The agri-food chain consumes about one third of the world’s energy production with about 12% of it for crop production and nearly 80% for processing, distribution, retail, preparation and cooking. The agri-food chain also accounts for 80-90% of total global freshwater use where 70% alone is for irrigation. Additionally, on a global scale, freshwater production consumes nearly 15% of the entire energy production. It can therefore be argued that making agriculture and the agri-food supply chain independent from fossil fuel use has a huge potential to contribute to global food security and climate protection not only for the next decades but also for the coming century. Provision of secure, accessible and environmentally sustainable supplies of water, energy and food must thus be a priority. One of the major objectives of the world’s scientists, farmers, decisions makers and industrialists is to overcome the present dependence on fossil fuels in the agro-food sector. This dependency increases the volatility of food prices and affects economic access to sustenance. This book provides a critical review of recent developments in solar, wind and geothermal energy applications in agriculture and the agro-food sector such as processing, distribution, retail, preparation and cooking.

This book examines the recent advances, from theoretical and applied perspectives, addressing the major issues associated with renewable energy systems, with each chapter covering fundamental issues and latest developments. This book covers important themes, including solar energy equipment, wind and solar energy systems, energy storage and bioenergy applications, hybrid renewable energy systems, as well as the measurement techniques that are used for these systems. Further, it focusses on original research outcomes on various technological developments and provides insights to taxonomy of challenges, issues, and research directions in renewable energy applications. Features: Covers research and technological developments in wind and solar energy applications Proposes resolution of limitations and performance issues of existing system models and design Incorporates the challenges of adoption of renewable energies system Provides hypotheses, mathematical analysis, and real-time practical applications to practical problems Includes case studies of implementation of solar and wind systems in remote areas This book is aimed at researchers, professionals, and graduate students in electrical and mechanical engineering and renewable energy.

Renewable Energy from Wind and Solar Power: Law and Regulation is concerned with the law and regulation of electricity generation in the case of the two most popular sources of energy derived from renewable resources. It covers up-to-date national policy and guidance relevant to electricity generation collected from renewable resources.

The search for clean, renewable energy sources has yielded enormous growth and new developments in these technologies in a few short years, driving down costs and encouraging utilities in many nations, both developed and developing, to add and expand wind and solar power capacity. The first, best-selling edition of Wind and Solar Power Systems prov

Also called energy scavenging, energy harvesting captures, stores, and uses "clean" energy sources by employing interfaces, storage devices, and other units. Unlike conventional electric power generation systems, renewable energy harvesting does not use fossil fuels and the generation units can be decentralized, thereby significantly reducing transmission and distribution losses. But advanced technical methods must be developed to increase the efficiency of devices in harvesting energy from environmentally friendly, "green" resources and converting them into electrical energy. Recognizing this need, Energy Harvesting: Solar, Wind, and Ocean Energy Conversion Systems describes various energy harvesting technologies, different topologies, and many types of power electronic interfaces for stand-alone utilization or grid connection of energy harvesting applications. Along with providing all the necessary concepts and theoretical background, the authors develop simulation models throughout the text to build a practical understanding of system analysis and modeling. With a focus on solar energy, the first chapter discusses the I−V characteristics of photovoltaic (PV) systems, PV models and equivalent circuits, sun tracking systems, maximum power point tracking systems, shading effects, and power electronic interfaces for grid-connected and stand-alone PV systems. It also presents sizing criteria for applications and modern solar energy applications, including residential, vehicular, naval, and space applications. The next chapter reviews different types of wind turbines and electrical machines as well as various power electronic interfaces. After explaining the energy generation technologies, optimal operation principles, and possible utilization techniques of ocean tidal energy harvesting, the book explores near- and offshore approaches for harvesting the kinetic and potential energy of ocean waves. It also describes the required absorber, turbine, and generator types, along with the power electronic interfaces for grid connection and commercialized ocean wave energy conversion applications. The final chapter deals with closed, open, and hybrid-cycle ocean thermal energy conversion systems.

Renewable energy - wind and solar - is a con game. The people we thought were the good guys - environmentalists - are up to their necks in dirty tricks. The billions of dollars spent on electricity every year are being used to enrich a gaggle of con men - politicians, environmentalists and the purveyors of renewable energy. Extensive lobbying and propaganda has convinced the public that it is a good idea to spend billions on dumb wind and solar energy. Dumb energy can't be counted on because it comes and goes with the wind and clouds. Dumb energy is subsidized, overtly and sneakily. Dumb energy is financed by taxes and bigger electric bills.We have been sold the idea that cheap energy can be extracted from sunshine and wind. Energy can be extracted, but it is not cheap. Wind and solar energy are not cheap and have to be backed up by traditional electric generating plants, greatly increasing the cost. The facts and figures are in this book, in an easily-understood format.Wind and solar are often sold as a way to reduce CO2 emissions and prevent climate change. But there are more effective and less expensive ways of reducing CO2 emissions than wind and solar.We all wish for miracles and want to believe in miracles. But wind and solar are dirty tricks, not miracles.

Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Systems goes beyond theoretical aspects of advances in renewable energy and addresses future trends. By focusing on the design of developing technologies, relevant operation and detailed background and an understanding of the application of power electronics and thermodynamics processes in renewable energy, this book provides an analysis of advancing energy systems. The book will be of interest to engineering graduates, researchers, professors and industry professionals involved in the renewable energy sector and is ideal for advanced engineering courses dealing with renewable energy, sources, thermal and electrical energy production and sustainability. With increasing focus on developing low carbon energy production, audiences need to have the engineering knowledge and practical skills to develop and implement creative solutions to engineering problems encountered with renewable energy technologies. By looking at renewable energy capture and conversion, system design and analysis, project development and implementation, each modular chapter examines recent advances in specific renewable energy systems with detailed methods, calculations and worked examples. - Includes recent techniques used to design and model different renewable energy sources (RES) - Demonstrates how to use power electronics in renewable systems - Discusses how to identify, design, integrate and operate the most suitable technologies through key problems