ABSTRACT
This book has addressed a hypothesis on the broad topic of environmental impact from the diverse renewable energy sources. Environmental impact has been defined as changes beyond the ‘normal’ rate of change, that is faster or greater in extent, or more permanent changes. The term ‘environment’ covers many different concepts, from physical surroundings to processes and systems, including the lithosphere as well as the biosphere, atmosphere and anthroposphere. An attempt at some more succinct definitions of subcomponents has been made here in respect of the different aspects of the environment that are affected by renewable energy sources. The concept of power flux density has been used to characterise renewable energy sources in terms of their environmental effects and impacts. Of necessity, there has been considerable simplification and generalisation in application of the concept to environmental impacts, but these can be justified.
