Download or read book The Path to More Sustainable Energy Systems written by Ben W. Ebenhack and published by Momentum Press. This book was released on 2013-05-20 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Energy engineers, technology managers, and political leaders all need a solid, holistic understanding of where the world finds its energy--the limits of that energy--and what we will need to do in the future if we are to have a cleaner and environmentally sustainable world, all without sacrificing our modern technological-based civilization. This book will shed some much needed light on that conundrum. It * Provides a broad overview of our current energy sources, their uses and limitations and political and economic constraints * Clarifies the urgency behind the sweeping changes in the world's energy needs and available supplies * Offers a rational paradigm for how we can go about selecting the optimal mix of fossil, renewable and sustainable energy sources and how we can then aggressively move toward those more sustainable sources Drawing from a combined 40 years of teaching about energy and its applications, the authors offer a broad, balanced analysis of our current energy circumstances and how we can intelligently transition from our reliance on fossil fuels to more sustainable and renewable energy sources--solar, wind, nuclear, and bio-mass. With their grounding in the traditional petroleum industries, the authors embed their arguments for cleaner and more sustainable energy sources in the hard realities of energy economics. Those hard realities include the enormous "energy density" advantage that oil and gas currently provide over other alternative energies and how that must always enter into any rationale economic plan for future energy growth.

Download or read book Our Renewable Future written by Richard Heinberg and published by Island Press. This book was released on 2016-06-02 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Over the next few decades, we will see a profound energy transformation as society shifts from fossil fuels to renewable resources like solar, wind, biomass. But what might a one hundred percent renewable future actually look like, and what obstacles will we face in this transition? Authors explore the practical challenges and opportunities presented by the shift to renewable energy."--Page 4 of cover.

Download or read book Promoting Sustainable Electricity in Europe written by W. M. Lafferty and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2009-01-01 with total page 365 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: . . . this book is a timely and significant read for anyone with an interest in the operation of the energy sector. Karen Morrow, International Energy Law & Taxation Review This is a timely and comparative assessment of initiatives to promote renewable electricity sources (RES-E) in eight European countries. Carried out by the ProSus research programme at the University of Oslo in cooperation with leading research institutions in each country, the book focuses on the promotional schemes used to foster RES-E in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden. The book is unique in that it monitors progress on implementing the EU RES-E Directive in relation to the impact of the dominant energy systems in each country. Employing notions of path dependency/path creation , the analysis demonstrates that crucial lessons for promoting RES-E are to be found in the contextual conditions of national and regional settings; conditions that qualify the effects of more general, market-oriented schemes. The conclusions reached are of direct relevance for the ongoing debate as to the most effective policy instruments for achieving sustainable energy and climate policies in Europe. Promoting Sustainable Electricity in Europe will be of interest to academics and researchers involved in environmental management, energy studies, technology and sustainable development. Furthermore, it will be of interest to policymakers and bureaucrats both at the EU level and among EU/EEA member states concerned with climate change, renewable energy and sustainable development at large. The book should also be of relevance for business organizations and NGOs concerned with the promotion of sustainable electricity.

Download or read book Paths to Sustainable Energy written by Artie Ng and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2010-12-30 with total page 680 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The world's reliance on existing sources of energy and their associated detrimental impacts on the environment- whether related to poor air or water quality or scarcity, impacts on sensitive ecosystems and forests and land use - have been well documented and articulated over the last three decades. What is needed by the world is a set of credible energy solutions that would lead us to a balance between economic growth and a sustainable environment. This book provides an open platform to establish and share knowledge developed by scholars, scientists and engineers from all over the world about various viable paths to a future of sustainable energy. It has collected a number of intellectually stimulating articles that address issues ranging from public policy formulation to technological innovations for enhancing the development of sustainable energy systems. It will appeal to stakeholders seeking guidance to pursue the paths to sustainable energy.

Download or read book The Power of Renewables written by Chinese Academy of Engineering and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2011-01-29 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The United States and China are the world's top two energy consumers and, as of 2010, the two largest economies. Consequently, they have a decisive role to play in the world's clean energy future. Both countries are also motivated by related goals, namely diversified energy portfolios, job creation, energy security, and pollution reduction, making renewable energy development an important strategy with wide-ranging implications. Given the size of their energy markets, any substantial progress the two countries make in advancing use of renewable energy will provide global benefits, in terms of enhanced technological understanding, reduced costs through expanded deployment, and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to conventional generation from fossil fuels. Within this context, the U.S. National Academies, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), reviewed renewable energy development and deployment in the two countries, to highlight prospects for collaboration across the research to deployment chain and to suggest strategies which would promote more rapid and economical attainment of renewable energy goals. Main findings and concerning renewable resource assessments, technology development, environmental impacts, market infrastructure, among others, are presented. Specific recommendations have been limited to those judged to be most likely to accelerate the pace of deployment, increase cost-competitiveness, or shape the future market for renewable energy. The recommendations presented here are also pragmatic and achievable.

Download or read book Microgrids written by Amjad Anvari-Moghaddam and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2021-05-21 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Microgrids are a growing segment of the energy industry, representing a paradigm shift from centralized structures toward more localized, autonomous, dynamic, and bi-directional energy networks, especially in cities and communities. The ability to isolate from the larger grid makes microgrids resilient, while their capability of forming scalable energy clusters permits the delivery of services that make the grid more sustainable and competitive. Through an optimal design and management process, microgrids could also provide efficient, low-cost, clean energy and help to improve the operation and stability of regional energy systems. This book covers these promising and dynamic areas of research and development and gathers contributions on different aspects of microgrids in an aim to impart higher degrees of sustainability and resilience to energy systems.

Download or read book Principles of Sustainable Energy Systems Second Edition written by Frank Kreith and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2013-08-19 with total page 793 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Completely revised and updated, Principles of Sustainable Energy Systems, Second Edition presents broad-based coverage of sustainable energy sources and systems. The book is designed as a text for undergraduate seniors and first-year graduate students. It focuses on renewable energy technologies, but also treats current trends such as the expanding use of natural gas from fracking and development of nuclear power. It covers the economics of sustainable energy, both from a traditional monetary as well as from an energy return on energy invested (EROI) perspective. The book provides complete and up-to-date coverage of all renewable technologies, including solar and wind power, biological processes such as anaerobic digestion and geothermal energy. The new edition also examines social issues such as food, water, population, global warming, and public policies of engineering concern. It discusses energy transition—the process by which renewable energy forms can effectively be introduced into existing energy systems to replace fossil fuels. See What’s New in the Second Edition: Extended treatment of the energy and social issues related to sustainable energy Analytic models of all energy systems in the current and future economy Thoroughly updated chapters on biomass, wind, transportation, and all types of solar power Treatment of energy return on energy invested (EROI) as a tool for understanding the sustainability of different types of resource conversion and efficiency projects Introduction of the System Advisor Model (SAM) software program, available from National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), with examples and homework problems Coverage of current issues in transition engineering providing analytic tools that can reduce the risk of unsustainable fossil resource use Updates to all chapters on renewable energy technology engineering, in particular the chapters dealing with transportation, passive design, energy storage, ocean energy, and bioconversion Written by Frank Kreith and Susan Krumdieck, this updated version of a successful textbook takes a balanced approach that looks not only at sustainable energy sources, but also provides examples of energy storage, industrial process heat, and modern transportation. The authors take an analytical systems approach to energy engineering, rather than the more general and descriptive approach usually found in textbooks on this topic.

Download or read book Principles of Sustainable Energy Systems Third Edition written by Charles F. Kutscher and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2018-08-06 with total page 940 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS, Third Edition, surveys the range of sustainable energy sources and the tools that engineers, scientists, managers, and policy makers use to analyze energy generation, usage, and future trends. The text provides complete and up-to-date coverage of all renewable technologies, including solar and wind power, biofuels, hydroelectric, nuclear, ocean power, and geothermal energy. The economics of energy are introduced, with the SAM software package integrated so students can explore the dynamics of energy usage and prediction. Climate and environmental factors in energy use are integrated to give a complete picture of sustainable energy analysis and planning.

Download or read book Sustainable Energy Systems From Primary to End Use written by João Carlos de Oliveira Matias and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2019-09-03 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book focuses on sustainable energy systems. While several innovative and alternative concepts are presented, the topics of energy policy, life cycle assessment, thermal energy, and renewable energy also play a major role. Models on various temporal and geographical scales are developed to understand the conditions of technical as well as organizational change. New methods of modeling, which can fulfil technical and physical boundary conditions and nevertheless consider economic environmental and social aspects, are also developed.

Download or read book A Path to a Renewable Energy System written by and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the effects of climate change become more and more evident, the necessity of transitioning to a carbon-free economy and powering our energy and transportation systems from renewable energy sources is quite evident. This transition to a renewable- based energy system will be a massive undertaking, similar to the efforts put into WWII, where the country was united with unity of purpose. Taking on the vested interests of the fossil fuel industry and all their subsidiaries will take a political will that does not exist in this country at this time. Hermann Scheer describes what he calls a social movement; he feels only this can overcome the "agency capture" of our political systems by the fossil fuel industry. In my analysis of economic theory I concentrated on Nikolai Kondratiev's "long-wave theory" of the capitalistic system of growth and recession, which take place over approximately a fifty year cycle. Further, I examined Joseph Schumpeter's adaptation of Kondratiev's theory; Schumpeter ties every wave to a new fuel source that overtakes and replaces the existing fuel source and creates a new prosperity. In the "technology wave" (which we are currently in) it is my theory that the new fuel source will be renewables: solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, etc. The American spirit of entrepreneurship, invention and innovation will move renewables along the normal diffusion curve creating this new wealth and prosperity. Using these natural forces to provide the energy to run our society will keep us in harmony with the planet. The processes used to extract our energy from the planet are destructive and must end because they cause environmental and health problems. There has been a very well-funded and effective campaign to deny the effects of fossil fuels on our climate and it is having a very profound effect. Society's indolence on this matter is a poor choice. The real question that needs to be asked is, while there might be the fossil fuel reserves to last the world well into the 21st century, can the environment survive this? No. We see CO2 concentration in the atmosphere rising and climate change precipitously taking place as evidenced by flooding, severe storms and other extreme weather events. The recent super storm Sandy, which has devastated parts of the east coast, exhibits this. I believe Sandy was climate change related and the climate change models have predicted these extreme events. I argue in this thesis that current conditions: reaching "peak oil," rising CO2 emissions, maintaining American military hegemony to secure fossil fuel supplies and the enduring severe weather events, will drive our capitalist system toward restructuring itself to create a new energy system fueled by innovation, invention and entrepreneurship with the government taking on a support role for the new renewable energy system. The laggards of the old fossil fuel energy system will desperately cling to their positions, but these will eventually give way to the new wave. This will create a future where energy is produced from the earth's natural forces and not torn from the earth to be burned. Government's role should be to provide incentives for investments in renewables through favorable legislation and regulations. A level playing field needs to be created for renewables to put them on par with fossil fuels.

Download or read book Paths to Sustainable Energy written by Artie Ng and published by IntechOpen. This book was released on 2010-12-30 with total page 678 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The world's reliance on existing sources of energy and their associated detrimental impacts on the environment- whether related to poor air or water quality or scarcity, impacts on sensitive ecosystems and forests and land use - have been well documented and articulated over the last three decades. What is needed by the world is a set of credible energy solutions that would lead us to a balance between economic growth and a sustainable environment. This book provides an open platform to establish and share knowledge developed by scholars, scientists and engineers from all over the world about various viable paths to a future of sustainable energy. It has collected a number of intellectually stimulating articles that address issues ranging from public policy formulation to technological innovations for enhancing the development of sustainable energy systems. It will appeal to stakeholders seeking guidance to pursue the paths to sustainable energy.

Download or read book Global Renewables Outlook Energy Transformation 2050 written by International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA and published by International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). This book was released on 2020-04-01 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This outlook highlights climate-safe investment options until 2050, policies for transition and specific regional challenges. It also explores options to eventually cut emissions to zero.

Download or read book Sustainable Energy Development written by Indre Siksnelyte-Butkiene and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2023-07-19 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sustainable Energy Development: A Multi-Criteria Decision Making Approach discusses sustainable energy development, the main path for achieving carbon neutrality, and the use of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) in assessing energy transition in both operational and socio-political forms. It proposes ways to support responsible decision making toward sustainable energy in key areas such as power distribution, household energy, and transportation. The authors have developed frameworks and tools to help choose sustainable energy options like renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency improvements, policies, and how to promote them in different communities. The book includes several case studies focused on electricity, district heating, transport sectors in the European Union (EU), and decision making in the household sector. Features Analyzes the connection between sustainable energy development and the transition toward a carbon neutral society. Compares and discusses advanced MCDM tools to support sustainable energy options. Develops new frameworks of indicators for the assessment of sustainable regional and national energy system planning, and provides practical illustrative examples in various energy sectors. Provides policy implications when promoting sustainable energy development. Presents case studies on the applications of multi-criteria tools to support sustainable energy options in different energy sectors. Readers interested in gaining insight into leading trends in energy efficiency and sustainability, such as academics, researchers, graduate students, and professionals interested in sustainable energy and energy producers, city planners, policy makers, and more, will benefit from the topics and frameworks discussed in this book.

Download or read book Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation written by Ottmar Edenhofer and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2011-11-21 with total page 1088 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report (IPCC-SRREN) assesses the potential role of renewable energy in the mitigation of climate change. It covers the six most important renewable energy sources - bioenergy, solar, geothermal, hydropower, ocean and wind energy - as well as their integration into present and future energy systems. It considers the environmental and social consequences associated with the deployment of these technologies, and presents strategies to overcome technical as well as non-technical obstacles to their application and diffusion. SRREN brings a broad spectrum of technology-specific experts together with scientists studying energy systems as a whole. Prepared following strict IPCC procedures, it presents an impartial assessment of the current state of knowledge: it is policy relevant but not policy prescriptive. SRREN is an invaluable assessment of the potential role of renewable energy for the mitigation of climate change for policymakers, the private sector, and academic researchers.

Download or read book Energy for Sustainability written by John Randolph and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 637 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Despite 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.

Download or read book Sustainable Energy Technology and Policies written by Sudipta De and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-02-02 with total page 426 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents a state-of-the-art compilation focusing on both technological and policy aspects of sustainable energy production and consumption, which deals with issues like the need for and planning of smart cities, alternative transport fuel options, sustainable power production, pollution control technologies etc. The book comprises contributions from experts from all over the world, and addresses energy sustainability from different viewpoints. Specifically, the book focuses on energy sustainability in the Indian scenario with a background of the global perspective. Contributions from academia, policy makers and industry are included to address the challenge from different perspectives. The contents of this book will prove useful to researchers, professionals, and policy makers working in the area of green and sustainable energy.

Download or read book Energy for Sustainable Society written by Oguz A. Soysal and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2020-04-30 with total page 552 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A handbook of sustainable energy, covering entire energy aspects from present status to future alternatives under one umbrella This book takes an interdisciplinary system approach to evaluating energy systems so that readers can gain the necessary technical foundation to perform their own performance evaluations and understand their interactions with socioeconomic indicators. Topics include the current and future availability of primary sources, energy supply chain, conversion between different forms of energy, security of energy supply, and efficient end-use of energy sources. Each chapter provides readers with comprehensive background information, an outline of the current technologies, and potential future developments. The book also examines the global, economic, societal, ethical, and environmental issues associated with currently used energy technologies. Energy for Sustainable Society: From Resources to Users starts with ageneral overview of energy systems, and describes the major elements of energy transformation and supply chain. It then discusses interdisciplinary career opportunities in the “energy engineering” field. The fundamental concepts of energy conversion, transmission, and load flow in electrical systems are covered, as are conventional and unconventional fossil fuels, and the basics of nuclear power generation and reactor types. Other chapters look at: the fundamental concepts of thermodynamics and basic operation of steam turbines, gas turbines, and combined cycle heat engines used in fossil fuel and nuclear power plants; current technologies in hydroelectric power generation; renewable and alternative energy sources; energy security issues; and more. Contains up-to-date information on renewable energy technologies such as grid-tie, net-zero energy, battery backup, and utility-independent micro grids Presents the status of the share of renewable sources in the current and future energy supply mix Provides solved examples, case studies, self-assessment quizzes, and problems to enhance the understanding of readers Includes an exclusive chapter on energy security issues Supplemented with a companion web site featuring a solutions manual, sample problems, and additional reading material Energy for Sustainable Society gives readers a solid foundation to study energy related subjects and is an ideal book for a first course on energy systems for upper division undergraduate and first year graduate students.