Andy McCrea - Renewable Energy: A Users Guide

First published in 2008 by
The Crowood Press Ltd,
Ramsbury, Marlborough,
Wiltshire, SN8 2HR

www.crowood.com

Revised edition 2013

This e-book edition first published in 2013

Andy McCrea 2008 and 2013

All rights reserved. This e-book is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the authors and publishers rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

ISBN 978 1 84797 544 7

Disclaimer
The author and publisher do not accept responsibility, in any manner whatsoever, for any error, or omission, nor any loss, damage, injury, adverse outcome or liability of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any of the information contained in this book, or reliance upon it. Readers are advised to seek specific professional advice relating to their particular house, project and circumstances before embarking on any building or installation work.

Renewable energy markets have some big drivers behind them these days. Firstly, more and more people are suspecting that there isnt as much oil and gas left as we are being told. This problem has become known as peak oil. Crudely speaking, this is the time when all the oil discovered, and to be discovered, is half gone: the time when oil supply stops growing, starts becoming increasingly unaffordable, and sets us on the road to a world where only the super-rich can afford to drive and fly.

Faced with this possibility, some want to turn to the Canadian tar sands and to coal. In Canada, there is a lot of tar sand that, after much burning of gas to melt the tar, can be turned into oil. In other countries, there is plenty of coal and, after much emission of gas, that too can be turned into oil.

Oil companies are trying to turn themselves into tar and coal companies. This is a big mistake. To do this, they need to forget about a second mega-problem that is going to change our lives: global warming.

The thermostat of our planet is in danger of running out of control. The impacts of this global overheating are snowballing. Economies are being ruined (think of the Mexican floods in Tabasco province). Living systems are being decimated (think of coral bleaching). Lives are being turned on end (think of Hurricane Katrina, the Australian drought, and so on). Much worse is to come unless we change.

In 1939, when Winston Churchill said we are entering a time of consequences, he wasnt kidding. The British face the same magnitude of threats now as we did then. Invasion, of a kind. Ruin, just as bad as bombing. Not just the Brits. Everyone.

We all have to mobilize as though for world war, just as in 1939. Then in a big hurry we made bombers, fighters and tanks faster than you would have believed possible. But in the war weve got to fight today, we need different weapons.

First, we need energy conservation of all kinds. Second, we need energy efficiency of all kinds. Third, we need renewable energy of all kinds.

This imperative is what makes books like Andys so important. We need people to have faith that renewables can deliver, if we just but give them a chance. By marrying renewable energy with energy conservation and efficiency in our homes, office and factories we stand a chance. Without making these changes we really dont and time is running out.

Jeremy Leggett, Executive Chairman, Solarcentury