World Energy Council, GB, London, 2004. 83 p. — ISBN 0 946121 12 5.As part of the World Energy Council’s Technical Work Programme 2002-2004 a new Committee on Renewables was established. The Committee’s focus is on mainstream renewable resources: modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and industrial waste heat (as a novel approach to industrial energy efficiency). Interest in renewable energy resources is burgeoning globally and many publications already exist. It was the intention of the Committee at its outset to bring together global information that would add value and support a more sustainable future for generations to come. It was agreed that this could be best done by examining the barriers and success factors relating to each technology, in general and in different economic contexts: developed and developing countries. The target audience is intended to be broad and should help politicians, financial institutions, consumers, media, regulators and industry leaders to see what is needed to promote a sustainable future, and the barriers that need to be overcome. Using this handbook and the associated information on the WEC’s Global Energy Information System (GEIS) the World Energy Council will actively contribute to the promotion of renewable energy as part of its mission to achieve the sustainable supply and use of energy for the greatest benefit of all. This Report is formally a report of WEC’s Committee on Renewables and our thanks go to all who contributed via debate and discussions at Committee meetings, and written contributions on case studies and drafts. However the majority of the underlying work and drafting was undertaken by Committee member, Mr Michael Lax and our special thanks go to him. Without his substantial and sustained efforts and general support from the WEC’s London Secretariat, in particular Ms Elena Nekhaev, Director of Programmes this report would not have been possible.