(2017) Energy detection based spectrum sensing over two-wave and diffuse power fading channels. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 66(1), pp. 868-874. (doi:10.1109868-874. (doi:10. /TVT.2016 This is the author's final accepted version.There may be differences between this version and the published version. You are advised to consult the publisher's version if you wish to cite from it. Abstract-One of the most important factors that affects the performance of energy detection (ED) is the fading channel between the wireless nodes. This article investigates the performance of ED-based spectrum sensing, for cognitive radio (CR), over two-wave with diffuse power (TWDP) fading channels. The TWDP fading model characterizes a variety of fading channels, including well-known canonical fading distributions, such as Rayleigh and Rician, as well as worse than Rayleigh fading conditions modeled by the two-ray fading model. Novel analytic expressions for the average probability of detection over TWDP fading that account for single-user and cooperative spectrum sensing as well as square law selection diversity reception are derived. These expressions are used to analyze the behavior of EDbased spectrum sensing over moderate, severe and extreme fading conditions, and to investigate the use of cooperation and diversity as a means of mitigating the fading effects. The obtained results indicate that TWDP fading conditions can significantly degrade the sensing performance; however, it is shown that detection performance can be improved when cooperation and diversity are employed. The presented outcomes enable identifying the limits of ED-based spectrum sensing and quantifying the tradeoffs between detection performance and energy efficiency for cognitive radio systems deployed within confined environments such as in-vehicular wireless networks.