Renewable Energy: Economic and Environmental Issues

This article analyzes the potential of various renewable or solar energy technologies to supply the United States with its future energy needs. Diverse renewable technologies are assessed in terms of their land requirements, environmental benefits and risks, economic costs, and a comparison of their advantages. In addition a projection of the amount of energy that could be supplied by solar energy is made. Topics covered include: assessment of renewable energy technologies; biomass energy systems; liquid fuels; ethanol; methanol; hydrogen; hydroelectric systems; wind power; photovoltaics; solar thermal conversion systems; passive heating and cooling of buildings; comparing solar power to coal and nuclear power; transition to solar energy and other alternatives. 84 refs.

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