Renewable Energy: A Primer for the Twenty-First Century

Fossil fuels – oil, coal, and natural gas -- are today's primary source of energy. Without them life would be dark, insular, and barren of most modern conveniences. But the 21st century is witnessing a rapid and irreversible transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. Advances in technology and manufacturing have driven down the cost of solar and wind power to the point where they are competitive with oil, coal and natural gas in the generation of electricity, which can now be efficiently stored in batteries. Cost effective batteries have allowed for production of high-performing electric vehicles, encouraging consumers to switch from gasoline-powered engines to cleaner, faster automobiles. And the rapid growth of electric vehicles is increasing the demand for renewable energy. These three concurrent developments – cheap solar and wind power, effective lightweight batteries, and high-performing electric vehicles – are working together to bring about the end of the age of oil. Clean energy will be the dominant source of power in the 21st century, with positive implications for global economies, health, and most critically for the sustainability of our planet. The approach of this proposed book is to take a highly complex subject, energy, and provide a clear explanation for the evolution that is taking place from fossil fuels to wind and solar. The thesis is that economic forces drive sustainable development, and that technological development will, in the energy sector, have a very positive impact. Most importantly, the purpose of this short book is to demonstrate to the reader that we are on a trajectory that is both inevitable and a bright spot in the battle against climate change.