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Biological Energy Resources
Solar Energy. Vol 30, No. 4, p. 389, 1983
0038-092X/83i040389-01503.00/0 Pergamon Press Ltd.
Printed in Great Britain.
BOOK REVIEWS Renewable Energy Sources for Developing Countries, Edited 1981.
by Costis
Stambolis.
Heliotechnic
Press,
This publication resulted from a UNESCO conference on renewable energy sources suitable for application in developing countries. Some of the papers are quite broad and cover most of the different renewable energy possibilities for developing countries. Other papers concentrate on specific topics such as geothermal, biogas, mini-hydro, renewable fuels for cooking, crop driers, timber kilns, wave energy systems and shading devices for cooling. Unlike most volumes consisting of a collection of papers presented at a conference, this book is easy to read in its entirety and should be understandable to almost anyone. It is practically devoid of equations and the papers are well referenced. It should be interesting reading for anyone exploring renewable energy applications for developing countries since the papers touch on a large number of projects. Developing nations are hard hit by the high prices of conventional fuels. The emphasis on renewable energy development within some of the major industrial powers is declining as a result of government policy and the general economic situation. However, enthusiasm for renewable energy applications remains high in developing countries. There are many opportunities for people in the solar energy field to lend their expertise to developing nations. This book by Stambolis provides good insight into the various energy needs in developing nations and the practicality of utilizing the broad spectrum of renewable energy technologies for meeting some of these needs.
Solar Energy Applications in Houses: Performance and Economics in Europe, by F. J a g e r . P e r g a m o n P r e s s , O x f o r d , 1981. $35.
Solar Energy Applications in Houses provides a review of passive and active systems for space heating and hot water, with emphasis on their applications within Europe. The chapter following the introduction deals with European climatology and the effects of weather on solar energy systems and house design. Simple techniques for estimating space heating requirements in European climates are presented in the third chapter. Chapter 4 describes the five basic types of passive solar systems for heating, and Chaps. 5 and 6 describe the design and performance of active solar systems for hot water, swimming pool heating, space heating and space cooling. Chapter 7 is a brief discussion of solar economics, and the final chapter describes solar research, development and demonstration programs in European countries. This book provides an overview of potential European solar applications. Primarily descriptive and almost completely devoid of mathematical equations, it is recommended as a good introductory book on potential solar applications for people who would like to acquire a basic knowledge of solar energy and potential applications for European buildings.
Biological Energy Resources, M a l c o l m S l e s s e r a n d C h r i s L e w i s . J o h n W i l e y , N e w Y o r k , 1979, 250 pp: C o s t $23.50. This book presents an overview of various methods of producing and utilizing biomass for energy. The book begins with the
description of the sun, solar radiation, and the photosynthetic process, then leads into a discussion of various types of plants which might be used for energy. It is shown that in order to obtain high yields necessary for economic feasibility the selection of species and applications of fertilizer and irrigation must be strictly controlled, thereby precluding the harvesting of natural vegetation as a long term biomass energy resource. The energy plantation concept is explored by several studies involving crops such as cassava, euclayptus, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, and marine algae. The various processes for converting biomass into fuels and other energy forms are described. These processes include anaerobic digestion (manure, algae), methanation, ethanol production, chemical reduction, gasification, pyrolysis, and direct combustion. One chapter deals with the energy balances of the various biomass energy systems. For example, the energy inputs required for a biomass plantation are evaluated to determine the net energy generated. Another chapter discusses the economics of biomass systems using the net present value approach. The costs of a variety of biomass derived fuels are determined and compared with conventional alternatives. The book is a well written, concise survey of the technology and economics of biomass energy. Over 200 references are cited. The chemistry of biomass production and conversion processes is presented in some detail. Biological Energy Resources is recommended to anyone who would like a concise, technical introduction to the field.
Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy, E d i t e d b y J o h n S. C o n n o l l y . A c a d e m i c P r e s s , N e w Y o r k , 1981, 4 3 5 p p : C o s t $34.50. The 3rd International Con/erence on Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy, sponsored by the Solar Energy Research Institute and the Ott~ce of Basic Energy Science of the U.S. Department of Energy, was held in Boulder, Colorado, in August of 1980. This volume includes 11 papers presented at that conference and abstracts of contributed papers. It provides a good overview of photochemical conversion of solar energy in considerable technical depth. The first paper described an artifical photosynthetic system which functions like chloroplasts. Another paper describes biomimetic systems for converting solar radiation into fuels. Biomimetic systems are defined as those which imitate biological processes. The action of chlorophyll is described in considerable detail and prospects for other processes which may achieve
higher conversion efliciencies are discussed. Photochemical electron transfer in solutions is explained. Other papers are concerned with photoinduced water splitting in heterogeneous solutions, photogalvanic cells, electrochemical photovoltaic cells, photoelectrosynthesis at semiconductor electrodes, and photochemical energy storage. Each paper is followed by a transcription of questions and subsequent discussion from the conference. This book is recommended for scientists and other technical people interested in photochemical conversion of solar energy. The reader will need to have an understanding of basic chemical processes in order to comprehendthe material. The 11 papers are quite thorough, including as many as 140 references in a single
paper. 389
0038-092X/83i040389-01503.00/0 Pergamon Press Ltd.
Printed in Great Britain.
BOOK REVIEWS Renewable Energy Sources for Developing Countries, Edited 1981.
by Costis
Stambolis.
Heliotechnic
Press,
This publication resulted from a UNESCO conference on renewable energy sources suitable for application in developing countries. Some of the papers are quite broad and cover most of the different renewable energy possibilities for developing countries. Other papers concentrate on specific topics such as geothermal, biogas, mini-hydro, renewable fuels for cooking, crop driers, timber kilns, wave energy systems and shading devices for cooling. Unlike most volumes consisting of a collection of papers presented at a conference, this book is easy to read in its entirety and should be understandable to almost anyone. It is practically devoid of equations and the papers are well referenced. It should be interesting reading for anyone exploring renewable energy applications for developing countries since the papers touch on a large number of projects. Developing nations are hard hit by the high prices of conventional fuels. The emphasis on renewable energy development within some of the major industrial powers is declining as a result of government policy and the general economic situation. However, enthusiasm for renewable energy applications remains high in developing countries. There are many opportunities for people in the solar energy field to lend their expertise to developing nations. This book by Stambolis provides good insight into the various energy needs in developing nations and the practicality of utilizing the broad spectrum of renewable energy technologies for meeting some of these needs.
Solar Energy Applications in Houses: Performance and Economics in Europe, by F. J a g e r . P e r g a m o n P r e s s , O x f o r d , 1981. $35.
Solar Energy Applications in Houses provides a review of passive and active systems for space heating and hot water, with emphasis on their applications within Europe. The chapter following the introduction deals with European climatology and the effects of weather on solar energy systems and house design. Simple techniques for estimating space heating requirements in European climates are presented in the third chapter. Chapter 4 describes the five basic types of passive solar systems for heating, and Chaps. 5 and 6 describe the design and performance of active solar systems for hot water, swimming pool heating, space heating and space cooling. Chapter 7 is a brief discussion of solar economics, and the final chapter describes solar research, development and demonstration programs in European countries. This book provides an overview of potential European solar applications. Primarily descriptive and almost completely devoid of mathematical equations, it is recommended as a good introductory book on potential solar applications for people who would like to acquire a basic knowledge of solar energy and potential applications for European buildings.
Biological Energy Resources, M a l c o l m S l e s s e r a n d C h r i s L e w i s . J o h n W i l e y , N e w Y o r k , 1979, 250 pp: C o s t $23.50. This book presents an overview of various methods of producing and utilizing biomass for energy. The book begins with the
description of the sun, solar radiation, and the photosynthetic process, then leads into a discussion of various types of plants which might be used for energy. It is shown that in order to obtain high yields necessary for economic feasibility the selection of species and applications of fertilizer and irrigation must be strictly controlled, thereby precluding the harvesting of natural vegetation as a long term biomass energy resource. The energy plantation concept is explored by several studies involving crops such as cassava, euclayptus, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, and marine algae. The various processes for converting biomass into fuels and other energy forms are described. These processes include anaerobic digestion (manure, algae), methanation, ethanol production, chemical reduction, gasification, pyrolysis, and direct combustion. One chapter deals with the energy balances of the various biomass energy systems. For example, the energy inputs required for a biomass plantation are evaluated to determine the net energy generated. Another chapter discusses the economics of biomass systems using the net present value approach. The costs of a variety of biomass derived fuels are determined and compared with conventional alternatives. The book is a well written, concise survey of the technology and economics of biomass energy. Over 200 references are cited. The chemistry of biomass production and conversion processes is presented in some detail. Biological Energy Resources is recommended to anyone who would like a concise, technical introduction to the field.
Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy, E d i t e d b y J o h n S. C o n n o l l y . A c a d e m i c P r e s s , N e w Y o r k , 1981, 4 3 5 p p : C o s t $34.50. The 3rd International Con/erence on Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy, sponsored by the Solar Energy Research Institute and the Ott~ce of Basic Energy Science of the U.S. Department of Energy, was held in Boulder, Colorado, in August of 1980. This volume includes 11 papers presented at that conference and abstracts of contributed papers. It provides a good overview of photochemical conversion of solar energy in considerable technical depth. The first paper described an artifical photosynthetic system which functions like chloroplasts. Another paper describes biomimetic systems for converting solar radiation into fuels. Biomimetic systems are defined as those which imitate biological processes. The action of chlorophyll is described in considerable detail and prospects for other processes which may achieve
higher conversion efliciencies are discussed. Photochemical electron transfer in solutions is explained. Other papers are concerned with photoinduced water splitting in heterogeneous solutions, photogalvanic cells, electrochemical photovoltaic cells, photoelectrosynthesis at semiconductor electrodes, and photochemical energy storage. Each paper is followed by a transcription of questions and subsequent discussion from the conference. This book is recommended for scientists and other technical people interested in photochemical conversion of solar energy. The reader will need to have an understanding of basic chemical processes in order to comprehendthe material. The 11 papers are quite thorough, including as many as 140 references in a single
paper. 389