Electricity Production from Renewables Energies

Foreword

Writing the foreword of a book you have initially “commissioned” as series editor (originally for the French Hermes series “Electrical Energy Sciences and Technologies”) is a somewhat unusual exercise…

I was aware of the extent of the task, when I approached Benoit Robyns in 2008 to write a book for educational purposes, which would gather together in a single volume the summarized knowledge about means of electricity production from renewable energies. But I also knew that the region of Lille was a resourceful environment. He proved me right, by bringing together a competent team made up of five lecturers/researchers who have internationally recognized experience and practice: himself, Benoit Robyns, Arnaud Davigny, Bruno François, Antoine Henneton and Jonathan Sprooten.

The development of the book was long (more than 3 years), and thus shows the difficulty and the extent of the work. However, today the result is in front of us, and we now have an overview covering the wide spectrum of the sciences and technologies of the conversion of renewable energy resources into electricity.

A contextual introduction presents the great potential of renewable resources; without a doubt the only resources able to provide humanity with a sustainable future. The authors then concisely discuss the subject with a clarity that will enable people with an academic scientific background to understand it. They shed light on the conversion principles and the following associated technologies: ...