How solar could spark a clean-energy transition through transformative innovation—creative financing, revolutionary technologies, and flexible energy systems. Solar energy, once a niche application for a limited market, has become the cheapest and fastest-growing power source on earth. What's more, its potential is nearly limitless—every hour the sun beams down more energy than the world uses in a year. But in Taming the Sun, energy expert Varun Sivaram warns that the world is not yet equipped to harness erratic sunshine to meet most of its energy needs. And if solar's current surge peters out, prospects for replacing fossil fuels and averting catastrophic climate change will dim. Innovation can brighten those prospects, Sivaram explains, drawing on firsthand experience and original research spanning science, business, and government. Financial innovation is already enticing deep-pocketed investors to fund solar projects around the world, from the sunniest deserts to the poorest villages. Technological innovation could replace today's solar panels with coatings as cheap as paint and employ artificial photosynthesis to store intermittent sunshine as convenient fuels. And systemic innovation could add flexibility to the world's power grids and other energy systems so they can dependably channel the sun's unreliable energy. Unleashing all this innovation will require visionary public policy: funding researchers developing next-generation solar technologies, refashioning energy systems and economic markets, and putting together a diverse clean energy portfolio. Although solar can't power the planet by itself, it can be the centerpiece of a global clean energy revolution. A Council on Foreign Relations Book

In an effort to move away from our dependence on fossil fuels, scientists and engineers have discovered ways to harness the power of the sun to create electricity. This fact-filled book explores solar energy through a STEM perspective. Students will learn how energy from the sun travels millions of miles through space to power our lives here on Earth. The pros and cons of using solar energy are discussed in detail. Dazzling full-color photographs encourage students to make connections with the text and will keep even reluctant readers engaged.

Systems engineered by man to harness solar heat in a controlled manner now include a diverse range of technologies each serving distinctive needs in particular climate contexts. This text covers the breadth of solar energy technologies for the conversion of solar energy to provide heat, either as the directly-used output or as an intermediary to other uses such as power generation or cooling. It is a wholly updated, extended and revised version of “Solar Energy Thermal Technology” first published in 1992. The text draws on the own author’s research and that of numerous colleagues and collaborators at Cranfield University, University of Ulster, Dublin Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and University of Nigeria. The initial chapters deal with relevant fundamental aspects of solar energy meteorology, radiative heat transfer, material properties and energy storage. Solar energy collectors are discussed in detail before a set of chapters deal with each of the full range of applications. The early chapters consider: the solar energy resource, its distribution in geographical, spectral, skyward geometrical and temporal domains; the physics of solar energy absorption, transmission and loss at surfaces; and techniques for storing collected solar energy. Specific collector sub-systems are then discussed in chapters seven to nine. For each system, practical issues are discussed and a proven analytical procedure for predicting performance described. Similarly analyses are presented in the concluding chapters on solar energy systems. These range from dryers to greenhouses to systems that render buildings solar energy systems in themselves and the associated design issues. The context for any use of solar energy is the prevailing climate. This text, being global in scope, definates the most appropriate regions for particular technologies and applications. It is a research-orientated academic work citing publications on the peer-reviewed literature covering engineering and applied science topics intended both for student use, as a reference tool for teaching solar energy and for those researching solar thermal applications in universities, industry or national/commercial laboratories. Insight into the challenges of implementation including practical constraints and operational considerations are provided to aid those undertaking feasibility studies, technical assistance, training assignments or operating testing facilities.

Solar energy is free, abundant and sustainable, with many methods existing to harness it. This guide is the essential introduction to the subject, explaining how the technologies work, how best they should be employed, and the costs and benefits of using them. It provides detailed yet accessible coverage of: passive solar building solar water heating solar space heating other solar thermal applications (such as cooling and desalination) grid-connected photovoltaics stand-alone photovoltaics. It also introduces the reader to larger scale applications such as concentrating solar power. Highly illustrated in full colour, this is the perfect primer for anyone who wants to work with or simply learn more about solar technologies.

You have probably heard about solar power and how it is the new and upcoming alternative energy source of the future. It’s just not a buzzword anymore. It is a viable way for you to save time and money, while at the same time make a conscious effort to save the environment and the planet. Solar power has been revolutionized and new technology is allowing it to not only power your home, but to power personal devices such as cell phones, personal entertainment systems, and other electronic devices that you could use in virtually any situation. Whether you are a first responder to an emergency situation, you want to go camping, or you just want a radio on your next boating trip to work without batteries, personal solar power is the new-age way to get the power without using batteries or other environmentally damaging power sources. Solar power is now affordable to everyone and is available in a variety of ways to help save the environment. Where solar power used to be laughed at by skeptics, it is now being embraced as the alternative energy source that rivals hydrogen, hybrids, and other forms of alternative energy. As we try to break our addiction to fossil fuels, solar power has become the number one topic among think tanks and college professors. It has also become a topic of concern for top government officials in the relentless pursuit to break free of foreign oil and fossil fuels. In this e-book you will learn how to make, and how you can put this type of technology in your life to save not only the environment but money. By understanding the uses of personal solar power and the uses the solar power can be used for in your home, you could get off the power grid, away from the dominance of the power companies and other industries that think they have you by the neck. You can become independent and not rely on corporate power grids or government sanctions. With the secrets revealed in this e-book you’ll be able to not only have personalized solar power equipment, but you will be able to understand some primitive solar power technology that you can put to use in your life to become more independent from government or corporate powers.

Sunshine can do more than make us happy when skies are gray—it can also provide ammo for ancient ray guns! Readers will discover how humans have harvested this clean energy source – from Archimedes’ sunbeam weapons to today’s solar-powered movie theaters. Visuals of ancient, modern, and futuristic human inventions are sure to catch the interest of every reader. Readers will also love the fact boxes full of enlightening material as they soak in this highly relevant science topic.

Green (photovoltaic research, U. of New South Wales) presents an overview of the present state of solar power. He notes that global warming is making the alternative more attractive, especially in Australia but also elsewhere. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

"The Einstein Almanac" takes a look at Einstein's year-by-year output, explaining his 300 most important publications and setting them into the context of his life, science, and world history.