The limited available of fossil energy carriers and the environmental impacts of energy consumtion demand mid-and long-term strategies both for the rational use of energy and for increased renewable energy utilization. Concepts of renewable energy conversion have been proposed and implemented during recent decades allover the world and their remarkable potential has been demonstrated. However, large scale implementation in the context of the requirements above has not yet taken place. The EUREC (European Renewable Energy Centres) Agency - an association of 25 European research centres from 11 EC countries, provides a framework of leading experts in the field of renewable energies, focusing on assessment studies, joint projects in research and development and on proposing future strategies in a European context. Under the leadership of Professor Wrixon, with the assistance and contributions of experts from the EUREC Agency, the document 'Renewable Energy - 2000' has been elaborated. This document critically evaluates the potential of renewable energies, focusing on the most relevant sources and methodologies, namely: wind energy, solar heating, cooling and daylighting, photovoltaics and biomass. It also proposes strategies for implementing components and systems to achieve economic operation in different regions of the European Community. It thereby makes use of the expert knowledge and experience concentrated in EUREC Agency member institutions.

InhaltsangabeGlossary of Symbols, Units and Abbreviations used throughout the Report.- Executive Summary.- 1. Introduction.- 1.1 Background.- 1.2 Aims and Objectives of the Present Study.- 1.3 Outline of the Report.- 2. Wind Energy.- 2.1 Technical Review of Wind Energy.- 2.2 Economic Review of Wind Energy.- 2.3 Environmental Impacts and Public Acceptability of Wind Energy in the European Context.- 2.4 The Commercialization of Wind Energy in Europe.- 3. Solar Heating & Cooling and Daylighting.- 3.1 Technical Review of Solar Heating & Cooling and Daylighting.- 3.2 Economic Review of Solar Heating & Cooling and Daylighting.- 3.3 Environmental Impacts and Public Acceptability of Solar Heating & Cooling and Daylighting in the European Context.- 3.4 The Commercialization of Solar Heating & Cooling and Daylighting in Europe.- 4. Photovoltaics.- 4.1 Technical Review of Photovoltaics.- 4.2 Economic Review of Photovoltaics.- 4.3 Environmental Impacts and Public Acceptability of Photovoltaics in the European Context.- 4.4 The Commercialization of Photovoltaics in Europe.- 5. Biomass.- 5.1 Technical Review of Biomass Energy.- 5.2 Economic Review of Biomass Energy.- 5.3 Environmental Impacts and Public Acceptability of Biomass Energy in the European Context.- 5.4 The Commercialization of Biomass Energy in Europe.- 6. Conclusions: Prospects for the Development of Renewable Energy in Europe to the year 2000.- 6.1 Overview of the Current Status, in Europe, of the four specific Renewable Energy Technologies under review.- 6.2 Conservative Estimates on Share of Community Energy Consumption by the end of the Century.- 6.3 Factors affecting Further Development.- 6.4 Final Conclusions.- References / Bibliography.- Appendices.- 1. Choice of Renewable Energy Options.- 2. EUR-12 Primary Energy Production/Consumption 1991.- 3. Energy Imports and Final Energy Consumer Prices 1991.- 5. Energy in Europe 1990-2000: Four Possible Energy Scenarios / Total Primary Energy Requirements.