Reflecting its reliance on fossil fuels, the electric power industry produces the majority of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. The need for a revolution in the industry becomes further apparent given that 'decarbonization' means an increasing electrification of other sectors of the economy in particular, through a switch from gasoline to electric vehicles. Of the options for producing electric power without significant greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy is most attractive to policymakers, as it promises increased national self-reliance on energy supplies and the creation of new industries and jobs, without the safety and political concerns of nuclear power or the unproven technology of carbon capture and storage. Drawing on both economic theory and the experiences of the United States and EU member states, Harnessing Renewable Energy addresses the key questions surrounding renewable energy policies. How appropriate is the focus on renewable power as a primary tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions? If renewable energy is given specific support, what form should that support take? What are the implications for power markets if renewable generation is widely adopted? Thorough and well-evidenced, this book will be of interest to a broad range of policymakers, the electric power industry, and economists who study energy and environmental issues.

Electricity, supplied reliably and affordably, is foundational to the U.S. economy and is utterly indispensable to modern society. However, emissions resulting from many forms of electricity generation create environmental risks that could have significant negative economic, security, and human health consequences. Large-scale installation of cleaner power generation has been generally hampered because greener technologies are more expensive than the technologies that currently produce most of our power. Rather than trade affordability and reliability for low emissions, is there a way to balance all three? The Power of Change: Innovation for Development and Deployment of Increasingly Clean Energy Technologies considers how to speed up innovations that would dramatically improve the performance and lower the cost of currently available technologies while also developing new advanced cleaner energy technologies. According to this report, there is an opportunity for the United States to continue to lead in the pursuit of increasingly clean, more efficient electricity through innovation in advanced technologies. The Power of Change: Innovation for Development and Deployment of Increasingly Clean Energy Technologies makes the case that America's advantagesâ€"world-class universities and national laboratories, a vibrant private sector, and innovative states, cities, and regions that are free to experiment with a variety of public policy approachesâ€"position the United States to create and lead a new clean energy revolution. This study focuses on five paths to accelerate the market adoption of increasing clean energy and efficiency technologies: (1) expanding the portfolio of cleaner energy technology options; (2) leveraging the advantages of energy efficiency; (3) facilitating the development of increasing clean technologies, including renewables, nuclear, and cleaner fossil; (4) improving the existing technologies, systems, and infrastructure; and (5) leveling the playing field for cleaner energy technologies. The Power of Change: Innovation for Development and Deployment of Increasingly Clean Energy Technologies is a call for leadership to transform the United States energy sector in order to both mitigate the risks of greenhouse gas and other pollutants and to spur future economic growth. This study's focus on science, technology, and economic policy makes it a valuable resource to guide support that produces innovation to meet energy challenges now and for the future.

Green Power: Perspectives on Sustainable Electricity Generation provides a systematic overview of the current state of green power and renewable electrical energy production in the world. Presenting eight in-depth case studies of green power production and dissemination, it illustrates the experiences and best practices of various countries on this

RENEWABLE AND EFFICIENT ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS Join the energy revolution—this comprehensive resource offers quantitative and practical approaches for designing a sustainable, 21st-century electricity system, covering renewable generation technologies, conventional power plants, energy efficiency, storage, and microgrids. Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems dives into the fundamentals of modern electricity systems, introducing key technologies, economic and environmental impacts, and practical considerations for energy and climate professionals. The book explains the science and engineering underlying renewable energy—including solar, wind, and hydropower—along with an expanded set of key energy technologies such as fuel cells, batteries, and hydrogen. This updated edition prepares readers to participate in the world’s ongoing efforts to decarbonize the electricity sector and move toward a more sustainable future. The book covers foundational knowledge of electric power, up through current developments and future prospects for renewable energy. The update significantly expands core content to address topics such as energy efficiency, smart grids, energy storage, and microgrids. It reframes energy as an integral factor in urban development and highlights forward-looking strategies to decarbonize the built environment. The text draws on a multi-scalar approach that ranges from utility-scale to building-scale to assess energy systems, and further considers centralized vs. distributed system architecture. The authors integrate perspectives from engineering professionals across different sectors, incorporating relevant insights from applied projects, with an eye toward implementing energy systems in the real world. Given the textbook’s broad reach, this edition situates energy development in an international context and provides examples relevant to a global audience. An essential resource for engineers and other practitioners working in climate and energy, offering cutting-edge frameworks and quantitative approaches to energy system design. Early chapters develop the skills and knowledge necessary for students and professionals entering the clean energy field. Later chapters offer an excellent bridge to prepare advanced students for further study in power engineering, or who intend to pursue policy or economic analysis. Step-by-step explanations of quantitative analysis are supplemented with additional practice problems to encourage self-instruction or complement classroom use. Accessible explanations provide planners and policymakers with fundamental technical understanding of energy systems. Combines pure technical analysis with economic and environmental considerations, and explores the link between energy, carbon, and new digital technologies, to provide a more comprehensive approach to energy education. As the world undergoes a transformation in energy and electricity, Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems is an indispensable text for students of energy, environment, and climate, as well as for practitioners seeking to refresh their understanding of renewable energy systems.

Examines effects on environment resulting from generating electricity from power stations fueled by water power, fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum, and nuclear power. Focuses on waste disposal, power plant siting, and thermal and chemical discharges.