Summary

Also called energy scavenging, energy harvesting captures, stores, and uses "clean" energy sources by employing interfaces, storage devices, and other units. Unlike conventional electric power generation systems, renewable energy harvesting does not use fossil fuels and the generation units can be decentralized, thereby significantly reducing transmission and distribution losses. But advanced technical methods must be developed to increase the efficiency of devices in harvesting energy from environmentally friendly, "green" resources and converting them into electrical energy.

Recognizing this need, Energy Harvesting: Solar, Wind, and Ocean Energy Conversion Systems describes various energy harvesting technologies, different topologies, and many types of power electronic interfaces for stand-alone utilization or grid connection of energy harvesting applications. Along with providing all the necessary concepts and theoretical background, the authors develop simulation models throughout the text to build a practical understanding of system analysis and modeling.

With a focus on solar energy, the first chapter discusses the I−V characteristics of photovoltaic (PV) systems, PV models and equivalent circuits, sun tracking systems, maximum power point tracking systems, shading effects, and power electronic interfaces for grid-connected and stand-alone PV systems. It also presents sizing criteria for applications and modern solar energy applications, including residential, vehicular, naval, and space applications. The next chapter reviews different types of wind turbines and electrical machines as well as various power electronic interfaces. After explaining the energy generation technologies, optimal operation principles, and possible utilization techniques of ocean tidal energy harvesting, the book explores near- and offshore approaches for harvesting the kinetic and potential energy of ocean waves. It also describes the required absorber, turbine, and generator types, along with the power electronic interfaces for grid connection and commercialized ocean wave energy conversion applications. The final chapter deals with closed, open, and hybrid-cycle ocean thermal energy conversion systems.

Choice Review

Energy Harvesting is the first volume in the publisher's "Energy, Power Electronics, and Machines" series. Kaligh and Onar are director and doctoral research assistant, respectively, of Illinois Institute of Technology's Electric Power and Power Electronics Center's Energy Harvesting and Renewable Energies Laboratory. This book covers solar, wind, and ocean energy (tide, wave, and thermal) with more than half of the book devoted to ocean energy. This latter fact is a weak point since ocean energy currently plays a very minor role in the renewable energy world, and ocean thermal energy (one full chapter focuses on this technology) was proven long ago to be almost impractical. Most of the information in the book can be found in other standard textbooks on the topic. The only unique feature of the present monograph is that the text is widely accompanied by simple block diagrams, which is not necessarily an advantage. Although schematic figures are well drawn, many plots and curves are fairly rough and offer very little helpful information for students. Further, the text is very weak and difficult to follow. Students may find G. Boyle's Renewable Energy (2nd ed., 2004) or G. Masters's Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems (CH, Feb'05, 42-3448) more useful. Summing Up: Not recommended. M. Alam Massachusetts Institute of Technology