With energy sustainability and security at the forefront of public discourse worldwide, there is a pressing need to foster an understanding of clean, safe alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power. Aldo da Rosa’s highly respected and comprehensive resource fulfills this need; it has provided thousands of engineers, scientists, students and professionals alike with a thorough grounding in the scientific principles underlying the complex world of renewable energy technologies. This new third edition of the classic text highlights advances in this vital area, which are proceeding at an unprecedented pace, allowing everyone interested in this burgeoning field to keep up with the latest developments in diverse topics from solar cooling to renewable energy storage. Illuminates the basic principles behind all key renewable power sources- solar, wind, biomass, hydropower and fuel cells - Connects scientific theory with practical implementation through physical examples; end-of-chapter questions help readers apply their knowledge - Written by one of the world’s foremost experts in renewable energy, drawing from his decades of experience in academia and industry "…very helpful to serious students in this rapidly advancing field…includes key introductory material with the technical detail needed to understand the engineering principles that govern renewable energy applications, making the work suitable for core energy courses. Clear theory, physical examples, and end-of-chapter questions will prompt students to apply the theory to practical cases." -- CHOICE April 2013 Gets beyond renewable energy hype by providing a complete guide to the science behind the most promising sources such as wind, solar, biomass, hydropower and fuel cells Dr. da Rosa taught the perennially popular Renewable Energy course at Stanford University for over 30 years. Former Chairman of the Brazilian National Research Council, Director of the Aeronautical Technical Center, and founder of Brazilian NASA, he also served as the CEO of a tech start-up, Chairman of the Board for a microprocessor manufacturer, and as a member of Siemens Corporation’s scientific advisory board.