Chapter 1 - Introduction

Abstract

This is the first chapter and the introduction to the book. The chapter initially presents the energy demand and renewable energy. It also provides a review on energy-related environmental problems which include acid rain, ozone layer depletion, and global climate change. It also presents briefly the problems created by the use of nuclear energy and the general benefits that renewable energy technologies offer. The state of renewable energy systems installed worldwide is provided, followed by the state of climate analyzed with respect to the global temperature, carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide and sulfur hexafluoride, halocarbons, and sea level rise problems. It also gives a short historical introduction into solar energy, giving some details of the early applications. These concern photovoltaics, solar desalination, solar drying, and passive solar buildings. It concludes with a review of other renewable energy technologies, which, except wind energy, are not covered in the book and concern in addition to wind energy, biomass which includes sustainable biomass production for energy and biofuels; geothermal energy which includes ground-coupled heat pumps; hydrogen and ocean energy, which include wave energy, tidal energy, and ocean thermal energy conversion.