Energy resources Books

Book SynopsisThe 43rd edition of Reference Data Series No. 1 contains estimates of energy, electricity, and nuclear power trends up to the year 2050. The publication considers the prospects of new capacity additions, retirements and long term operation of existing units. The 2022 capacity and production data is taken from Nuclear Power Reactors in the World, Reference Data Series No. 2, IAEA, Vienna (2023). RDS-1 is organized into world and regional subsections, with global and regional nuclear power projections presented as low and high cases, encompassing the uncertainties inherent in projecting trends. The low case assumes a continuation of current market and technology trends leading to a modest increase in in global nuclear capacity to 458 GWe by 2050. The high case assumes a more favourable context and leads to a more than doubling of global nuclear power capacity to 890 GWe by 2050. Despite the increasing recognition of nuclear power's role in climate change mitigation and energy security improvement, the current pace of nuclear power development shows that urgent actions would be needed to maintain the existing role of nuclear power in the energy mix, involving a broad range of actors including policy makers, the nuclear industry, the financing community, and international organizations, along with active engagement with the public.

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Book SynopsisThe nexus between water and energy raises a set of public policy questions that go far beyond water and energy. Economic vitality and management of scarce and precious resources are at stake. This book contributes to the body of knowledge and understanding regarding water, energy, and the links between the two in the American West and beyond.Trade Review... the book should prove to be a helpful reference for those evaluating the energy implications of water supply alternatives in the western USA ad beyond. - --Water Desalination ReportTable of ContentsContents: Preface PART I: INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW 1. The Water–Energy Nexus: Methodologies, Challenges and Opportunities Robert Wilkinson 2. Energy, Water and the Natural Environment Melinda Kassen and Jack E. Williams PART IIa: WATER FOR ENERGY Fossil Fuels 3. The Coal Conundrum Kristen Averyt 4. Oil Shale and Water Bart Miller 5. Managing Produced Water from Coalbed Methane Production Lawrence J. MacDonnell and Katherine L. Guerra PART IIb: WATER FOR ENERGY Water-Intensive Renewables 6. Concentrated Thermal Solar Power and the Value of Water for Electricity Cynthia L. Schwartz 7. The New Generation of Biofuels Ronald C. Pate PART IIIc: ENERGY FOR WATER Big Projects 8. Water–Energy Interdependencies and the Central Arizona Project Susanna Eden, Christopher A. Scott, Melissa L. Lamberton and Sharon B. Megdal 9. Energy-Intensive Water Supplies Stacy Tellinghuisen 10. The Energy Implications of Desalination Heather Cooley PART IIIb: ENERGY FOR WATER Select State Case Studies 11. Energy Requirements for Water Supply in Utah Sarah G. Larsen and Steven J. Burian 12. The Vital Role of Electrical Energy for Arizona Water Services Joseph H. Hoover PART IV: SOLUTIONS: EXAMPLES OF WAYS FORWARD 13. Adaptive Management as a Tool for Negotiating the Water–Energy Nexus Melinda Harm Benson 14. Decision-Support for the Water–Energy Nexus: Examining Decision-making in the American West Steve A. Conrad 15. Integrated Planning: Transmission, Generation and Water in the Western States Tom Iseman and Alex Schroeder 16. The Water Bargain of Solar and Wind Energy Martin J. Pasqualetti 17. Water–Energy Integration in California Frances Spivy-Weber Index

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Book SynopsisRecent decades have seen huge growth in the renewable energy sector, spurred on by concerns about climate change and dwindling supplies of fossil fuels. One of the major difficulties raised by an increasing reliance on renewable resources is the inflexibility when it comes to controlling supply in response to demand. For example, solar energy can only be produced during the day. The development of methods for storing the energy produced by renewable sources is therefore crucial to the continued stability of global energy supplies. However, as with all new technology, it is important to consider the environmental impacts as well as the benefits. This book brings together authors from a variety of different backgrounds to explore the state-of-the-art of large-scale energy storage and examine the environmental impacts of the main categories based on the types of energy stored. A valuable resource, not just for those working and researching in the renewable energy sector, but also for policymakers around the world.Table of ContentsEnergy Sources and Supply Grids – the Growing Need for Storage; Mechanical Systems for Energy Storage – Scale and Environmental Issues; Electrochemical Storage; Electrical Storage; Photochemical Storage; Thermal and Thermochemical Storage; Smart Energy Systems; Life Cycle Analysis for Assessing Environmental Impact; Business Opportunities and the Regulatory Framework

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Book SynopsisBenjamin Sovacool and Christopher Jon Cooper have produced an astonishing and well-written book, based on extensive original research in twelve countries. They explore the technical, social, political and economic dimensions of four energy megaprojects. The large scale of megaprojects always appears to complicate the decision-making process and often causes failures. Megaprojects may even reinforce corruption and erode democracy. It highlights that today's experiences can be explained by statements by Aristotle and Einstein who argue, both in their own way, that is always wise to take the limits of size into account and to reduce the size of projects, wherever this is possible. For everybody involved in megaprojects, this book must be read!'- Hugo Priemus, Delft University of Technology, The NetherlandsBased on extensive original research, this book explores the technical, social, political, and economic dimensions of four Asian energy megaprojects: a regional natural gas pipeline network in Southeast Asia, a series of hydroelectric dams on the island of Borneo, an oil pipeline linking Europe with the Caspian Sea, and a very large solar energy array in the Gobi desert.This book investigates why energy megaprojects fail to deliver their promised benefits. It offers the first comprehensive assessment of the complicated dynamics driving - and constraining - megaprojects initiated in the rapid scramble for energy resources and efforts to improve energy security. The authors approach the assessment of megaprojects from a socio-technical angle, emphasizing broad issues of political leadership, regulation, financing, interest group opposition and environmental impact, as well as conventional technological factors such as engineering design and project management.The Governance of Energy Megaprojects will prove insightful for academics concerned about energy policy, energy security, environmental impact and technology assessment. But the book should prove equally compelling to those engaged in the practical management and implementation of large-scale energy projects anywhere in the world.Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Understanding Why Energy Megaprojects Fail 3. The Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline Network (TAGP) 4. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Oil Pipeline 5. The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) 6. The Gobitec Solar Array 7. Conclusions Bigger is Blunder IndexTrade ReviewThis is an absorbing read and I found it enlightening. The book delivers a valuable warning against the hubris that may inform large infrastruc-ture projects, and is thus a welcome addition to the growing literature on the varied implications of large infrastructure projects. . . This work will prove of greatest value to governments engaged in large public works projects, large project contractors, and students of regulation. --Christopher L. Atkinson, Journal of Environmental Policy & PlanningTable of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction 2. Understanding Why Energy Megaprojects Fail 3. The Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline Network (TAGP) 4. The Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) Oil Pipeline 5. The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) 6. The Gobitec Solar Array 7. Conclusions – Bigger is Blunder Index

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Book SynopsisFor centuries, human activity has been dominated by the need to fuel human civilization. Energy is unique: no other physical resource in society has had such a wide-ranging impact on our ecosystems, economy, public health, and personal liberties. And as the era of fossil fuels stumbles to a close in the West, much of the rest of the world is still just waking up to coal. We have found ourselves on the cusp of a transition in how we get energy that is both obvious and profoundly uncertain. We must decide our next steps quickly. How can we invest responsibly now in a way that will ensure our access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy for the decades to come?In Power Trip, energy expert Michael E. Webber takes readers on a global tour of energy's role in society across many regions and several hundred years. Starting with energy's end-uses and outcomes--water, food, wealth, cities, transportation, and war--Webber uncovers the complicated relationship our civilization has both with energy and its outputs. We've stimulated entrepreneurship, innovation, and opportunity beyond our wildest dreams--but it's come at the steep cost of accelerating climate change, geopolitical insecurity, increased economic inequality, and environmental degradation. Energy has proven to be something we can't live with, and we can't live without. But, as Webber argues, with long-term thinking, global interconnection, and an emphasis on conservation, we can simultaneously solve our energy supply's significant downsides while setting ourselves up for a much brighter future.

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Book SynopsisThe fact is, we are hopelessly addicted to energy. It is the thin glue that holds our civilized world together and life without it would be unthinkable. That would be challenging enough in itself, but we have an additional problem. Our "drug" has unpleasant side effects - the emission of greenhouse gases and other pollutants associated with fossil fuels. This book answers the fundamental, urgent question of how do we keep the lights on in 2030, or 2040, or indeed 2050, while keeping our planet alive? Politics drives energy policy as much or even more than economics, and the two don't always pull in the same direction. As a result, speculation and a financial bubble is being created in the green energy sector, as governments offer "free money" to companies to come up with renewable energy sources. But as the author argues, this is less of a solution to our energy needs and more of a political tactic. The real solution to our future energy demands as well as controlling the environmental crisis in fact lies in gas and, most controversially, in nuclear power.

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Book SynopsisA biography of Marion King Hubbert, one of the twentieth century's most influential energy experts, who was dubbed the father of peak oil.Trade Review"... well written, deeply researched and rich in anecdote – Hubbert’s character and his intellectual achievements sing out." -- New Scientist

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Book SynopsisStabilization of atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases to safe levels will require, at least in the longer term, some kind of technological revolution. This, in turn, can only be achieved through investments in the research, development and demonstration (RD&D) of carbon-free energy technologies. Innovation under Uncertainty presents original research and insights on the uncertain future of carbon-free energy technologies. The authors, by means of structured interviews with technology experts, portray a probabilistic landscape of future technologies' costs, potentials and limits to diffusion.This book collates the results of interviews with more than a hundred and twenty energy technology experts on a wide range of topics, from the impact of public European RD&D investment on the future cost of different low-carbon energy technologies to issues such as technological and diffusion barriers. The results offer important and concrete insights and recommendations concerning the potential role for public expenditure in innovation to bring clean generation technologies to the market.This unprecedented collection of qualitative and quantitative estimates will be invaluable to academics and policy makers drafting future energy policies, and integrated assessment and energy modelers characterizing the future development of different technological options.Contributors: L. Aleluia, V. Bosetti, M. Bunn, M. Catenacci, L.A. Diaz, G. Fiorese, A. Lee, E. Verdolini,Table of ContentsContents: Acknowledgements Introduction Valentina Bosetti, Michela Catenacci, Giulia Fiorese, Elena Verdolini and Laura Aleluia 1. Expert Judgment Elicitation Protocols Michela Catenacci, Valentina Bosetti, Giulia Fiorese and Elena Verdolini 2. The Future Prospect of PV and CSP Solar Technologies Valentina Bosetti, Michela Catenacci, Giulia Fiorese and Elena Verdolini 3. The Power of Biomass: Experts Disclose the Potential for Success of Bioenergy Technologies Giulia Fiorese, Michela Catenacci, Valentina Bosetti and Elena Verdolini 4. Expert Judgments about RD&D and the Future of Nuclear Energy Laura Anadon Diaz, Valentina Bosetti, Matthew Bunn, Michela Catenacci and Audrey Lee 5. Advanced Biofuels: Future Perspectives from an Expert Elicitation Survey Giulia Fiorese, Michela Catenacci, Elena Verdolini and Valentina Bosetti 6. Going Electric: Expert Survey on the Future of Battery Technologies for Electric Vehicles Michela Catenacci, Giulia Fiorese, Elena Verdolini and Valentina Bosetti Index

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Book SynopsisThis book was originally published by Claeys and Casteels, now formally part of Edward Elgar Publishing. Sub-Saharan Africa is on the move. Since 2000, the region has seen rapid economic growth (with real GDP growth rates outperforming other major regional economic blocs), improving social conditions (with falling infant mortality rates and rising life expectancies) and progressive political liberalization (if in the 1990s only about 5% of African nations were considered to be democracies, today only a handful of the 55 African states do not have a multiparty constitutional system). Notwithstanding the fact that Africa’s energy sector is vital to its socio-economic development, this remains one of the most poorly understood parts of the global energy system. This book seeks to contribute to the understanding of such a topical issue, by providing an analysis of the current trends and future prospects of sub-Saharan energy markets. Issues covered include patterns of energy production, demand and trade; energy investments; energy infrastructure; energy access; energy and development; regional energy cooperation; the role of China in Africa’s energy.

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Book SynopsisClimate change is no longer deniable. Neither is the fact that greenhouse gas emissions due to human activities need to be mitigated. The question is how to rapidly transit to an increasingly low-carbon world while essentially sustaining the quality of life of the fortunate and providing better lives for the less fortunate.The challenge is to decarbonize both energy consumption and production with electricity at the core of energy systems.Perhaps Energia, a fictitious country whose 50 million inhabitants endorse climate change objectives and that embodies the energy mutations proposed by the authors, has the answers. Along with Energia, four families living in Africa, America, Asia and Europe who represent us, the consumer, set the stage for the book's discussions.On the user front, the presentation primarily focuses on energy consumption at home and for transport. On the energy production front, the focus shifts to the integration of renewables with fossil and nuclear energy. The book's coverage includes crucial systemic issues related to energy storage, electric power systems and multi-energy systems. In a dedicated chapter, the authors put forward their energy and environmental public policy observations and proposals, including a carbon fee scheme.Electricity is written for readers interested and concerned by the environmental and energy challenges we face, and who seek to participate, as well-informed citizens, in discussions on future energy-related options. The book provides a balanced, factual and unemotional presentation of readily available energy systems and technologies which, when widely deployed, can contribute, both short and long term, toward a low-carbon and electricity-centered world.

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling historian and acclaimed broadcasterA rich social history Paxman's book could hardly be more colourful, and I enjoyed each page enormously' DOMINIC SANDBROOK, SUNDAY TIMESVividly told Paxman's fine narrative powers are at their best' THE TIMESCoal is the commodity that made Britain. Dirty and polluting though it is, this black rock has acted as a midwife to genius. It drove industry, religion, politics, empire and trade. It powered the industrial revolution, turned Britain into the first urban nation and is the industry that made almost all others possible.In this brilliant social history, Jeremy Paxman tells the story of coal mining in England, Scotland and Wales from Roman times, through the birth of steam power to war, nationalisation, pea-souper smogs, industrial strife and the picket lines of the Miner's Strike.Written in the captivating style of his bestselling book The English, Paxman ranges widely across Britain to explore stories of engineers and inventorTrade Review‘[A] rich social history … Given coal’s image, a popular history might seem a foolhardy undertaking. Yet Paxman’s book could hardly be more colourful, and I enjoyed every page enormously … A mining community, as Paxman points out, was not just a place of dirt and danger. It was a “place where you slept and ate, visited the doctor, fell in love, had your children and entertained yourself” … One day soon, Paxman says, we may forget it was ever there. But his book does a fine job of bringing it alive, and deserves the widest possible readership’Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times ‘A rich seam of history … Coal made Britain top nation, but we don’t talk about it much … Much more than the story of an industry: it is a history of Britain from an unusual angle, vividly told, that throws new light on familiar features of our national landscape … Paxman’s fine narrative powers are at their best in his account of [miner’s strikes] … From its beginnings to its end, the industry that made our country what it is, for good and ill, was a brutal business. Paxman is determined that we should not forget it’Emma Duncan, The Times ‘[A] terrific history … Paxman is not afraid to call out poor behaviour … A rich seam for acerbic Paxman’Kathryn Hughes, Mail on Sunday ‘A really interesting, timely book’Steve Wright, BBC Radio 2 ‘The history of coal in Britain might not sound immediately gripping, but it was. Paxo brings it all to life – the men, women and children toiling in the dark, in conditions no one could endure today. The courage of those communities shines from every page’Conn Iggulden, Daily Express ‘Filled with fun facts … Jeremy Paxman is particularly good at explaining why coal mattered so much. He has a sharp pen, and a good eye for detail’Daily Telegraph ‘Paxman tells a good story and he doesn’t mind who knows it. Ebullient and condescending at the same time, he is particularly good on set pieces’New Statesman

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Book SynopsisDoes the Earth contain enough oil to provide energy for the human race indefinitely? If not, how long will the oil last? What about renewable energy technologies like wind and solar? Will they be able to supply an indefinite supply of energy for the human race? If not, how long will it last? And what role does overpopulation play in our world''s energy supply? Even with multiple forms of energy available, how long will it last as long as more and more humans, and therefore more industries and energy consumption, are added? Taking a long-held theory called Peak Oil Theory the authors of this groundbreaking new text examine the theory of Peak Energy to examine all of these questions. Crude oil and natural gas are the major sources of fuel used to supply energy for various needs. Users of crude oil and natural gas must take into account that these energy sources are, without doubt, non-renewable depleting resources, and the cost of extraction depends not only on the current rateTable of ContentsPreface xi About the Authors xiii 1 History and Terminology of Energy Sources 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Fossil Fuel Resources 10 1.2.1 Petroleum 11 1.2.2 High-Acid Crude Oils and Opportunity Crudes 14 1.2.3 Oil from Tight Formations and from Shale Formations 16 1.2.4 Natural Gas 17 1.2.5 Heavy Oil 19 1.2.6 Tar Sand Bitumen 20 1.2.7 Coal 23 1.2.7.1 Lignite 24 1.2.7.2 Subbituminous Coal 25 1.2.7.3 Bituminous Coal 25 1.2.7.4 Anthracite 27 1.2.8 Oil Shale 27 1.2.9 Gas Hydrates 30 1.3 Non-Fossil Fuel Resources 32 1.3.1 Biomass 32 1.3.2 Wind Energy 37 1.3.3 Solar Energy 37 1.3.4 Geothermal Energy 38 1.3.5 Ocean Energy 39 1.3.6 Nuclear Energy 40 1.3.7 Hydrogen Energy 41 1.3.8 Hydropower 42 References 43 2 Energy Sources and Supply 49 2.1 Introduction 49 2.2 Fossil Fuel Sources 56 2.2.1 Petroleum, Heavy Oil, and Tar Sand Bitumen 57 2.2.2 Natural Gas 65 2.2.3 Coal 67 2.3 Oil Shale 68 2.4 Gas Hydrates 71 2.5 Non-Fossil Fuel Energy Sources 72 2.5.1 Biomass 73 2.5.2 The Wind 75 2.5.3 The Sun 75 2.5.4 Geothermal Sources 76 2.5.5 The Tides 76 2.6 Nuclear Energy 77 2.7 Hydrogen Energy 77 2.8 Energy Supply 78 2.8.1 Physical Factors 78 2.8.2 Technological Factors 80 2.9 Economic and Geopolitical Factors 82 2.10 Peak Oil 83 2.10.1 Peak Oil Theory 83 2.10.2 Effects and Consequences 87 2.11 Energy Independence 87 2.12 Energy Security 92 References 96 3 Future Energy from Fossil Fuels 103 3.1 Introduction 103 3.2 The Role of Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery 106 3.3 Heavy Oil, Extra Heavy Oil, and Tar Sand Bitumen 123 3.4 Natural Gas and Gas Hydrates 125 3.5 Tight Oil and Gas 127 3.5.1 Tight Oil 128 3.5.2 Tight Gas 129 3.6 Undiscovered Oil 129 3.7 Oil Shale 132 3.8 Synthetic Fuels 133 3.9 The Future Refinery 135 3.9.1 The Refinery and Peak Oil Theory 137 3.9.2 Refinery Configurations 138 3.9.2.1 Petroleum Refinery 138 3.9.2.2 BioRefinery 141 3.9.2.3 Coal Liquids Refinery 143 3.9.2.4 Shale Oil Refinery 144 3.9.2.5 Gasification Refinery 146 3.9.3 The Integrated Refinery 147 References 151 4 Future Energy from Unconventional Sources 157 4.1 Introduction 157 4.2 Unconventional Oil and Gas 159 4.3 Tar Sand Bitumen 162 4.3.1 Mining and Bitumen Conversion 164 4.3.2 Other Processes Related to Mining 167 4.3.3 Non-Mining Methods 169 4.3.3.1 Steam-Based Processes 170 4.3.3.2 Combustion Processes 171 4.3.3.3 Other Processes 172 4.4 Coal 173 4.4.1 Coal Liquefaction 174 4.4.2 Gasification 175 4.4.3 Gaseous Fuels from Coal 178 4.4.3.1 Low Heat-Content (Low-Btu) Gas 178 4.4.3.2 Medium Heat-Content (Medium-Btu) Gas 179 4.4.3.3 High Heat-Content (High-Btu) Gas 180 4.4.4 Liquid Fuels 180 4.4.5 Solid Fuels 181 4.5 Oil Shale 182 4.5.1 Production of Shale Oil 184 4.5.2 Refining Shale Oil 185 4.6 Gas Hydrates 188 4.7 Synthetic Fuels 192 4.8 Other Energy Sources 196 4.8.1 Geothermal Energy 197 4.8.2 Hydrogen Energy 199 4.8.3 Nuclear Energy 201 4.8.4 Wind Energy 203 References 205 5 Future Energy from Biomass 209 5.1 Introduction 209 5.2 Biomass Feedstocks 212 5.2.1 Energy from Crops 215 5.2.2 Energy from Wood 216 5.2.3 Energy from Waste 217 5.3 The Chemistry of Biomass 217 5.4 A BioRefinery 218 5.5 Biofuels 220 5.5.1 Ethanol 220 5.5.2 Biodiesel 221 5.5.3 Bio-oil 222 5.5.4 Biofuels from Synthesis Gas 223 5.6 Biofuels: A Replacement for Petroleum and Natural Gas 226 5.6.1 Gaseous Fuels 226 5.6.1.1 Fermentation 227 5.6.1.2 Gasification 227 5.6.1.3 Biophotolysis 228 5.6.2 Liquid Fuels 229 5.6.3 Solid Fuels 230 5.7 Processes 231 References 232 6 Peak Energy 237 6.1 Introduction 237 6.2 History of the Peak Oil Theory 240 6.2.1 Relation to Population and Lifestyle 241 6.2.2 Evidence in Favor of the Peak Oil Theory 245 6.2.3 Social Theories and the Peak Oil Theory 249 6.3 Petroleum in the Big Picture 250 6.4 World Petroleum Reserves 252 6.5 Unconventional Oil and Gas 259 6.5.1 Petroleum and Natural Gas 260 6.5.2 Shale Gas 262 6.5.3 Coalbed Methane 263 6.5.4 Tight Gas Reserves 264 References 267 7 The Reality of the Peak Oil Theory 271 7.1 Introduction 271 7.2 The Petroleum Industry 272 7.2.1 Background 272 7.2.2 Jevons Paradox 275 7.2.3 Equity Shoulder Debt 286 7.2.4 The Finite-Infinite Conundrum 288 7.2.5 Renewable and Non-Renewable: Energy without Boundaries 288 7.3 Scientific Characterization of Energy Resources 292 7.3.1 Solar Energy 294 7.3.2 Hydropower 297 7.3.3 Ocean Thermal, Wave, and Tidal Energy 298 7.3.4 Bioenergy 299 7.3.4.1 Fuelwood 300 7.3.4.2 Bioethanol 302 7.3.4.3 Biodiesel 303 7.3.5 Nuclear Power 304 7.3.6 Geothermal Energy 307 7.3.7 Hydrogen Energy 308 7.4 Conclusions 310 References 310 8 Global Climate Change 315 8.1 Introduction 315 8.2 Interglacial Periods 320 8.3 The Role of Human Activity 322 8.4 Climate Change 324 8.5 Conclusions 325 References 327 9 Energy Sustainability 331 9.1 Introduction 331 9.2 Sustainable Energy 333 9.3 Real Reserve Potential 336 9.4 Biomass Sustainability 341 9.5 Conclusions 343 References 344 Common Conversion Factors 345 Glossary 349 Index 371

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Book SynopsisDespite a 2016-18 glut in fossil fuel markets and decade-low fuel prices, the global transformation to sustainable energy is happening. Our ongoing energy challenges and solutions are complex and multidimensional, involving science, technology, design, economics, finance, planning, policy, politics, and social movements. The most comprehensive book on this topic, Energy for Sustainability has been the go-to resource for courses. This new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to inform and guide students and practitioners who will steer this transformation. Drawing on a combined 80 years of teaching experience, John Randolph and Gilbert Masters take a holistic and interdisciplinary approach. Energy for Sustainability can help techies and policymakers alike understand the mechanisms required to enable conversion to energy that is clean, affordable, and secure. Major revisions to this edition reflect the current changes in technology and energy use and focus on new analyses, data, and methods necessary to understand and actively participate in the transition to sustainable energy. The book begins with energy literacy, including patterns and trends, before covering the fundamentals of energy related to physics, engineering, and economics. The next parts explore energy technologies and opportunities in three important energy sectors: buildings, electricity, and transportation. The final section focuses on policy and planning, presenting the critical role of public policy and consumer and investor choice in transforming energy markets to greater sustainability. Throughout the book, methods for energy and economic analysis and design give readers a quantitative appreciation for and understanding of energy systems. The book uses case studies extensively to demonstrate current experience and illustrate possibilities. Students will gain an understanding of what it takes to achieve clean, affordable, sustainable energy. Supplemental materials will be available at www.islandpress.org.

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Book SynopsisThis third volume of "Climate, Energy, and Environment: Issues, Analyses, and Developments" presents current topical research in the study of climate change and existing law; U.N. convention on the law of the sea; a climate action plan to reduce methane emissions; clean coal loan guarantees and tax incentives; the oil spill liability trust fund; and environmental considerations in federal procurement.

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Book SynopsisIn the United States, Federal incentives for the deployment of wind and solar power projects are delivered primarily through the tax code, in the form of accelerated tax depreciation and tax credits that are based on either investment or production. Both wind and solar projects are equally eligible for accelerated tax depreciation, but tax credit eligibility varies by technology: solar is currently eligible for the investment tax credit ("ITC"), while wind is eligible for either the ITC or the production tax credit ("PTC"), though wind project sponsors typically choose the PTC. The PTC is a per-kilowatt-hour tax (kWh) credit for electricity generated using qualified energy resources. This book provides a brief overview of the renewable electricity PTC. It describes the credit; a legislative history; and presents data on PTC claims and discusses the revenue consequences of the credit. It also briefly considers some of the economic and policy considerations related to the credit. This book concludes by briefly noting policy options related to the PTC.

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Book SynopsisUnder Executive Order 12866, agencies are required, to the extent permitted by law, "to assess both the costs and the benefits of the intended regulation and, recognising that some costs and benefits are difficult to quantify, propose or adopt a regulation only upon a reasoned determination that the benefits of the intended regulation justify its costs". The purpose of the "social cost of carbon" (SCC) estimates presented here is to allow agencies to incorporate the social benefits of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into cost-benefit analyses of regulatory actions that have small, or "marginal", impacts on cumulative global emissions. The estimates are presented with an acknowledgement of the many uncertainties involved and with a clear understanding that they should be updated over time to reflect increasing knowledge of the science and economics of climate impacts. This book presents a summary of the interagency process that developed these SCC estimates.

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Book SynopsisThe climate crisis is a crisis of leadership. Transformation to a renewable-based society requires leaders who connect social justice to climate and energy. During the Trump era, connections among white, male power; environmental destruction; and fossil fuel dependence have become more conspicuous. The inadequate and ineffective framing of climate change as a narrow, isolated, discrete problem to be "solved" by technical solutions is failing. The dominance of technocratic, white, male perspectives on climate and energy has inhibited investments in social innovations. With new leadership and diverse voices, we could strengthen climate resilience, reduce growing inequities, and promote social justice. In Diversifying Power, energy expert Jennie Stephens argues that the key to effectively addressing the climate crisis is diversifying leadership so that antiracist, feminist priorities are central. All politics is now climate politics, so all policies, from housing to health, now have to integrate climate resilience and renewable energy. Stephens takes a closer look at climate and energy leadership related to job creation and economic justice, health and nutrition, housing and transportation. She looks at why we need to resist by investing in bold diverse leadership to curb the "the polluter elite." We need to reclaim and restructure climate and energy systems so policies are explicitly linked to social, economic, and racial justices. Inspirational stories of diverse leaders who integrate antiracist, feminist values to build momentum for structural transformative change are woven throughout the book, along with Stephens' experience as a woman working on climate and energy. The shift from a divided, unequal, extractive, and oppressive society to a just, sustainable, regenerative, and healthy future has already begun. But structural change needs more bold and ambitious leaders at all levels, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with the Green New Deal, or the Secwepemc women of the Tiny House Warriors resisting the Trans Mountain pipeline. Diversifying Power offers hope and optimism. Stephens shows how anyone working on issues related to energy or climate (directly or indirectly) can leverage the power of collective action. By highlighting the creative individuals and organizations making change happen, she provides inspiration and encourages action on climate and energy justice.Table of ContentsForeword by Ted Landsmark Introduction: Growing the Squad Resisting The Polluter Elite Jobs and Economic Justice Health, Wellbeing, and Nutritious Food for All Clean Transportation for All Housing for All Conclusion: Collective Power

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Book SynopsisRapidly rising carbon emissions from the intense development of Western Canada's fossil fuels continue to aggravate the global climate emergency and destabilize democratic structures. The urgency of the situation demands not only scholarly understanding, but effective action. Regime of Obstruction aims to make visible the complex connections between corporate power and the extraction and use of carbon energy. Edited by William Carroll, this rigorous collection presents research findings from the first three years of the seven-year, SSHRC-funded partnership, the Corporate Mapping Project. Anchored in sociological and political theory, this comprehensive volume provides hard data and empirical research that traces the power and influence of the fossil fuel industry through economics, politics, media, and higher education. Contributors demonstrate how corporations secure popular consent, and coopt, disorganize, or marginalize dissenting perspectives to position the fossil fuel industry as a national public good. They also investigate the difficult position of Indigenous communities who, while suffering the worst environmental and health impacts from carbon extraction, must fight for their land or participate in fossil capitalism to secure income and jobs. The volume concludes with a look at emergent forms of activism and resistance, spurred by the fact that a just energy transition is still feasible. This book provides essential context to the climate crisis and will transform discussions of energy democracy.Contributions by Laurie Adkin, Angele Alook, Clifford Atleo, Emilia Belliveau-Thompson, John Bermingham, Paul Bowles, Gwendolyn Blue, Shannon Daub, Jessica Dempsey, Emily Eaton, Chuka Ejeckam, Simon Enoch, Nick Graham, Shane Gunster, Mark Hudson, Jouke Huizer, Ian Hussey, Emma Jackson, Michael Lang, James Lawson, Marc Lee, Fiona MacPhail, Alicia Massie, Kevin McCartney, Bob Neubauer, Eric Pineault, Lise Margaux Rajewicz, James Rowe, JP Sapinsky, Karena Shaw, and Zoe Yunker.

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Book SynopsisThis volume presents six new papers on environmental and energy economics and policy in the United States. Rebecca Davis, J. Scott Holladay, and Charles Sims analyze recent trends in and forecasts of coal-fired power plant retirements with and without new climate policy. Severin Borenstein and James Bushnell examine the efficiency of pricing for electricity, natural gas, and gasoline. James Archsmith, Erich Muehlegger, and David Rapson provide a prospective analysis of future pathways for electric vehicle adoption. Kenneth Gillingham considers the consequences of such pathways for the design of fuel vehicle economy standards. Frank Wolak investigates the long-term resource adequacy in wholesale electricity markets with significant intermittent renewables. Finally, Barbara Annicchiarico, Stefano Carattini, Carolyn Fischer, and Garth Heutel review the state of research on the interactions between business cycles and environmental policy.Table of ContentsIntroduction Matthew J. Kotchen, Tatyana Deryugina, and James H. StockCoal-Fired Power Plant Retirements in the United States Rebecca J. Davis, J. Scott Holladay, and Charles SimsHeadwinds and Tailwinds: Implications of Inefficient Retail Energy Pricing for Energy Substitution Severin Borenstein and James B. BushnellFuture Paths of Electric Vehicle Adoption in the United States: Predictable Determinants, Obstacles, and Opportunities James Archsmith, Erich Muehlegger, and David S. RapsonDesigning Fuel-Economy Standards in Light of Electric Vehicles Kenneth T. GillinghamLong-Term Resource Adequacy in Wholesale Electricity Markets with Significant Intermittent Renewables Frank A. WolakBusiness Cycles and Environmental Policy: A Primer Barbara Annicchiarico, Stefano Carattini, Carolyn Fischer, and Garth Heutel

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Book SynopsisOver the past century and a half, no two nations have exchanged natural resources, produced transborder environmental agreements, or cooperatively altered ecosystems on the same scale as Canada and the United States. Natural Allies offers a reinterpretation of the history of US-Canada relations by focusing on the role of environment and energy.Trade Review“Natural Allies is a sweeping book that redefines our understanding of Canada-US relations since 1867 as well as environmental diplomacy more broadly. There is no other book like it, and it will provide a useful new perspective to anyone studying or interested in foreign policy or environmental issues in North America.” Kurk Dorsey, University of New Hampshire and author of The Dawn of Conservation Diplomacy: US-Canadian Wildlife Protection Treaties in the Progressive Era

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Book SynopsisThis second edition of Climate Change is an accessible and comprehensive guide to the science behind global warming. Edmond A. Mathez and Jason E. Smerdon provide a broad, informative introduction to the science that underlies our understanding of the climate system and the effects of human activity on the warming of our planet.Trade ReviewThis text should have great appeal for teaching an introductory undergraduate course on climate change science as well as a broad survey for graduate students. The book is well written with concepts adequately explained. Mathez and Smerdon have done a great job at hitting many of the very important concepts for understanding past, present, and future climate change as well as what we can and should do about it. I particularly liked the “back of the envelope” sections that let students confront some quantitative thinking without getting bogged down in mathematical details. The many illustrations and beautiful photos should make the book appealing to students as well as the general public. -- Lonnie G. Thompson, Distinguished University Professor, School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State UniversityMathez and Smerdon present a concise, accurate description of the workings of our climate system that is rich with historical context, vivid graphics, and concrete examples. The beauty and wonder of our atmosphere and oceans are on full display, even as many of their mysteries are revealed for the nonspecialist. Readers will not only understand the fundamental causes and implications of climate change, but they also will understand the diverse set of tools and approaches that scientists use to study the climate system in all its complexity. This book is a treasure trove of insights for anyone with an affinity for science and an interest in the future of our planet and its inhabitants. -- Kim M. Cobb, Georgia Power Chair and ADVANCE Professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of TechnologyA superb textbook, easily one of the best currently available. Very few texts are written as thoughtfully as this one. Mathez and Smerdon hit a home run! -- Scott Mandia, cofounder and chairman of the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund, Professor of Physical Sciences at Suffolk County Community CollegeThis book has great coverage of all the salient issues—the history of climate science, the climate science of (pre)-history, the scientists' own histories, and, most importantly, what this means going forward. The writing is clear while also comprehensive and the look and feel of the book make it a text you want to dive in to at random, confident that you'd find something interesting. -- Gavin Schmidt, climate scientistInformative and insightful, this textbook clearly explains the basic science of the Earth's climate system and the human influence on it. Superb illustrations bring the science to life, and the historical stories that accompany the key concepts paint a vivid picture of not only what we know, but how and why we learned it. -- Katharine Hayhoe, Co-Director of the Climate Science Center, Texas Tech UniversityThis excellent updated text on climate change was written by scientists in geophysics and climate change....Recommended. All readers. * Choice *Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this new second edition. . . is ideal and highly recommended as a climate change curriculum textbook. * Midwest Book Review *Table of ContentsPrefaceProloguePart I. The Climate System1. The Atmosphere2. The World Ocean3. Ocean–Atmosphere Interactions4. The Carbon Cycle and How It Influences Climate Part II. Climate Change and Its Drivers5. The Concept of Radiation Balance, a Scientific Framework for Thinking About Climate Change6. Radiative Forcing, Feedbacks, and Some Other Characteristics of the Climate System7. Learning from the Climate of the Distant PastPart III. Consequences of Climate Change8. The Climate of the Recent Past and Impacts on Human History9. Observing the Change10. Greenland, Antarctica, and Sea-Level RisePart IV. The Future11. Climate Models and the Future12. Climate Change Risk in an Unknowable Future13. Energy and the FutureEpilogueNotesGlossary BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisIn our society, we must make decisions about the production and use of energy and the consequences of that production and use, whether we are buying a car, voting for ballot measures or building a house. Our governments, the media and corporations discuss policies regarding climate change, radioactive waste and environmental regulation. Hinrichs/Wade's ENERGY: ITS USE AND THE ENVIRONMENT, 6th Edition, provides you with the science foundation to participate in these discussions and to make informed decisions, emphasizing the physical principles behind energy and its effects on our environment. In this text you will learn the basic physical principles behind the use of energy, including the study of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, and atomic and nuclear physics. By placing energy issues within the context of everyday examples and asking you to define and support critical arguments, this text will offer a provocative approach to this crucial field.Table of Contents1. Introduction. 2. Energy Mechanics. 3. Energy and Work. 4. Conservation of Energy. 5. Heat and Work. 6. Home Energy Conservation and Heat-Transfer Control. 7. Solar Energy: Characteristics and Heating. 8. Energy from Fossil Fuels. 9. The Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change. 10. Environmental Impacts of Energy Production. 11. Electricity: Circuits and Superconductors. 12. Electromagnetism and the Generation of Electricity. 13. Electricity from Solar, Wind, and Hydro. 14. Energy Storage: Batteries, Electric Vehicles and Fuel Cells. 15. The Building Blocks of Matter: The Atom and Its Nucleus. 16. Nuclear Power: Fission. 17. Effects and Uses of Radiation. 18. Future Energy Alternatives: Fusion. 19. Biomass: From Plants to Garbage. 20. Tapping the Earth's Heat: Geothermal Energy. 21. A National and Personal Commitment. Appendix A: Units of Measurement and Powers of Ten Notation. Appendix B: Conversions and Equivalencies. Appendix C: Home Heating Analysis. Appendix D: Insolation and Temperature Data for Selected U.S. Cities. Appendix E: Additional Energy Data Resources Glossary. Index.

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Book SynopsisExplores the creation and history of fossil fuels, their impact on the environment, and how they have become critical to our society. This title shows how adopting sustainable biofuels will be key to the future of energy stability and discuss a renewable energy options and biofuel feedstocks that are replacements for petroleum-based products.Table of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS PREFACE 1 OVERVIEW OF ENERGY USAGE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD 2 WHY FOSSIL FUELS ENERGIZE OUR SOCIETY 3 THE IMPACT OF ENERGY USAGE ON CLIMATE 4 METHODS FOR REDUCING OUR FOSSIL FUEL USAGE: RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND USES 5 LINKING FOOD AND FUEL: THE IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE 6 THE PAST AND PRESENT OF BIOETHANOL: CORN, SUGARCANE, AND CELLULOSICS 7 BIOFUELS FROM FATS AND OILS: BIODIESEL 8 GASEOUS BIOFUELS: BIOGAS AND BIOHYDROGEN 9 AQUATIC VERSATILITY FOR BIOFUELS: CYANOBACTERIA, DIATOMS, AND ALGAE 10 BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS DEVELOPMENT 11 THERMOCHEMICAL CONVERSION TECHNOLOGIES 12 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF BIOFUELS: WATER, LAND, AND NUTRIENTS BIOFUELS AND THE ENVIRONMENT 13 LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENTS FOR EVALUATING BIOFUELS PRODUCTION 14 ECONOMICS AND POLITICS OF BIOFUELS 15 OUR ENERGY FUTURE: THE PROSPECTS FOR DEVELOPING AND USING SUSTAINABLE BIOFUELS VOCABULARY REFERENCES INDEX

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Book SynopsisA pharmacologist and a veterinarian pull back the curtain on the human and animal health effects of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”  Across the country, fracking—the extraction of natural gas by hydraulic fracturing—is being touted as the nation’s answer to energy independence and a fix for a flagging economy. Drilling companies assure us that the process is safe, politicians push through drilling legislation without a serious public-health debate, and those who speak out are marginalized, their silence purchased by gas companies and their warnings about the dangers of fracking stifled.   The Real Cost of Fracking pulls back the curtain on how this toxic process endangers the environment and harms people, pets, and livestock. Michelle Bamberger, a veterinarian, and Robert Oswald, a pharmacologist, combine their expertise to show how contamination at drilling sites translates into ill health and heartbreak

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Book SynopsisâœToday, over two billion people in developing countries live without any electricity. They lead lives of misery, walking miles every day for water and firewood, just to survive. What if there was an existing, viable technology, that when developed to its highest potential could increase everyoneâs standard of living, cut fossil fuel demand and the resultant pollutionâ said Peter Meisen, President, Global Energy Network Institute in 1997. Even though energy is available, technology was not matured enough to tap this energy in the nineties. Now, with the advancement of drilling technology, extracting heat from hot rocks has become a reality. Very soon when CO2 replaces the circulation fluid to extract heat from granites then both fossil fuel based and renewable energy sources will coexists balancing the CO2 emissions and providing energy, food and water security to the rich and the poor countries. Red Sea rift represents the youngest spreading ridges in the world with a vast amount of heat energy stored on either side. The Red Sea is surrounded by countries with a weak economy. Developing a geothermal energy based economy in countries like Eritrea, Djibouti and Ethiopia will provide food and water security to these countries while for other countries, geothermal energy will help in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Although geothermal energy sources are available in all the countries since the opening of the Red Sea, millions of years ago, this was not brought to the light. Oil importing countries became highly dependent on the oil rich countries to sustain their economy and growth and thus remained poor. This book unfolds the huge energy source, hydrothermal and EGS, for the benefit of the poor countries to reduce poverty and lift the socio economic status of these countries. The book deals with i) future energy demand, ii) CO2 emissions associated with fossil fuel based power plants, iii) black carbon emissions associated biomass energy source and iv) strategies to reduce CO2 emissions by using geothermal energy as energy source mix in all the countriesâoil exporting and oil importing countriesâ around the Red Sea. The amount of energy available from hot granites in all the countries is well documented. EGS being the future energy source for mankind, this book will form the basis for future research by young scientists and academicians. Availability of fresh water is a matter of concern for all countries. The only way to satisfy the thirst of a growing population, to meet drinking water demand and food security, is to depend on seawater. A large volume of CO2 is being emitted from desalination plants supported by fossil fuel based energy sources. This book describes the advantages of using geothermal energy sources for the desalination process to meet the growing water and food demand of the countries around the Red Sea. Oil rich countries, using its geothermal resources, can now reduce food imports and become self sufficient in food production.This book gives hope for millions of children living in the underdeveloped countries around the Red Sea to satisfy their hunger and live a decent life with a continuous source of electricity, water and food available. This book ends with a note on the economic benefits of geothermal energy vs other renewables. With the signing of the GGA (Global Geothermal Alliance) by several countries during the December 2015 CoP 21 summit in Paris, policy makers and administrators will work together in implementing the necessary infrastructure and support to develop this clean energy source.Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Electricity demand and energy sources 3. Carbon dioxides emission 4. Geothermal provinces 5. CO2 mitigation strategy 6. Exploration techniques 7. Power generation techniques 8. Direct application of geothermal resources 9. Enhanced Geothermal Systems

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Book SynopsisDiscusses the challenges and opportunities associated with the freshwater needs in oil and gas operations and the beneficial use of produced water. Practical solutions are offered to support evidence-based policy making for an integrated and sustainable approach to water management.

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Book SynopsisFor the Movers, Shakers, and Policy Makers in Energy Engineering and Related IndustriesThe latest version of a bestselling reference, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Handbook, Second Edition covers the foremost trends and technologies in energy engineering today. This new edition contains the latest material on energy planning and policy, with a focus on renewable and sustainable energy sources. It also examines nuclear energy and its place in future energy systems, includes a chapter on natural gas, and provides extensive coverage of energy storage for numerous forms of energy generation. The text also provides energy supply, demand, and pricing factor projections for the future.Explore the Future of Global EnergyThe authors address problems that industry now faces, including the limited availability of conventional energy resources such as oil, natural gas, and coal, and considers renewTrade Review"Excellent text. Covers the ground very well. An excellent companion when you are on a learning journey in Energy. A good handbook to hold hands with!"—Prof Ajith P. de Alwis, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, Coordinating Secretariat for Science Technology and Innovation (COSTI) Sri Lanka"The book provides a very comprehensive and clear description of present, immediate future and future sources, technologies and systems for a sustainable energy use in all countries of the world. The book also deals with the aspects of Energy Infrastructure and Storage necessary for Distributed Energy Systems with smart grid integration."—Professor N.K.Bansal, CEPT University Ahmedabad"Overall, this is an interesting and comprehensive book that summarises well various information. It is a great reference point and can be used by both practitioners involved in RET and EE and students learning about sustainable built environment. It deals with RET and EE from technical, financial and governance points of view based on the examples from all over the world."—Ksenia Chmutina, Loughborough University"This is the most comprehensive and complete treatment I’ve seen of the issue of energy and our society. The international coverage adds a great deal to the discussion which is generally western-focused. The coverage of technologies is extremely balanced, providing a valid reference frame on which engineers, individuals and policy makers can base solid decisions."—John Gardner, Professor, Boise State University"A comprehensive handbook which covers the most cut edge improvement technologies of energy efficiency for energy generation and transportation facilities using either conventional petroleum-based energy or renewable energy. … The handbook could be beneficial to both experienced researchers / engineers as a guide or reference book and novices / university students as a textbook in energy related fields."—Prof. Cherng-Yuan Lin, National Taiwan Ocean University"Overall, the book covers a wide range of topics on energy efficiency and renewable energy. This will serve as a good Reference for practicing engineers, policy makers, and the students working in the area of Energy."—Prof. Kaushik Rajashekara, University of Texas at DallasTable of ContentsGLOBAL ENERGY SYSTEMS, POLICY, AND ECONOMICS. Global Energy Systems. Sound Finance Policies for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. State and Federal Policies for Renewable Energy. Strategies and Instruments for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Internationally, in Europe, and in Germany. Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Policies in China. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in India. Renewable Energy Policies in Brazil: Bioenergy, Photovoltaic Generation, and Transportation. Energy in Israel: A Case for Renewables. Renewable Energy in Australia. Japan’s Post-Fukushima Energy Policy. Policies for Distributed Energy Generation. Economics Methods. Environmental Impacts and Costs of Energy. ENERGY GENERATION THROUGH 2025. Distributed Generation Technologies through 2025. Demand-Side Management. Fossil Fuels. Nuclear Power Technologies through Year 2035. Outlook for U.S. Energy Consumption and Prices, 2011-2040. ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND STORAGE. Transportation. Infrastructure Risk Analysis and Security. Electricity Infrastructure Resilience and Security. Electrical Energy Management in Buildings. Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Control Systems. Stirling Engines. Energy-Efficient Lighting Technologies and Their Applications in the Residential and Commercial Sectors. Energy-Efficient Technologies: Major Appliances and Space Conditioning Equipment. Heat Pumps. Electric Motor Systems Efficiency. Industrial Energy Efficiency and Energy Management. Process Energy Efficiency: Pinch Technology. Analysis Methods for Building Energy Auditing. Cogeneration. Energy Storage Technologies. Advanced Concepts in Transmission and Distribution. Smart Grid Technology. RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES. Solar Energy Resources. Wind Energy Resource. Municipal Solid Waste. Biomass Properties and Resources. Active Solar Heating Systems. Passive Solar Heating, Cooling, and Daylighting. Concentrating Solar Thermal Power. Wind Energy Conversion. Photovoltaics. Thin-Film PV Technology. Concentrating PV Technologies. Waste-to-Energy Combustion. Energy Recovery by Anaerobic Digestion Process. BIOMASS ENERGY SYSTEMS. Biomass Conversion to Heat and Power. Biomass Conversion to Fuels. Geothermal Power Generation. Hydrogen Energy Technologies. Fuel Cells.

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Book SynopsisIn a speech delivered in Japanese at Cornell University, Naoto Kan describes the harrowing days after a cataclysmic earthquake and tsunami led to the meltdown of three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. In vivid language, he tells how he struggled with the possibility that tens of millions of people would need to be evacuated.Cornell Global Perspectives is an imprint of Cornell University's Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies. The works examine critical global challenges, often from an interdisciplinary perspective, and are intended for a non-specialist audience. The Distinguished Speaker series presents edited transcripts of talks delivered at Cornell, both in the original language and in translation.

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Book SynopsisThis book is a comprehensive compilation of all reports, testimony, correspondence and other publications issued by the Congressional Research Service on Energy and Environment during the month of March.

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Book SynopsisThis academic, multi-author reference work serves as a general and non-technical resource for students and teachers to understand the importance of energy; to appreciate the influence of energy on societies around the world; to learn the history of energy; and to initiate educational discussion brought forth by the specific social and topical articles presented in the work. SCOPE AND COVERAGE From Alaska to China to Brazil and around the world, energy is the fuel of modern civilization. The United States alone, which constitutes 5 percent of the world's population, consumes 24 percent of the world's energy. Tracing the routes and roots of energy through history, especially since the Industrial Revolution, and explaining the current levels of energy use and production across the globe, this four-volume encyclopaedia will be the definitive reference to essential energy and power information. From ""clean coal"" to oil to windpower, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, the Encyclopedia of Energy is a world round-up of energy-related curricular disciplines, including: history, sociology, environmentalism, public policy, science, engineering, and business. Especially targeted toward high-school students, this outstanding reference work is edited to tie into the high-school curriculum, making the content readily accessible as well to patrons of public, academic, and university libraries. Pedagogical elements include a Topic Finder, Chronology, Resource Guide, Glossary, Appendix, and thorough index. Presented in four volumes in an A-to-Z format, the Encyclopedia of Energy is richly illustrated with photos, charts, and tables, all comprising a unique resource.

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Book SynopsisEnergy plays a vital role in Americans'' lives and in the U.S. economy as a whole, particularly in the provision of electricity, transportation, heating and cooling, and industrial processing - the four main energy-consuming sectors of the economy. This book examines the various commodities used to generate energy in the United States, focusing on the two largest energy-consuming sectors of the U.S. economy; electricity and transportation, and the differences in how they expose U.S. households and businesses to disruptions, either domestic or international, in the supply of energy.

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Book SynopsisU.S. policymakers have considered and deliberated on several policy designs that could potentially reduce energy-related carbon emissions. In his 2011 State of the Union address, President Obama proposed the concept of a Clean Energy Standard (CES) that would result in 80% of U.S. electricity generation from clean energy sources by 2035. In March of 2012, the Clean Energy Standard Act of 2012 (S.2146) was introduced in the Senate. The primary goal of S.2146 is to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the U.S. electricity sector, which represents approximately 41% of total U.S. CO2 emissions. Generally, the approach used to achieve this goal is to require certain utility companies to source a portion of their electricity generation from qualified clean energy generators. Utilities located in either Alaska or Hawaii are exempted from CES requirements. This book examines the policy proposals and impacts of the Clean Energy Standard Act with a focus on compliance requirements and clean energy credits.

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Book SynopsisRecent events have renewed long-standing congressional interest in safe management of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and other high level nuclear waste. These issues have been examined and debated for decades, sometimes renewed by world events like the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The incident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear reactor complex in Japan, combined with the termination of the Yucca Mountain geologic repository project, have contributed to the increased interest. This book focuses on the current situation with spent nuclear fuel storage in the United States. It addresses the SNF storage situation, primarily at current and former reactor facilities and former reactor sites for the potentially foreseeable future. Although no nation has yet established a permanent disposal repository for SNF and other forms of high-level radioactive waste, there is broad consensus that a geological repository is the preferred method for these wastes.

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Book SynopsisEnergy storage technology has great potential to improve electric power grids, to enable growth in renewable electricity generation, and to provide alternatives to oil-derived fuels in the nation''s transportation sector. In the electric power system, the promise of this technology lies in its potential to increase grid efficiency and reliability, optimizing power flows and supporting variable power supplies from wind and solar generation. In transportation, vehicles powered by batteries or other electric technologies have the potential to displace vehicles burning gasoline and diesel fuel, reducing associated emissions and demand for oil. This book summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding energy storage technologies for both electric power grid and electric vehicle applications. It also addresses the significant policy, market, and other non-technical factors that may impede storage adoption, and considers eight major categories of storage technology; pumped hydro, compressed air, batteries, capacitors, superconducting magnetic energy storage, flywheels, thermal storage, and hydrogen.

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Book SynopsisFederal policymakers have long been concerned about the impact of manmade carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on global climate change. To address these concerns, Congress has been debating a range of potential initiatives for reducing atmostpheric CO2 from U.S. sources. Legislative proposals would seek to limit U.S. CO2 emissions to specific (historical) levels through emissions caps, carbon taxes, or other regulatory mechanisms. Many of these proposals dictate or anticipate a declining long-term trajectory for annual U.S. carbon emissions. The most prominent CO2 proposals seek reductions of nationwide CO2 emissions to 1990 levels or lower by 2030. This book examines key uncertainties associated with CO2 emissions abatement measures, with a focus on available and emerging technologies, and new source review permits.

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Book SynopsisThe Department of the Interior (DOI) manages ocean energy and mineral resources, including oil, natural gas, wind, and geothermal resources. Federally regulated offshore oil and gas projects currently account for 26% of the nation''s domestic oil production and about 16% of domestic natural gas production. In addition to generating these domestic energy supplies, federally regulated offshore energy projects account for significant public receipts, including approximately $6.5 billion in 2011. This book provides an overview of the DOIs reform, reorganization and offshore energy management with a focus on ocean energy programs and oil and gas management.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides an overview of middle income households across the United States, which are under significant financial strain, and rising energy bills are a contributor to this stress. Energy efficiency improvements have the potential to provide significant benefits to these households, by lowering bills, increasing the structural integrity of homes, improving health and comfort, and reducing exposure to volatile, and rising, energy prices. Middle income households are also responsible for a third of U.S. residential energy use. Increasing the energy efficiency of their homes would deliver substantial public benefits: reducing power system costs, easing congestion on the grid, and avoiding emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. To achieve those goals, utilities and governments are beginning to look beyond typical residential energy efficiency programs and are turning to programs that improve the energy efficiency of the entire house by sealing the leaks, reducing plug loads, adding insulation, and replacing inefficient heating and cooling systems.

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Book SynopsisNatural gas is the second largest primary source of energy consumed in the United States, exceeded only by petroleum. A primary energy source is an energy source that can be consumed directly or converted into something else, like electricity. Roughly a third of the natural gas consumed in the United States goes into power plants for the production of electricity. Electricity, a secondary energy source, results from the conversion of primary fuels such as fossil fuels, uranium or wind, into a flow of electrons used to power modern life. This book explores the workings of the wholesale markets for these two forms of energy, as well as energy-related financial markets.

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Book SynopsisThis book seeks to provide policy-makers and other stakeholders with actionable information towards a road map for reducing energy consumption cost-effectively. A focus on individual end use equipment types (hereafter referred to as appliance groups) that might be the subject of policies -- such as labels, energy performance standards, and incentives -- to affect market transformation in the short term, and on high-efficiency technology options that are available today is examined. There is a strong, profit-based business case for investing in more energy-efficient products and designs. Energy efficiency, however, often is viewed as something that businesses and individuals "should" do as good citizens. The reality is that using energy inefficiently is like walking past money on the ground -- money that could be put to far better use than paying electricity bills. Investing in energy efficiency therefore creates economic value. This book provides an overview of business case scenarios for energy efficiency in the United States, China and India.

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Book SynopsisThe Department of Energy''s (DOE) Loan Programs Office administers the Loan Guarantee Program (LGP) for certain renewable or innovative energy projects and the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program for projects to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles and components. This book assesses the extent to which DOE has developed and adhered to loan monitoring policies for its loan programs.

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Book SynopsisThis book focuses on five of the policy types that are most relevant to the U.S. market and political context for the exploration and confirmation of conventional hydrothermal (geothermal) resources in the United States. They include drilling failure insurance; loan guarantees; subsidised loans; capital subsidies; and government-led exploration. The book describes each policy type and its application in other countries and regions. It offers policy-makers a guide for drafting future geothermal support mechanisms for the exploration-drilling phase of geothermal development. The book also focuses on the design of Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) incentive policies for geothermal electric projects and how FITs can be used to reduce risks.

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