Quantitative Evaluation of Energy Systems

Future engineers face the major challenge of shaping the energy transition and sustainable resource use under the constraints of climate change and biodiversity loss. This book provides the knowledge required to quantitatively evaluate options for future energy supply. It is aimed at students of engineering, but is also relevant for practitioners involved in the development of renewable energy systems. The focus is on methods that enable the analysis of key questions related to the energy transition. As a foundation for addressing these challenges, the book introduces key performance indicators that can be used to evaluate energy carriers and infrastructure. These include, among others, cumulative energy demand (CED) and energy return on investment (EROI). In addition, the book presents and contextualizes relevant energy supply solutions. Among these are the use of geothermal and solar thermal energy as well as fuels for heat generation. The generation of electricity through photovoltaics and the conversion of mechanical energy via hydropower and wind power are also included, as are the potentials of hydrogen-based energy carriers and heat pumps. Solutions for energy storage and carbon capture round out the content. Furthermore, numerous application examples demonstrate how robust decisions can be made based on a KPI-driven evaluation of energy systems.