The renewable energy field is an area of rapid growth with many government initiatives in place to encourage mainstream take-up of energy-saving technologies in buildings. In the UK, over 100,000 students per year undertake plumbing and electrical installation vocational courses that will be directly affected by these developments. More importantly, there will be an even greater number of professionals studying toward renewable energy installation and inspection courses that need this information. This new book from bestselling author Chris Kitcher provides an overview of all of the latest technologies and how they can be incorporated. Students and professionals will use it on a range of courses and as a reference on-site.

Learn more about renewable energy, how to install and inspect renewable energy systems and gain certification. This is a perfect introduction to one of the construction industry's leading growth areas. It provides an overview of all types of renewable energy sources, as well as information relating to the installation and inspection of renewable energy systems. The practical focus in this book will give you the confidence to pass micro-generation exams, discuss the subject with clients and work on all new and emerging renewable energy systems. It does this by providing you with: Step-by-step instructions in how to fit and test renewable energy systems Clear diagrams, photos and flow charts that demonstrate core principles Questions and answers that enable you to test your knowledge and further your understanding of the subject As a student or professional this textbook will provide the information needed to pass your course and is also an ideal onsite reference. Chris Kitcher is an Electrical Installation lecturer at Central Sussex College, author of the bestselling Practical Guide to Inspection, Testing and Certification of Electrical Installations and has 45 years of experience in the electrical industry. The first guide to the field of renewable energy aimed at the vocational and professional construction courses A hot topic in an industry with over 200,000 students and professionals Written by bestselling author Chris Kitcher

Skyrocketing energy costs and constant reminders of the impacts of conventional energy sources are making homeowners and businesses look at different ways to use energy more efficiently and to generate their own electricity to reduce fuel bills and their carbon footprint. Power From the Wind is the completely revised and updated edition of the go-to guide for individuals and businesses interested in installing small wind energy systems. Written for the layperson, this practical guide provides an accurate and unbiased view of all aspects of small wind energy systems, including: Wind and wind energy system options Ways to assess wind resources at your site Wind turbines and towers Inverters and batteries Installation and maintenance of systems Costs and benefits of installing a wind system. Readers will gain the knowledge they need to make wise decisions during the design, purchase, and installation of small wind energy systems and to communicate effectively with wind system installers, and will be empowered to help make the smartest, most economical choices.

The Solar Electricity Handbook is a practical and straightforward guide to using electric solar panels. Assuming no previous knowledge of solar panels, the book explains how solar panels work, how they can be used and explains the steps you need to take to successfully design and install a solar electric system from scratch using photovoltaic solar panels. Accompanying this book is a solar resource website containing lots of useful information, lists of suppliers and on-line solar energy calculators that will simplify the cost analysis and design processes. Readers can also get in touch with the author directly to ask questions and get further support with their solar projects.

A simple, practical guide to solar energy, designing and installing solar photovoltaic systems. Solar electricity is a wonderful concept. Take free power from the sun and use it to power electrical equipment. No ongoing electricity bills, no reliance on an electricity socket. 'Free' electricity that does not harm the planet. Generating electricity from sunlight alone is a powerful resource, with applications and benefits throughout the world. But how does it work? What is it suitable for? How much does it cost? How do I install it? This best-selling Internet-linked book answers all these questions and shows you how to use the power of the sun to generate electricity yourself. The website that accompanies this book includes online solar calculators and tools to simplify your solar installation, ensuring that building your system is as straightforward and successful as possible. - Back cover.

The completely revised and updated guide to solar energy – everything you need to power your home or small business Written for the individual or business layman, this is the fully revised and updated guide for generating solar electricity. Practical and accessible, it provides a basic understanding of electricity, wiring, and solar energy, and guides the reader through solar electricity site assessment and determining the type of solar system needed for generating solar electricity, providing a solid understanding of grid-tied and off-grid systems, along with important guidelines on installation. Power from the Sun – 2nd Edition discusses types of photovoltaic and photovoltaic solar energy systems, and includes comprehensive information on recent changes and improvements in PV modules, charge controllers, inverters, batteries, generators, and net metering policies. It offers an excellent overview of the many options available as a guide for generating solar electricity, allowing the reader to make the best choices for their individual situation during the design, installation, and operation of a solar energy system. The definitive layman’s guide for homeowners, business owners, installers, architects, and just about anyone interested in generating solar electricity to lower energy bills and achieve greater independence through solar energy. Dan Chiras is Director of the Center for Renewable Energy and Green building through which he teaches workshops on solar electricity, wind energy, passive solar design, natural building, and green building. He is also president of Sustainable Systems Design, Inc., a company that installs residential solar electricity and wind energy systems and consults on passive solar design, residential renewable energy, and green building throughout North America. Dan is the author of 32 previous books, including The Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy and Power from the Wind .

This is a comprehensive textbook for the new trend of distributed power generation systems and renewable energy sources in electric power systems. It covers the complete range of topics from fundamental concepts to major technologies as well as advanced topics for power consumers. An Instructor's Manual presenting detailed solutions to all the problems in the book is available from the Wiley editorial department -- to obtain the manual, send an email to [email protected]