Everything you need for a solid understanding of renewable energy is here in this easy-to-understand guide. David Wagman draws on his decades of experience as an energy journalist to deliver an unparalleled guide to the array of technologies that have rapidly grown to become a leading source of electric power. Using a straightforward approach, the book first draws a vivid portrait of renewable energy in its historical context and describes basic principles of energy, then introduces and explains major concepts and applications of solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass, and hydrogen both in North America and globally. It next offers insights into the challenges facing renewable energy, including supply chain, cybersecurity, grid reliability, recycling, and, increasingly in some markets, NIMBY opposition. Taking a forward look, it offers future considerations as the world navigates an uncertain climate and the growing imperative to decarbonize. The volume considers a range of scales from utility-sized hydroelectric plants to residential and commercial rooftop solar panels. Additionally, it includes a glossary of terms and provides a useful list of books, journals, and web sites for additional reading and reference.

Features & Benefits

• A contextual view of renewable energy past, present, and future
• Covers the six major sources of renewable energy
• Discusses the challenges facing renewable energy
• Provides full scale representation of use from utilities to the individual

About the Author
Through a career spanning four-plus decades, David Wagman has excelled at making complex topics and technologies easily understood by a diverse audience through print, digital, and video media, as well as live events. A well-respected energy journalist, he has led editorial teams in senior roles at industry-leading titles that include Power Engineering, Power, pv magazine, and Renewable Energy World, among others. Earlier in his career, he was part of the communications team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and also created the Energy Insights analysis service for Financial Times Energy. In this, his first book, David builds on his years of experience to present an objective, fact-based, and non-technical guide to renewable energy resources and their rapidly growing use as electrification expands and the power grid decarbonizes. His interest in energy began as a graduate research associate at the National Regulatory Research Institute at Ohio State University, where he earned his M.Sc. degree in City and Regional Planning. David and his wife, Susan, reside in Northfield, Minnesota.


Book Information
ISBN 9781955578165
Author David Wagman
Format Hardback
Page Count 226
Imprint PennWell Books
Publisher PennWell Books
Weight(grams) 272g