This second edition first published in English 2020

Edition History

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Names: Quaschning, Volker, 1969– author. | Eppel, Herbert (Translator), translator.

Title: Renewable energy and climate change / Volker Quaschning, Berlin University of Applied Sciences HTW, Germany ; (translator) Herbert Eppel.

Other titles: Erneuerbare Energien und Klimaschutz. English

Description: Second edition. | Chichester, West Sussex, U.K. ; Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Sons Ltd, [2020] | English translation of German text. | Includes bibliographical references and index. |

Subjects: LCSH: Renewable energy sources. | Climatic changes.

Classification: LCC TJ808 (ebook) | LCC TJ808 .Q38913 2020 (print) | DDC 363.738/74--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018052859

Cover Design: Wiley

Cover Images: Top: © BIHAIBO/Getty Images, Bottom: © WangAnQi/Getty Images

CONTENTS

Cover

Preface to First Edition

Preface to Second Edition

CHAPTER 1 Our Hunger for Energy

1.1 Energy Supply – Yesterday and Today
1.2 Energy Needs – Who Needs What, Where, and How Much?
1.3 ‘Anyway’ Energy
1.4 Energy Reserves – Wealth for a Time
1.5 High Energy Prices – the Key to Climate Protection

CHAPTER 2 The Climate Before the Collapse

2.1 It Is Getting Warm – Climate Changes Today
2.2 The Guilty Parties – Causes of Climate Change
2.3 Outlook and Recommendations – What Lies Ahead?
2.4 A Difficult Birth – Politics and Climate Change
2.5 Self-Help Climate Protection

CHAPTER 3 From Wasting Energy to Saving Energy and Reducing Carbon Dioxide

3.1 Inefficiency
3.2 Personal Energy Needs – Savings at Home
3.3 Industry and Commerce – Everyone Else is to Blame
3.4 Your Personal Carbon Dioxide Balance
3.5 The Sale of Ecological Indulgences

CHAPTER 4 ‘Energiewende’ (Energy Transition) – The Way to a Better Future?

4.1 Coal and Nuclear Power Plants – Crutch Instead of Bridge
4.2 Efficiency and CHP – A Good Double for Starters
4.3 Renewables – Energy Without End
4.4 Germany Is Becoming Renewable
4.5 Not So Expensive – The Myth of Unaffordability
4.6 Energy Revolution Instead of Half-Hearted Energy Transition

CHAPTER 5 Photovoltaics – Energy from Sand

5.1 Structure and Function
5.2 Production of Solar Cells – From Sand to Cell
5.3 PV Systems – Grids and Islands
5.4 Planning and Design
5.5 Economics
5.6 Ecology
5.7 PV Markets
5.8 Outlook and Development Potential

CHAPTER 6 Solar Thermal Systems – Year-Round Heating from the Sun

6.1 Structure and Functionality
6.2 Solar Collectors – Collecting the Sun
6.3 Solar Thermal Systems
6.4 Planning and Design
6.5 Economics
6.6 Ecology
6.7 Solar Thermal Markets
6.8 Outlook and Development Potential

CHAPTER 7 Solar Power Plants – Even More Power from the Sun

7.1 Focusing on the Sun
7.2 Solar Power Plants
7.3 Planning and Design
7.4 Economics
7.5 Ecology
7.6 Solar Power Plant Markets
7.7 Outlook and Development Potential

CHAPTER 8 Wind Power Systems – Electricity from Thin Air

8.1 Gone with the Wind – Where the Wind Comes From
8.2 Utilizing Wind
8.3 Wind Turbines and Windfarms
8.4 Planning and Design
8.5 Economics
8.6 Ecology
8.7 Wind Power Markets
8.8 Outlook and Development Potential

CHAPTER 9 Hydropower Plants – Wet Electricity

9.1 Tapping into the Water Cycle
9.2 Water Turbines
9.3 Hydropower Plants
9.4 Planning and Design
9.5 Economics
9.6 Ecology
9.7 Hydropower Markets
9.8 Outlook and Development Potential

CHAPTER 10 Geothermal Energy – Power from the Deep

10.1 Tapping into the Earth's Heat
10.2 Geothermal Heat and Power Plants
10.3 Planning and Design
10.4 Economics
10.5 Ecology
10.6 Geothermal Markets
10.7 Outlook and Development Potential

CHAPTER 11 Heat Pumps – From Cold to Hot

11.1 Heat Sources for Low-Temperature Heat
11.2 Operating Principle of Heat Pumps
11.3 Planning and Design
11.4 Economics
11.5 Ecology
11.6 Heat Pump Markets
11.7 Outlook and Development Potential

CHAPTER 12 Biomass – Energy from Nature

12.1 Origins and Use of Biomass
12.2 Biomass Heating
12.3 Biomass Heat and Power Plants
12.4 Biofuels
12.5 Planning and Design
12.6 Economics
12.7 Ecology
12.8 Biomass Markets
12.9 Outlook and Development Potential

CHAPTER 13 Renewable Gas and Fuel Cells

13.1 Hydrogen as an Energy Source
13.2 Methanation
13.3 Transport and Storage of Renewable Gas
13.4 Fuel Cells: Bearers of Hope
13.5 Economics
13.6 Ecology
13.7 Markets, Outlook, and Development Potential

CHAPTER 14 Sunny Prospects – Examples of Sustainable Energy Supply

14.1 Climate-Compatible Living
14.2 Working and Producing in a Climate-friendly Manner
14.3 Climate-Compatible Driving
14.4 Climate-Compatible Travel by Water or Air
14.5 Everything Becomes Renewable
14.6 Everything will Turn Out Fine

Appendix A

A.1 Energy Units and Prefixes
A.2 Geographic Coordinates of Power Plants
A.3 Further Reading

References

Index

WILEY END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT

List of Illustrations

Chapter 1

Figure 1.1 Firewood, working animals, wind and water power supplied most of the energy nee...
Figure 1.2 Oil production since 1860.
Figure 1.3 Left: Building a natural gas pipeline in Eastern Germany. Right: Storage facili...
Figure 1.4 The Kernwasser Wunderland leisure park is in the grounds of a fast breeder reac...
Figure 1.5 Development of primary energy demand worldwide.
Figure 1.6 Left: Despite the intensive use of fossil fuels, the expansion of wind energy i...
Figure 1.7 Primary energy usage per head related to the world average.
Figure 1.8 Percentage of different energy sources covering primary energy demand in the DR...
Figure 1.9 Total energy resources in Germany taking into account ‘anyway’ energy; that is,...
Figure 1.10 Operating principle and risks of natural gas fracking.
Figure 1.11 Distribution of oil reserves on earth by region (2016). Source: BGR [BGR17].
Figure 1.12 Range (in years) of known energy reserves and resources based on current produc...
Figure 1.13 Development of oil prices with current prices and inflation-adjusted prices.

Chapter 2

Figure 2.1 Changes in temperature and sea level between 20 000 BCE and 2016 CE.
Figure 2.2 Temperature change between 2012 and 2016 compared to the long-standing average ...
Figure 2.3 Arctic summer ice coverage in 1979 (above) and 2012 (below).
Figure 2.4 Number of people displaced worldwide by climate- and weather-related natural di...
Figure 2.5 Damage caused by hurricanes in the USA.
Figure 2.6 Damage caused by flooding and thunderstorms in Germany.
Figure 2.7 Changes in solar activity are responsible for only a fraction of global warming...
Figure 2.8 Time series of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere over the last 400...
Figure 2.9 Progression of energy-related CO₂ emissions and global changes in temperatures ...
Figure 2.10 Causes of the anthropogenic greenhouse effect caused by humans.
Figure 2.11 Causes of global warming.
Figure 2.12 Threatened areas in Northern Germany if the sea level were to rise by 7 m in th...
Figure 2.13 Principle of the Gulf Stream.
Figure 2.14 Previous energy-related CO₂ emissions and reduction paths to limit the global t...
Figure 2.15 Energy and process-related carbon dioxide emissions in Germany.
Figure 2.16 Changes in greenhouse gas emissions with no change in land use between 1990 and...

Chapter 3

Figure 3.1 During the 1980s, energy saving was an important topic in Germany, and the “I'm...
Figure 3.2 In Europe, around 80% of energy is lost or not used efficiently during transpor...
Figure 3.3 Energy and environmental balance of boiling water using an electric versus gas ...
Figure 3.4 Percentage of different sectors in final/secondary energy consumption in German...
Figure 3.5 Low-energy light bulbs save energy, carbon dioxide and cash. LED lamps are part...
Figure 3.6 Breakdown of electricity consumption of private households.
Figure 3.7 Comparison of heating energy demand and heat loss in houses with different insu...
Figure 3.8 Effect of window type and insulation on heat loss.
Figure 3.9 Principle of control ventilation with heat recovery.
Figure 3.10 Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions per person for different means ...
Figure 3.11 Greenhouse gas emissions converted to CO₂ equivalents for the production of dif...
Figure 3.12 Scale of emissions of carbon dioxide per head and year.
Figure 3.13 Principle of private emissions trading.
Figure 3.14 Principle of financing renewable power plants through the Renewable Energy Sour...

Chapter 4

Figure 4.1 The energy transition won't be completed until we have established an energy su...
Figure 4.2 Lignite-fired power plant Jänschwalde near Cottbus. The energy companies have t...
Figure 4.3 Left: The village of Horno had to give way to opencast lignite mining in 2005. ...
Figure 4.4 Left: Electricity generation from PV & wind power plants and generating units l...
Figure 4.5 Options for final storage of separated carbon dioxide.
Figure 4.6 Comparison of primary energy demand and CO₂ emissions between CHP and separate ...
Figure 4.7 Per capita primary energy consumption based on gross domestic product (GDP) acc...
Figure 4.8 Development of worldwide primary energy demand and increase in world population...
Figure 4.9 Comparison of annual renewable energy available and global primary energy requi...
Figure 4.10 Sources of and possibilities for using renewables.
Figure 4.11 Share of different sectors in energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in German...
Figure 4.12 Share of different energy sources in final energy consumption for space heating...
Figure 4.13 Components of a carbon dioxide-free renewable heat supply.
Figure 4.14 Principle of substitution of fossil-based natural gas by methane (power-to-gas,...
Figure 4.15 Efficiency and power consumption of electricity-based renewable heat supply sys...
Figure 4.16 Comparison of the efficiency of different drive concepts for passenger cars.
Figure 4.17 Electrified motorway with wire-bound electric truck.
Figure 4.18 Increase in electricity demand if a climate-friendly energy supply is reached b...
Figure 4.19 Possible expansion paths for renewables to reach a climate-neutral electricity ...
Figure 4.20 Components of a carbon dioxide-free renewable heat supply.
Figure 4.21 Principle of a controlled combined cycle power plant for a reliable renewable p...
Figure 4.22 Shares of various renewable power plants in meeting energy requirements during ...
Figure 4.23 Use of the natural gas network to meet the storage needs of a purely renewable ...
Figure 4.24 High-voltage lines are among the most controversial elements of the energy tran...
Figure 4.25 Development and composition of household electricity prices in Germany.
Figure 4.26 Development of prices for household electricity, heating oil, petrol, generatio...
Figure 4.27 Development of gross electricity generation in Germany and electricity exports....
Figure 4.28 Distribution of the ownership of the renewable energy plants that provide Germa...

Chapter 5

Figure 5.1 Model illustrating the processes of a solar cell.
Figure 5.2 Structure and processes of a solar cell [Qua13].
Figure 5.3 Current-voltage characteristic curve of a PV module.
Figure 5.4 Polycrystalline silicon for solar cells. Left: Raw silicon. Centre: Silicon blo...
Figure 5.5 Polycrystalline solar cells with anti-reflective coating before the front conta...
Figure 5.6 Basic structure of a photovoltaic module.
Figure 5.7 Cross-section of a thin-film PV module.
Figure 5.8 Stand-alone PV systems offer advantages for many applications compared to grid ...
Figure 5.9 Principle of a stand-alone PV system.
Figure 5.10 Typical locations for stand-alone PV systems. Left: Electricity supply for a vi...
Figure 5.11 The principle of a grid-connected PV system.
Figure 5.12 The ‘Gut Erlasee’ tracked solar power plant in Bavaria, Germany, has a total ou...
Figure 5.13 PV façade system.
Figure 5.14 PV systems on single-family homes.
Figure 5.15 Grid-connected PV system with battery storage to increase the self-consumption ...
Figure 5.16 Power flows in a grid-connected PV battery system for a household in a detached...
Figure 5.17 Coupling of a PV system with a conventional heating system becomes interesting ...
Figure 5.18 Mean annual total solar radiation energy in Germany in kWh/m² between 1998 and ...
Figure 5.19 Change in annual solar radiation in Berlin depending on orientation and tilt an...
Figure 5.20 Achievable self-consumption and self-sufficiency levels of PV self-consumption ...
Figure 5.21 Electricity generation costs as a function of net capital costs and specific yi...
Figure 5.22 Development of the EEG remuneration in Germany for small PV systems with output...
Figure 5.23 Development of total PV capacity installed worldwide.
Figure 5.24 Development of inflation-adjusted photovoltaic module prices as a function of t...
Figure 5.25 De-centralized PV systems can be set up by the electricity customers, directly,...

Chapter 6

Figure 6.1 Modern solar thermal collector systems are an important alternative to conventi...
Figure 6.2 Processes in a solar flat-plate collector [Qua13].
Figure 6.3 Collector efficiency curve.
Figure 6.4 Cross-section of a flat-plate collector.
Figure 6.5 Principle of selective absorbers.
Figure 6.7 Vacuum tube collectors. Left: Collector with heat pipe. Right: Tube with direct...
Figure 6.8 Comparison of flat-plate and vacuum-tube collectors.
Figure 6.9 Left: Demonstration model of a gravity system. Right: Gravity system in Spain.
Figure 6.10 Solar gravity system (thermo-syphon system).
Figure 6.11 Single-family house with photovoltaic system (left) and flat-plate collectors f...
Figure 6.12 Pumped solar thermal system for heating domestic hot water.
Figure 6.13 Solar thermal system for domestic hot water heating and auxiliary space heating...
Figure 6.14 Large roof-integrated solar thermal system for heating water and providing supp...
Figure 6.15 In the energy self-sufficient solar house (left) in Lehrte, a 46 m² solar therm...
Figure 6.16 Solar community heating system.
Figure 6.17 Principle of solar cooling with absorption chillers.
Figure 6.18 System for swimming pool heating using solar energy.
Figure 6.19 Solar cooker in Ethiopia.
Figure 6.20 Typical solar fractions of solar thermal drinking water systems over the year.
Figure 6.21 Typical monthly space heating and hot water demands in Germany and proportion o...
Figure 6.22 Payback periods for a solar thermal domestic hot water system with backup heati...
Figure 6.23 Installed glazed collector area in different countries. 2015.
Figure 6.24 Annual newly installed collector area in Germany.
Figure 6.25 Many roofs still have space for solar collectors.
Figure 6.26 In some regions of the world, for example in southern Turkey, simple and thus i...

Chapter 7

Figure 7.1 Solar furnace near Almería in Spain. Large tracking mirrors direct the sunlight...
Figure 7.2 Single-axis tracking reflectors for line concentrators.
Figure 7.3 Dual-axis tracking reflectors for point concentrators.
Figure 7.4 View of the Kramer Junction parabolic trough power plant in California (USA).
Figure 7.5 Parabolic trough power plant with thermal storage.
Figure 7.6 Solar thermal power plants with thermal storage can provide guaranteed output a...
Figure 7.7 Solar tower power plant with open air receiver.
Figure 7.8 Solar tower power plant with pressurized air receiver.
Figure 7.9 Research site for a solar tower power plant at Plataforma Solar de Almería (Spa...
Figure 7.10 Prototype of a 10-kW Dish-Stirling system near Almería in Spain.
Figure 7.11 Computer animation of a solar chimney power plant park. The towers can also be ...
Figure 7.12 PV power plant with concentrator cells.
Figure 7.13 World map with annual totals for solar global radiation in kWh/m².
Figure 7.14 Differentiation of types of solar radiation.
Figure 7.15 Solar thermal power plants (left) can achieve economic advantages over PV (righ...
Figure 7.16 Construction of a parabolic trough collector prototype in Andalusia. Spain is c...
Figure 7.17 Suitability of different regions in North Africa for building solar power plant...
Figure 7.18 Options for renewable electricity imports from North Africa to the EU and elect...

Chapter 8

Figure 8.1 Left: Historical post windmill in Stade, Germany. Photo: STADE Tourismus-GmbH. ...
Figure 8.2 Global circulation and origins of different winds.
Figure 8.3 Average wind speeds worldwide.
Figure 8.4 Area through which the wind reaches a power of 100 kW at different wind speeds....
Figure 8.5 Flow profile of a wind turbine.
Figure 8.6 Functional principle of a wind turbine with horizontal axis.
Figure 8.7 Small wind turbines used to charge battery systems.
Figure 8.8 Principle of a simple stand-alone wind system.
Figure 8.9 Size development of wind turbines.
Figure 8.10 Erection of a wind turbine. Top left: Foundation. Right: Tower. Below left: Rot...
Figure 8.11 Structure and components of a wind turbine.
Figure 8.12 Maintenance work on wind turbines.
Figure 8.13 Small wind turbines at HTW Berlin.
Figure 8.14 Windfarms.
Figure 8.15 The Nysted offshore windfarm in the Baltic Sea off Denmark. Left: Construction...
Figure 8.16 Planning for offshore windfarms in the North Sea and Baltic Sea off Germany.
Figure 8.17 Left: Wind speed frequency distribution. Right: Power curve of a wind turbine.
Figure 8.18 Distribution of costs for a 1.2 MW wind turbine [BWE07].
Figure 8.19 Electricity generation costs for wind turbines based on full-load hours and inv...
Figure 8.20 Wind turbines in rural landscapes.
Figure 8.21 Development of wind power capacity installed worldwide.
Figure 8.22 Development of newly installed wind power capacity in Germany until 2017 and ne...

Chapter 9

Figure 9.1 Historic watermill in the Alps. Source: Verbund, www.verbund.at.
Figure 9.2 Earth's water cycle.
Figure 9.3 Applications for different water-powered turbines.
Figure 9.4 Drawing showing a Kaplan turbine with a generator (left) and a photo of a Kapla...
Figure 9.5 Bulb turbine with generator. Source: Voith Hydro.
Figure 9.6 Francis pump turbine at Goldisthal pumped-storage plant (left) and a Francis tu...
Figure 9.7 Drawing of a six-nozzle Pelton turbine (left) and photo of a Pelton turbine (ri...
Figure 9.8 Principle of a run-of-river hydropower plant.
Figure 9.9 Run-of-river hydropower plant at Laufenburg. Source: Energiedienst AG.
Figure 9.10 Examples of storage power plants in Austria: Malta (left), Kaprun (right). Sour...
Figure 9.11 Principle of a pumped-storage power plant.
Figure 9.12 The Goldisthal pumped-storage power plant in Germany. Source: Vattenfall Europe...
Figure 9.13 Principle of wave power plants. Left: Float system. Right: Chamber system.
Figure 9.14 Left: Prototype system in the Seaflow project off the west coast of England. Ri...
Figure 9.15 Annual flow characteristics and annual continuous curve for the Rhine runoff ne...
Figure 9.16 Left: Stream in the area of the Donaukraftwerk Freudenau power plant in Austria...
Figure 9.17 Electricity generation from hydropower plants in different countries. 2016. Sou...
Figure 9.18 Aerial view of the Itaipu power plant. Photo: Itaipu Binacional, www.itaipu.gov...

Chapter 10

Figure 10.1 Volcanic eruptions bring the energy from the Earth's interior to the surface in...
Figure 10.2 The structure of the Earth.
Figure 10.3 Tectonic plates on Earth. Source: US Geological Survey.
Figure 10.4 Temperatures in Germany at depths of 1000 and 3000 m. Source: http://www.liag-h...
Figure 10.5 Left: New and used drill bits. Right: Structure of a derrick. Photos: Geopower ...
Figure 10.6 Principle of a geothermal heat plant.
Figure 10.7 Principle of a geothermal ORC plant.
Figure 10.8 The Neustadt-Glewe geothermal heat power plant was the first plant to generate ...
Figure 10.9 Diagram of an HDR power plant.
Figure 10.10 The Nesjavellir geothermal power plant in Iceland. Photo: Gretar Ívarsson.
Figure 10.11 Installed geothermal power plant capacity worldwide. Data: IGA, http://www.geot...

Chapter 11

Figure 11.1 Energy flow with a heat pump process.
Figure 11.2 Heat sources for heat pumps. Illustration: Viessmann Werke.
Figure 11.3 Operating principle of a compression heat pump.
Figure 11.4 Operating principle of absorption heat pumps.
Figure 11.5 Heat pump installation. Source: Bosch Thermotechnik GmbH.
Figure 11.6 Air/water heat pump installed outdoors, without the need for drilling (left). D...
Figure 11.7 Development of domestic prices for gas, oil, and electricity for the operation ...
Figure 11.8 Environmental balance of two heat pump heating options and natural gas heating....
Figure 11.9 Sales of heat pumps in Germany.

Chapter 12

Figure 12.1 People have been using the energy from firewood for thousands of years.
Figure 12.2 The sun is responsible for the growth of biomass on Earth.
Figure 12.4 Possibilities for biomass use.
Figure 12.5 Different processed forms of wood. From top left to bottom right: round wood, f...
Figure 12.6 Calorific values of wood depending on wood moisture and water content.
Figure 12.8 Solid fuel boiler for heating with logs.
Figure 12.15 Principle of the production of BtL fuels.
Figure 12.17 Cross-section of a wood pellet store.
Figure 12.19 Environmental balance sheet for the use of biomass fuels.

Chapter 13

Figure 13.2 Procedures for producing hydrogen.
Figure 13.3 Principle of alkaline electrolysis.
Figure 13.4 Generation, storage, and re-conversion to electricity of renewable methane [Qua...
Figure 13.7 Operating principle of a fuel cell.
Figure 13.8 Differences between fuel cell types.
Figure 13.9 Fuel cell prototypes.
Figure 13.10 Losses when hydrogen is used to store electric energy, based on the current sta...

Chapter 14

Figure 14.1 Left: Family home in Berlin with carbon-neutral energy supply. Right: Boiler ro...
Figure 14.21 The future belongs to renewable energies. By 2040 they could secure our entire ...

Preface to First Edition

The problems of energy and climate change have finally ended up where they belong: at the heart of public attention. Yet the connection between energy use and global warming is something we have been aware of for decades. In the late 1980s the German federal government declared climate change to be one of its main goals. At the time numerous experts were already calling for a speedy restructuring of the entire energy supply. Despite the government's declaration, the official response was, at best, half-hearted. But the climate problem can no longer remain on the back burner. There is a growing awareness that climate change has already begun. The prognosis of the researchers studying what is happening to our climate is extremely serious. If we do not pull the emergency cord soon, the catastrophic consequences of climate change will far exceed even the power of our imagination. The fact that we have awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore, the US climate activist, and to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, both of whom have been urgently warning of the consequences for years, could be seen as a sign of helplessness rather than optimism about our ability to solve the problem.

Just as climate change threatens our environment, new records for rising oil and natural gas prices show that current supplies will not last long enough to cover future demand, therefore, alternatives must be found as soon as possible.

And yet the solution is a simple one: renewable energy. Renewable energy could completely cover all our energy supply needs within a few decades. This is the only way to end our dependence on energy sources like oil and uranium – costly both economically and environmentally – while satisfying our hunger for energy in a sustainable and climate-friendly manner.

However, for many, the route required to reach that goal is still far from clear. Many people still do not believe renewable energy offers a viable option. Some underestimate the alternatives to such an extent that they predict a return to the Stone Age once oil and coal supplies have been fully depleted.

The aim of this book is to eliminate these prejudices. It describes, in a clear and intelligible style, how the different technologies work, which are now available, and the potential for implementing these various forms of renewable energy, with the focus on the interaction between the different technologies. By showcasing some examples of how Germany has tackled this issue, we can show the forms that sustainable energy supply can take and how it can be implemented. However, this book is designed to show all readers, no matter where they live, how they themselves can make a contribution towards building a climate-compatible energy economy. In addition to explaining different energy measures that individuals can undertake for themselves, this book provides concrete planning aids for implementing renewable energy systems.

This book has been consciously written to offer essential facts to a broad spectrum of readers. It introduces the different technologies to anyone new to the subject, while at the same time, providing interesting background information to those with some existing knowledge.

The book has been translated from the original German version. It is an important addition to my technical work ‘Renewable Energy Systems’, published by Hanser, and also supplements my many lectures on the subject. It is clear from the high level of interest generated by this technical book, now in its sixth edition in German and translated into both English and Arabic, that there is a real need for more literature on the subject of renewable energy. This book should fill this gap and provide support in the development of sustainable energy supply systems.

Berlin, 2009

Prof. Volker Quaschning

Preface to the Second Edition

Our excellent sales figures and the positive response to this reference book have shown that this topic and the style in which it is presented appeal to a broad readership. Despite careful checking, minor errors and inconsistencies are sometimes unavoidable. Special thanks are therefore due to all readers who have provided feedback. This second English edition is based on the fourth revised and enlarged German edition. It contains current data on renewable energies and has been expanded to include the latest trends. A dedicated section explains what steps are necessary to comply with the Paris climate protection agreement and thus preserve the livelihoods of future generations. We hope that this book can make a small contribution to accelerating our energy transition at the rate that is required.

Berlin, summer 2018

Prof. Volker Quaschning

HTW Berlin – University of Applied Sciences