Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1
Introduction and Structure
The aim of this topic is to outline and discuss the main fields of renewable energy
applications, and thereby create a solid basis for their evaluation. For this purpose,
both the physical foundations and the technical bases are presented. Additionally,
key figures which allow for a classification of these options according to the de-
mands of the energy system are elaborated. To ensure a simple, comprehensible
and transparent presentation of the different options of using renewable energy for
the provision of heat and power, the individual chapters describing the various
options have been similarly structured whenever possible and sensible.
In this context, the global energy system is presented and thus also the frame-
work into which energy provision based on renewable energy sources has to be
incorporated. Subsequently, the basic structure of the chapters of this topic is ex-
plained more in detail, and technical terms used frequently throughout this topic,
are defined. Also the underlying methodological approaches with regard to the
key figures, which are characteristic for the individual renewable energy applica-
tion, are presented. To conclude, most important technologies for exploiting fossil
energy carriers for the provision of heat and electricity are also briefly described
and characterised; they set a base standard for evaluating energy provision options
based on renewable energy sources.
1.1
Energy system
Our current living standard could not be maintained without energy. The provi-
sion of energy or - more precisely - of the related energy services (e.g. heated liv-
ing spaces, information, and mobility) involves a huge variety of environmental
impacts which are increasingly less tolerated by the society of the 21
st
century.
This is why the "energy problem" in conjunction with the underlying "environ-
mental problem" continues to be a major topic in energy engineering, as well as in
the energy and environmental policies of Europe and, to some extent, also world-
wide. From the current viewpoint, this attitude is not expected to change within
the near future; the worldwide controversy about the potential risks of the anthro-
pogenic greenhouse effect is only one example. On the contrary, in view of the
increasing knowledge and recognition of the effects associated with energy utili-
sation in the broadest sense of the term, increased complexity has to be expected.
