Advances in solar energy 

About: Advances in solar energy is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Solar energy & Photovoltaic system. It has an ISSN identifier of 0731-8618. Over the lifetime, 82 publications have been published receiving 997 citations.

The renewable energy response to climate change

Abstract: The environmental impacts from fossil fuel use particularly climate change, security of future energy supplies and energy poverty, are the key drivers for further development and deployment of renewable energy technologies and distributed energy systems. High capital investment is required to achieve this, though this would be partly offset by savings in the cost of constructing new large power stations and the infrastructure necessary to transmit gas and electricity over large distances. Many proposed renewable energy projects have relatively low investment costs in terms of $/tonne of carbon avoided but the development of further policies and mechanisms by governments is required to enable renewables to compete more fairly with traditional fossil fuels and nuclear power, often carrying high subsidies in various forms. Valuing the cost of emitting carbon into the atmosphere is one such approach. Recent developments resulting in improvements in performance and the lowering of costs of renewable energy technologies and systems has led to their rapid growth, particularly of wind and solar. However many scenarios of future global energy use still show them providing less than 4% of the world's primary energy supply by 2030. If mitigation of climate change is to prove successful and occur in time to minimize the costs of adaptation, then a more rapid uptake of renewable energy will be required. Greater investment now to drive the cost of renewables further down their experience curves will lead to less risk from climate change and lower investment costs in the longer term.

Biomass Pyrolysis: A Review of the Literature Part 2—Lignocellulose Pyrolysis

Abstract: A normative review of the literature describing the products, mechanisms, and rates of lignin and whole biomass pyrolysis is presented. The role of a complex sequence of competing solid- and vapor-phase pyrolysis pathways is elucidated.

A review of liquid desiccant cooling

Abstract: Dessicant cooling has the ability to provide efficient indoor humidity and temperature control, while at the same time reducing the electrical energy requirement as compared to conventional vapor compression systems. Unlike other surveys on dessicant cooling, this review focuses on a more detailed coverage of liquid dessicant systems. Physical properties are compared for commonly used liquid dessicants (salt solutions and triethylene glycol). Findings from studies considering dessicant/air contact equipement such as packed towers, finned coils, and solar collector regenerators have been summarized in tables for easy comparison. Key features of these tables include the dessicant material, the influence of design variables on the dehumidifier/regenerator performance, and whether experiments were performed. Finally, system configurations are presented schematically, with additional information listed in tabular form

U.S. Federal Energy Subsidies : Not all technologies are created equals

Abstract: Federal Energy Subsidies provides a historical accounting of U.S. federal government subsidies to nuclear, wind, photovoltaic, and solar thermal electricity generating technologies. Also provided is a less complete accounting of federal subsidies for hydroelectric power. In addition to identifying the actual dollar amounts of the subsidies during the last 60 years, the report offers new insights on how these subsidies have fared relative to each other. A simple message emerges from Federal Energy Subsidies: it takes a substantial amount of money, invested over several years, to bring an electricity generation technology to maturity. This analysis comes at a time when citizens and policymakers alike are debating the environmental impacts of energy use, the role in the American economy of corporate welfare, and appropriate levels of government spending. It provides pertinent information for the ongoing debate regarding the government's influence on energy markets, its support for nuclear power, and, more recently, the notion that renewables are heavily subsidized and receiving preferential treatment. The report concludes that federal support for nuclear power has far surpassed support for renewables, and that over the long term this public investment correlates with increasing electricity generation by the nuclear sector-although, of course, the increase in nuclear generation reflects several factors in addition to federal investment. From 1943 through 1999, cumulative federal government subsidies to these electricity-generating technologies (excluding hydropower) totaled almost $151 billion (in 1999 dollars). This figure includes all direct program budgetary outlays, plus several of the most notable off-budget subsidies and policies, including tax credits and incentive payments for renewable energy, as well as nuclear liability limitations. The nuclear industry received $145.4 billion, or over 96 percent of the subsidies. Those to photovoltaic and solar thermal power accounted for a cumulative total of $4.4 billion, while wind technology received $1.3 billion.

Design Methods for Earth-Contact Heat Transfer

Abstract: Methods for calculating heat transfer between buildings and ground for the slab-on-grade, basement and crawl space configurations are reviewed. These methods apply to the overwhelming majority of passive and conventional buildings. This area received scant attention until the 1970’s, but over a dozen research and design calculation procedures (and variations) are now available. Procedures suitable for use by designers are emphasized in this review. The basic characteristics of heat flow between buildings and ground are described and the analytic and numerical techniques which form the basis of the design methods are discussed. The differing capabilities and discrepancies between predictions of the different methods are noted to assist designers in choice of methods for personal use and recommendations are made for further research and methodological development.