Customer Reviews (3)

Experience behind the theory
Gives a great overview of the history of wind power, and a practical guide, backed up with decades of experience that any novice can understand.Great book for anyone who is new to small wind that wants to get involved or install their own system.

A Good Intro to a Much-Hyped Technology
Many would like to take advantage of the wind, a so-called 'free' energy resource to do things ranging from pumping water for irrigation to supplying their home or business energy needs.Over the course of the book, via extended examples of practical, functioning and active wind power systems, Paul Gipe makes clear just how 'free' this free energy source actually is.

While Mr. Gipe concedes readily that the wind can be harnessed to provide energy, he also patiently explains the limitations in doing so.Mr. Gipe is probably the technology's most level-headed advocate, and he makes clear what these systems can and can not do.

Although wind energy systems have lots of potential, they often fall short for several practical reasons.As Mr. Gipe quickly points out, not all sites are suitable for harnessing the wind, and the most important criterion for wind energy development is the stability of the wind resource, and not necessarily its maximum speed (as it turns out, practically all commercially available systems will not produce any energy above a certain speed, for aerodynamic reasons).This is the first and most common misconception that Mr. Gipe dispels, and throughout the book he provides a lot of clarification on many other wind energy myths and misconceptions.A second very common misconception among the public, who have been sold these energy systems based on their clean image (zero greenhouse gas emissions), is the ongoing confusion between power and energy, which many consider to be equal.Gipe takes us slowly through the mathematics, and shows us the important difference between power and energy.

Many unscrupulous advocates of so-called 'free' energy- solar and/or wind power have fooled more than a few technological neophytes by citing the high efficiency of such systems at converting the wind to power, er, ah, I mean energy.However, this is misleading for two reasons.First, power is not what we at home pay for; we pay for energy.Second, and most important, these knaves often cite efficiency at hub height, and not in terms of final output (which is what you really are paying for), when they 'sell' (more like hype) wind power.Granted there is lots of energy in the wind, but that is energy of motion, and that has to be ultimately converted into electrical energy to brew your coffee or run your toaster, and alas, the efficiency of such conversions is rather low, right around that for coal or petroleum fired electric power plants (and a bit below that of natural gas fired plants).

The book covers all the wind power basics, from estimating your wind resource (distribution of wind speeds for your particular site), to estimating your annual energy output with a given system, to costing the system and issues related to siting and installation.All in all, it is a very comprehensive book, complete with chapters devoted to each aspect of an individual wind energy system- rotor, transmission, tower, as well as issues dealing with interconnection to the utility and proper transformation of voltage for home use.

For me, the most important admission made in the book is the fact that no one can say exactly how much power (uh, energy!) the system will deliver.Because the wind is an intermittent resource, the amount of useful energy output depends to a great extent on the type of wind resource one has, namely the distribution of wind speeds throughout the year, and less on such things as the size of the rotor, the height of the tower and the efficiency of the entire system.In fact, because each system is unique in that it has a different rotor diameter, hub height and total system efficiency, one must estimate for each and every system under consideration the annual energy output.Failure to do so will mean overestimating the capability of your site and your wind energy system, and in turn, not getting all the energy you may require.As a result, knowing your site and its wind speed distribution (generally five years of data) is more important than the type of system you choose.

As a result, I have come to see wind energy systems for the home not as an enabling technology but as a limiting technology.This is the primary reason why investor owned and municipal utilities tend to use these systems as peak energy off-sets, and not as dedicated systems to meet fixed energy demands.Though Gipe does not say this in so many words, he does admit that the technology, while having many possible applications and lots of potential, also has a lot of fundamental limitations.

Mr. Gipe has written a few other books on the subject, some of them a bit more recent than this one.Still, this book makes for a good, clear and level-headed introduction to a much hyped technology.

Wind Power ... Gipe has presented a well organized picture
I have recently become interested in Wind Energy and the possibilities it presents for NY.With a finite supply coal/oil/ and other fossil fuels it is a matter of time before alternative forms of energy become costeffective.

Gipe was able to present an overview of Wind Energy.Heoffers mathematical equations for the energy produced, The differencebetween Energy and Power, and practical presentation of how, what, and whyWind is a viable source.

Chapters include: Measuring Wind, Estimatingoutput, Economics of the system, Towers, Interconnections with a Utility,Stand Alone, Water pumping, Installation, and Safety.

I would have likedto see more detail on placement added into the chapters but Gipe does giveyou other sources to look into.

Overall Gipe does an excellent job ofpresenting Wind energy in an understandable fashion.I would recommend anyinterested in venturing into wind energy would start with reading thisbook.I am reading it for a second time. ... Read more

Product Description
As the United States seeks ways to meet the ever-increasing power needs of its large coastal population areas, there’s a growing focus on the plentiful renewable energy resources located just offshore.



In their new book, energy experts Markian Melnyk and Robert Andersen outline the important new offshore options available to a nation on the threshold of a green revolution. The experience gained by early offshore oil and gas prospectors, as well as by more recent developers of European offshore wind, wave, and tidal energy projects, provide a wealth of knowledge that can be readily transferred to North American marine energy projects.



Whether you’re a developer, financial backer, or regulator, Offshore Power charts a course for long-term deployment of marine renewable energy facilities, and creates a compelling picture of a greener future. ... Read more

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Product Description
Owing to the stochastic nature of their primary energy source, workable performance of wind energy conversion systems cannot be achieved without the contribution of automatic control.Optimal Control of Wind Energy Systems presents a thoroughgoing review of the main control issues in wind power generation, offering a unified picture of the issues in optimal control of wind power generation. A series of optimal control techniques are analyzed, assessed and compared, starting with the classical ones, like PI control, maximum power point strategies and gain-scheduling techniques, and continuing with some modern ones: sliding-mode techniques, feedback linearization control and robust control. Discussion is focused on a global dynamic optimization approach to wind power systems using a set of optimization criteria which comply with a comprehensive group of requirements including: energy conversion efficiency; mechanical reliability; and quality of the energy provided.The main results are presented along with illustration by case studies and MATLAB®/Simulink® simulation assessment. The corresponding programmes and block diagrams can be downloaded from the book s page at springer.com. For some of the case studies presented, real-time simulation results are also available, illustrative examples which will be useful in easing technology transfer in control engineering associated with wind power systems.Control engineers, researchers and graduate students interested in learning and applying systematic optimization procedures to wind power systems will find this a most useful guide to the field. ... Read more

Product Description
This dazzling introductory textbook encompasses the full range of today's important renewable energy technologies.

Solar thermal, photovoltaic, wind, hydro, biomass and geothermal energy receive balanced treatment with one exciting and informative chapter devoted to each. As well as a complete overview of these state-of-the-art technologies, the chapters provide:

• clear analysis on their development potentials;
• an evaluation of the economic aspects involved;
• concrete guidance for practical implementation; how to reduce your own energy waste.

If we do not act now to stop climate change, the consequences will be catastrophic. The current world situation is demonstrated here with the aid of full-colour figures and photographs, data diagrams and simple calculations and results. A multiplicity of impressive examples from countries across the globe show international ‘alternative’ energy in action.

With its easy-to-read approach, this is an essential textbook for students on renewable energy courses, also environment and sustainability courses. Planners, operators, financers and consultants will find this an excellent manual for planning and realizing climate protection. Furthermore, this book makes great background reading for energy workers, designers, politicians and journalists, and anyone who is interested in the topic of climate change.

Looking for further study? Visit the complimentary website; it hosts many useful related internet sites: www.wiley.com/go/quaschning_renewable ... Read more

Product Description
Wind and solar energy are pollution-free sources of abundant power. With renewable power generation expected to become more and more profitable with open access to transmission lines and rapid growth around the world, the design, operation, and control of alternative energy resources becomes an essential field of study. Wind and Solar Power Systems provides a comprehensive treatment of this rapidly growing segment of the power industry. It provides the fundamentals of wind and solar power generation, energy conversion and storage, and the operational aspects of power electronics and the quality of power. It covers in detail the design, operation, and control methods applicable to stand-alone as well as grid-connected power systems and discusses the present status of and the on-going research in renewable power around the world.Wind and Solar Power Systems stands as the most modern, complete book available on renewable energy. Electrical, environmental and mechanical engineering professionals along with policy-makers evaluating the renewable energy potential of their regions will find in it the background and the details they need for decision making. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

more wind than anything else
From the title of the book it could be expected a share of both topics, wind and solar energy, however the book is full of wind power analysis everywhere,concentrating solar power is almost non existing, just a couple of pages on chapter 17, and considering the number of applications and complexity of this topics it deserves a lot more than that. So the book is nice but one should not expect too much of anything but wind energy, which is fine. On photovoltaic there is not much either, including nothing on emerging technologies in the field, so it is fairly classic what you have there for conventional design but not giving any clue of what comes next. For instance flexible systems for non flat roof applications or any other non regular shape buildings or semi transparent components. When considering grid connections it goes again for wind almost inmediately. This is fine but my point is whay do not call the book "wind power with some solar..." instead of giving the wrong impression ?, so I give 4 starts for wind and 2 for solar (really it should be just one) giving 3 as average.

Outdated History Reveiw
I had to get this book for school, for a renewable energy class.It has a lot of outdated stats in the book.Its really not the writer, as far as the history of wind, pvs, and batteries go, he does a good job explaining, but that is just it, Its a history lesson in renewables.Do not get this book for projects

Great book!
This book is a lucid, up-to-date and comprehensive reference for theory and practical matters surrounding our two most viable alternate energy sources.Be careful though because the first edition has a few typographical errors, one or two in its derivations.

An excellent, comprehensive text
Very readable, and accessible, even to a non-engineer.

Great reference book....
This is a good reference book on renewable energy sources. It is wellorganized and easy to follow, even for non-electrical engineers.As anenvironmental engineer, I have found it an excellent reference. ... Read more

Product Description
The proliferation of Non-Linear Loads is the mainreason for harmonic currents injection and flow inthe electric power system. This condition causes ahost of detrimental effects including increasedpower loss, electromagnetic interference, resonance,and relay malfunctioning. As a result, the qualityof the energy delivered to the consumers isdegraded. Static and Active Filters are used asmitigating tools: these devices sink the harmoniccurrents injected by the Non-Linear Loads, thusresulting in a grid current at fundamental frequencyonly. This book deals with the use of Wind EnergyConversion Systems (WECSs) as Active Filters: thisapplication is promising since the number ofinstalled Non-Linear Loads and of WECSs iscontinuously increasing and the latter operates atfull power only for a limited time of the year. Theeffects of the proposed application on WECSs'performance in both steady-state and transientoperation are addressed and design issues areidentified. This book is useful to power systemengineers and graduate students interested incontrol systems design and modeling of WECSs. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you're building a new house or have an existing one, "Basics of Energy Efficient Living" shares the principles behind energy efficient living. Have you ever wondered: What is R-value? How much energy could I get from my creek? Can I use alternative energy in the city? How much heat will it take to keep my house warm? How much heat will I lose if I put in a bigger window?Learn what it takes to save energy, then take the next step and collect your own.Find out how much energy you can get from water, sun, wind, and wood.Discover how much energy you need by making an energy budget specific for your house. Learn energy principles as you design a house step-by-step. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

good, not quite what i was expecting
This book was pretty good and I'm glad I read it.But it wasn't really what I was looking for.Basically, it's a review of some of the basic math and physics behind energy.A few specific topics, like R-values, are covered in exhausting detail.There are a bunch of worksheets for calculating your heat loss and such, which take up a large part of the book.

Practical for Real People
These days it seems that energy advice is available on every street corner--"turn down your thermostat", "caulk your house" or "buy a solar panel".Unfortunately, most of this "common sense" is either massively expensive or based on "cut back" and save.It's hardly inspiring or practical for real people.

This book restores my confidence in practical energy solutions.It's not "preachy" or "environmentalist"---it simply lays out how energy works and options to cut energy waste.It's easy to read, yet packed with information.I haven't seen technical writing this good in years.

The content is fairly evenly divided between discussions on preventing energy loss, recapturing lost energy, and obtaining "free" energy.The explanations are lucid, logical and cover the major energy options.The book also includes worksheets for calculating energy use in your own home.

Overall, what I appreciate most is this book doesn't preach/promote a specific energy solution.Instead it simply explains the options and lets you decide what will give you the most gain for your specific house/lifestyle.Once you read this book I guarantee you won't think about energy the same way again. ... Read more

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"Wind Power" looks at how we can harness the energy of winds; wind turbines that grind corn and pump water; wind-powered ocean oil tankers; how wind power can supply a firth of our energy needs; and using energy without damage to the environment. ... Read more

Product Description
With an annual growth rate of over 35%, wind is the fastest growing energy source in the world today. As a result of intensive research and developmental efforts, the technology of generating energy from wind has significantly changed during the past five years. The book brings together all the latest aspects of wind energy conversion technology - right from the wind resource analysis to grid integration of the wind generated electricity. The chapters are contributed by academic and industrial experts having vast experience in these areas. Each chapter begins with an introduction explaining the current status of the technology and proceeds further to the advanced lever to cater for the needs of readers from different subject backgrounds. Extensive bibliography/references appended to each chapter give further guidance to the interested readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very Good for teaching
For me is a very good book to teach about wind energy and the economical aspect in a clear way,specially to electrical engineer. ... Read more

Product Description
During the early 1970's the price of oil reached a critically high level. This crisis prompted the United States government to utilize a more readily available and cheaper source of energy: wind. Since that time the United States and other industrialised nations have made great strides in improving the efficiency of wind energy technology. These strides should prove beneficial for those oil dependent nations who are, once again, suffering from the recent rise in oil prices. Wind energy has emerged as one of the most viable alternatives for the industrialised nations that are scrambling to reduce their dependence on oil. As the technology improves and becomes more widely used, other issues, such as government regulations, have come into play. This book focuses on three areas of this increasingly important topic: the technology used to make wind energy, the state and federal regulations that may be applied to wind energy projects, and recent commercial projects. ... Read more

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A wind turbine is a rotating machine which converts the kinetic energy in wind into mechanical energy. World-wide interest in renewable energy systems such as wind turbines has increased dramatically, due to environmental concerns like climate change and other factors. Wind power is a major source of sustainable energy, and can be harvested using both horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines. This book addresses wind turbines and provides theoretical background and rationale for these developments. The required guidelines to make wind farms environmentally friendly are addressed, as well as the impact that wind turbines may have on benthic biomass and diversity. Ideas about future developments of wind turbines are also reviewed in this book. ... Read more

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A concise guide to all the essential steps for setting up wind business services in developing countries. Deals with all the key aspects of promoting wind energy for domestic end uses, as well as giving a guide to needs assessment, resource assessment, the economics of small wind machines and technology choice. Softcover. ... Read more

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