, sustainable energy development has become extremely crucial. The University of the South Pacific, a regional university, has been involved in human capacity building in renewable energy for the many years. We have used Renewable Energy Resources as the main textbook for our RE courses and found its extensive coverage of technologies, theoretical background and problem sets extremely useful. Kudos to Dr. John Twidell for this updated edition which will be of immense value to RE practitioners globally." – Dr Atul Raturi, University of the South Pacific, Fiji
"The breadth of topics and level of detail make this a vital textbook for researchers and students of renewable energy systems. An understanding of the scientific basics and engineering applications of renewables are vital if we are to make progress towards clean and affordable energy for all." -- Dr Sara Walker, Director EPSRC National Centre for Energy Systems Integration, Newcastle University, UK
"This textbook, now updated and refined in its fourth edition, has long underpinned the global growth of renewable energy. It serves the ever-expanding renewables technologies by motivating and instructing knowledgeable graduates. Moreover it explains how renewables provide both climate change mitigation and economic sustainability." -- Jeremy Leggett, founder of 'Solarcentury Ltd' and the charity Solar Aid; Hillary Laureate for International Leadership in Climate Change (2009), Gothenburg (2015), Royal Dutch Honorary Sustainability Award (2016)
