Wind and solar photovoltaics (PV) are currently the fastest-growing sources of electricity globally. A "next generation" phase of deployment is emerging, in which wind and solar PV are technologically mature and economically affordable. The success of variable renewable energy (VRE) is also bringing new challenges to the fore. Electricity generation from both technologies is constrained by the varying availability of wind and sunshine. This can make it difficult to maintain the necessary balance between electricity supply and consumption at all times. As these variable renewables enter this next generation of deployment, the issue of system and market integration becomes a critical priority for renewables policy and energy policy more broadly. The paper highlights that this will require strategic action in three areas: System-friendly deployment, aiming to maximise the net benefit of wind and solar power for the entire system Improved operating strategies, such as advanced renewable energy forecasting and enhanced scheduling of power plants Investment in additional flexible resources, comprising demand-side resources, electricity storage, grid infrastructure and flexible generation In addition, the paper argues that unlocking the contribution of system-friendly deployment calls for a paradigm shift in the economic assessment of wind and solar power. The traditional focus on the levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) - a measure of cost for a particular generating technology at the level of a power plant - is no longer sufficient. Next-generation approaches need to factor in the system value of electricity from wind and solar power - the overall benefit arising from the addition of a wind or solar power generation source to the power system. System value is determined by the interplay of positives and negatives including reduced fuel costs, reduced carbon dioxide and other pollutant emissions costs, or higher costs of additional grid infrastructure. In addition to general analysis and recommendations, the paper also includes summaries of three case studies in China, Denmark and South Africa.

Wind and solar energy are pollution-free sources of abundant power. With renewable power generation expected to become more and more profitable with open access to transmission lines and rapid growth around the world, the design, operation, and control of alternative energy resources becomes an essential field of study. Wind and Solar Power Systems provides a comprehensive treatment of this rapidly growing segment of the power industry. It provides the fundamentals of wind and solar power generation, energy conversion and storage, and the operational aspects of power electronics and the quality of power. It covers in detail the design, operation, and control methods applicable to stand-alone as well as grid-connected power systems and discusses the present status of and the on-going research in renewable power around the world. Wind and Solar Power Systems stands as the most modern, complete book available on renewable energy. Electrical, environmental and mechanical engineering professionals along with policy-makers evaluating the renewable energy potential of their regions will find in it the background and the details they need for decision making.

How solar could spark a clean-energy transition through transformative innovation—creative financing, revolutionary technologies, and flexible energy systems. Solar energy, once a niche application for a limited market, has become the cheapest and fastest-growing power source on earth. What's more, its potential is nearly limitless—every hour the sun beams down more energy than the world uses in a year. But in Taming the Sun, energy expert Varun Sivaram warns that the world is not yet equipped to harness erratic sunshine to meet most of its energy needs. And if solar's current surge peters out, prospects for replacing fossil fuels and averting catastrophic climate change will dim. Innovation can brighten those prospects, Sivaram explains, drawing on firsthand experience and original research spanning science, business, and government. Financial innovation is already enticing deep-pocketed investors to fund solar projects around the world, from the sunniest deserts to the poorest villages. Technological innovation could replace today's solar panels with coatings as cheap as paint and employ artificial photosynthesis to store intermittent sunshine as convenient fuels. And systemic innovation could add flexibility to the world's power grids and other energy systems so they can dependably channel the sun's unreliable energy. Unleashing all this innovation will require visionary public policy: funding researchers developing next-generation solar technologies, refashioning energy systems and economic markets, and putting together a diverse clean energy portfolio. Although solar can't power the planet by itself, it can be the centerpiece of a global clean energy revolution. A Council on Foreign Relations Book

There is much known about renewable energy, including solar and wind. However, there is little information available regarding the use of wind and solar energy on college and university campuses. As educators and shapers of the next generation of society, colleges and universities can be important leaders in transitioning to renewable energy, and in educating their students about renewable energy. In addition, college and university campuses are in an economic downfall now, with the high cost of education and decreased state funding. Institutions of higher education must find ways to save money and decrease costs; utility bills could potentially be reduced by using cutting-edge technologies of renewable energy.The overall goal of this research was thus to identify benefits and obstacles to installation of wind and solar energy on college and university campuses. Specific objectives were:1. To conduct interviews with officials at several colleges and universities in Texas with renewable power already installed, to learn more about the factors that influenced their decision, and identify any issues with implementation.2. Using themes that emerge from the interviews conducted as part of Objective 1, to develop a survey to administer to a larger sample of colleges and universities in Texas to see whether they use solar/wind power, identify factors that influenced their decision, and identify any issues with implementation. Texas was selected not only because the University of Texas at Arlington is located in Texas, and thus traveling to other universities in Texas for the case studies was convenient, but also because Texas is the leading state in production of wind power, and also has large potential for production of solar power. In addition, Texas has a large number of colleges and universities to survey.This research study can help a college or university that is considering using solar or wind power to make a sound decision. This study will be of value to various university personnel, including sustainability directors, physical operations personnel, and faculty members. This study used an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach. In the first phase, interviews were conducted with the Sustainability Directors from 3 universities in Texas that have already installed solar and/or wind power: the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, and the University of Texas at Arlington. The themes identified from these interviews were then used to develop quantitative survey questions regarding potential benefits and obstacles to installation of solar and wind power on university campuses. The surveys were then sent to 59 colleges and universities across Texas. Twelve survey responses were received.Important themes that emerged from the interviews were 1) the importance of renewable energy for the environment, 2) green publicity, 3) opportunities for teaching and research, 4) the need for financial savings, and 5) the need for grant funding. Selected findings from the quantitative survey were:• Most respondents agreed or strongly agreed that installing wind or solar power on campus would make for good publicity for the college or university (92%), would attract students to the school(83%), and would be good teaching tools for students on campus (100%).• The colleges and universities surveyed were more likely to think that that solar power would save them money (83%) compared to wind power (58%).• Large schools (> 10,000 students) and 4-year schools were more likely to believe that renewable power could be a useful research tool at their university.• The primary obstacle to installing solar panels and wind turbines on university campuses is upfront costs. Providing additional grant funding and incentives is critical in overcoming this hurdle.Secondary concerns include availability of wind power and the potential for both solar panels and wind turbines to be eye-sores.

This book provides a platform for scientists and engineers to comprehend the technologies of solar wind hybrid renewable energy systems and their applications. It describes the thermodynamic analysis of wind energy systems, and advanced monitoring, modeling, simulation, and control of wind turbines. Based on recent hybrid technologies considering wind and solar energy systems, this book also covers modeling, design, and optimization of wind solar energy systems in conjunction with grid-connected distribution energy management systems comprising wind photovoltaic (PV) models. In addition, solar thermochemical fuel generation topology and evaluation of PV wind hybrid energy for a small island are also included in this book. Since energy storage plays a vital role in renewable energy systems, another salient part of this book addresses the methodology for sizing hybrid battery-backed power generation systems in off-grid connected locations. Furthermore, the book proposes solutions for sustainable rural development via passive solar housing schemes, and the impacts of renewable energies in general, considering social, economic, and environmental factors. Because this book proposes solutions based on recent challenges in the area of hybrid renewable technologies, it is hoped that it will serve as a useful reference to readers who would like to be acquainted with new strategies of control and advanced technology regarding wind solar hybrid systems

The United States and China are the world's top two energy consumers and, as of 2010, the two largest economies. Consequently, they have a decisive role to play in the world's clean energy future. Both countries are also motivated by related goals, namely diversified energy portfolios, job creation, energy security, and pollution reduction, making renewable energy development an important strategy with wide-ranging implications. Given the size of their energy markets, any substantial progress the two countries make in advancing use of renewable energy will provide global benefits, in terms of enhanced technological understanding, reduced costs through expanded deployment, and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to conventional generation from fossil fuels. Within this context, the U.S. National Academies, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), reviewed renewable energy development and deployment in the two countries, to highlight prospects for collaboration across the research to deployment chain and to suggest strategies which would promote more rapid and economical attainment of renewable energy goals. Main findings and concerning renewable resource assessments, technology development, environmental impacts, market infrastructure, among others, are presented. Specific recommendations have been limited to those judged to be most likely to accelerate the pace of deployment, increase cost-competitiveness, or shape the future market for renewable energy. The recommendations presented here are also pragmatic and achievable.