hydropower

Microhydro: Clean Power from Water
$22.95
This really is not the best book on microhydro. An earlier review by Sam C. sums it up nicely. Thoughout the book, the author keeps referring to the case studies, but they're at the back of the book. So do you read the end of the book first? He stretches out simple or obvious points and keeps repeating how microhydro gives more bang-for-the-buck than solar. Some sections were not helpful at all: i.e. I wanted concrete examples of how to control debris. His statement on that is: "See what other people in your neighborhood do to solve this problem." (p.87) Or what about hydroscreens, or other examples of intakes? Nothing... This book was somewhat basic and I was looking for something a little more technical. I'm disappointed. I learned more in the

Thames & Kosmos Physics Solar Workshop
$64.95
Physics is about motion and if you like to move it, you can move lots of things with this cool 320-pc. set. Build a variety of vehicles and machines that demonstrate how gears can convert and transform power for different needs. Includes a 64-page booklet that provide detailed instruction on a variety of experiments and projects. Ages 8+.

Hydropower Economics (International Series in Operations Research & Management Science)
$99.00
The focus of HYDROPOWER ECONOMICS is to provide qualitative economic analyses of how to utilize stored water in a hydropower system with fixed generating capacities. The problem is dynamic because water used today to generate electric power may alternatively be used tomorrow. The distinctive feature of this book is to provide a social planning perspective on the optimal use of water. This is a prerequisite for understanding and evaluating newly-established electricity markets. The dynamic nature of hydropower production, the high number of units involved, and the inherent stochastic nature of inflow of water make optimization problems quite difficult technically to solve. In the engineering literature complex stochastic dynamic programming models are used and solution algorithms developed for real-life data, with numerical solutions provided. In this book a much more simplified mathematical approach suited to obtain qualitative conclusions is followed. Standard nonlinear programming models for discrete time are used and the Kuhn ? Tucker conditions employed extensively for qualitative interpretations. A special graphical presentation, termed a bathtub diagram, is developed for two-period illustration. ?

Thames & Kosmos Wind Power
$49.95
Toy is educational, but needs a lot of parental assistance. A little too hard for our 8 year old to do by himself.