This book gives a concise overview of technologies for obtaining energy from renewable sources, and explains methods for how the energy can be stored, transported, and converted to useful forms. Each technology is described by German contributors who are researchers, engineers, or entrepreneurs in their fields. They address topics such as solar thermal energy, geothermal energy, energy from wind and waves, and solar cooling. In each chapter, detailed discussion and references to current literature enable the reader to reach an opinion on the feasibility and potential of these technologies. Chapters are laid out in a reader-friendly magazine style, with color photos and graphics, margin notes, and boxes in a two-column format. The material is accessible to general readers with some background in technology and natural sciences, yet detailed enough so that the book can be used in graduate classes on renewable energy. Wengenmayr and Buhrke are editors of the journal Physik in unserer Zeit. Annotation ⓒ2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)