Customer Reviews

Large-Scale Solar Thermal Power: Technologies, Costs and Development

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I waited quite a while for the book since I pre-ordered, however when I finally received two facts came to the surface, it lacks of details on technologies that are available, the same information, or even better, can be rapidly obtained from internet, and secondly it become clear that there are some polarization in the economical analysis, mainly driven by the German policy towards renewable energies.
Going deeper, it can be realized that southern latitudes do not exist for the authors, except for figure 5.9 and some considerations to Africa. This may be true in the sense of existing plants based on Solar but certainly is not true from the potential applications, particularly if considering that is a sector that will demand quite an important amount of energy. It should be consider the total potential energy from Solar.
In favor I have to mention that the authors do mention the lack of good quality data, which I assume should cover the whole planet, hopefully.

Another point is that most of the analysis is base on comparison (some times seems quite unfair ones) with other conventional sources of energy, oil, gas, nuclear and so on, which in my opinion is a mistake because Solar Energy has a very strong case by itself, it is so important that do not need to rely on trying to diminish the role of these other forms of generating energy. In his sense there is a risk that one could argue that these comparisons are not profound enough to draw any significant conclusion, except the ones that can be taken under pre conceived positions between non renewable and renewable energies.

The book do contribute with several illustrative cases of economical evaluations that may help in feasibility studies, but if you want something better oriented to the powerful solar case, which also gives tools for technologies and techniques go for the CRC books for solar energy.
The two stars are mainly due to the fact that the book do not help you for decision makers or post grad students to advance in the field without going for the other materials that were left away. But it can be used as a nice complementary book, focused on possible examples of cases and specific projects already implemented.
Also in favor can be said that gives a nice cover of the great Spanish experience on solar energy technology, which is a real contribution on the subject.