'offers knowledge and inspiration to promote renewable energy in developing and industrialized countries' Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of UNEP From technology to financing issues, Renewable Energy offers a comprehensive and authoritative review of the determining factors that drive worldwide dissemination of renewable energy technologies. With a clear emphasis on policy and action, contributions from internationally renowned experts combine to form a holistic picture of the current status, impacts and future potential of renewable energy. Addressing the situation in both developing and developed countries, each chapter reviews in detail a different issue, to present extensive information on social, environmental, political, economic and technological aspects. This will be essential reading for professionals in renewable energy, in particular policy-makers, researchers, NGOs and energy consultants, and a valuable resource for teachers and students of renewable energy, environmental studies, development studies, political science and international relations.