Understanding the Global Energy Crisis

Description

We are facing a global energy crisis caused by world population growth, an escalating increase in demand, and continued dependence on fossil-based fuels for generation. It is widely accepted that increases in greenhouse gas concentration levels, if not reversed, will result in major changes to world climate with consequential effects on our society and economy. This is just the kind of intractable problem that Purdue University's Global Policy Research Institute seeks to address in the Purdue Studies in Public Policy series by promoting the engagement between policy makers and experts in fields such as engineering and technology. Major steps forward in the development and use of technology are required. In order to achieve solutions of the required scale and magnitude within a limited timeline, it is essential that engineers be not only technologically-adept but also aware of the wider social and political issues that policy-makers face. Likewise, it is also imperative that policy makers liaise closely with the academic community in order to realize advances. This book is designed to bridge the gap between these two groups, with a particular emphasis on educating the socially-conscious engineers and technologists of the future. In this accessibly-written volume, central issues in global energy are discussed through interdisciplinary dialogue between experts from both North America and Europe. The first section provides an overview of the nature of the global energy crisis approached from historical, political, and sociocultural perspectives. In the second section, expert contributors outline the technology and policy issues facing the development of major conventional and renewable energy sources. The third and final section explores policy and technology challenges and opportunities in the distribution and consumption of energy, in sectors such as transportation and the built environment. The book's epilogue suggests some future scenarios in energy distribution and use.
Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Part 1: The Global Energy Crisis in Context

Chapter 1: Reflections on Energy, Greenhouse Gases, and Carbonaceous Fuels

Chapter 2: Global Energy Policy Perspectives

Chapter 3: Social Engagement by the Engineer

Part 2: Energy Conversion Technology

Chapter 4: Harnessing Nature: Wind, Hydro, Wave, Tidal, and Geothermal Energy

Chapter 5: Solar Power and the Enabling Role of Nanotechnology

Chapter 6: Biofuel Prospects in an Uncertain World

Chapter 7: A Future Role for Nuclear Energy?

Part 3: Energy Distribution and Use

Chapter 8: Taking Emerging Renewable Technologies to Market

Chapter 9: Transportation and Energy

Chapter 10: Policy Challenges for the Built Environment: The Dilemma of the Existing Building Stock

Epilogue: Reflections on Our Path Forward

Index

Sujets

• Environmental
• Sciences et techniques
• Technology
• Engineering
• Central

Informations

• Publié par: Purdue University Press
• Date de parution: 15 mars 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781612493107
• Langue: English

Extrait

Understanding the Global Energy Crisis
Purdue Studies in Public Policy
Understanding the Global Energy Crisis
EDITED BY EUGENE D. COYLE AND RICHARD A. SIMMONS
Published on behalf of the Global Policy Research Institute by Purdue University Press West Lafayette, Indiana
This book is licensed under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/ .
Understanding the global energy crisis / edited by Eugene D. Coyle and Richard A. Simmons.
pages cm. -- (Purdue studies in public policy)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-55753-661-7 (pbk. : alk. paper) -- ISBN 978-1-61249-309-1 (epdf) -- ISBN 978-1-61249-310-7 (epub)
1. Energy consumption. 2. Energy policy. 3. Energy development. 4. Renewable energy sources.
I. Coyle, Eugene D.
HD9502.A2U495 2014
333.79--dc23

An electronic version of this book is freely available, thanks to the support of libraries working with Knowledge Unlatched. KU is a collaborative initiative designed to make high quality books Open Access for the public good. The Open Access ISBN for this book is 978-1-55753-701-0. More information about the initiative and links to the Open Access version can be found at www.knowledgeunlatched.org .
To our wives, Lucy Dendy Coyle and Michelle Simmons, for their abiding encouragement and inspiration
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
PART 1: THE GLOBAL ENERGY CRISIS IN CONTEXT
Chapter 1: Reflections on Energy, Greenhouse Gases, and Carbonaceous Fuels
1.1. Introduction: Man’s Quest for Energy
1.2. Earth’s Atmosphere and Greenhouse Gases
Chapter 2: Global Energy Policy Perspectives
2.1. Introduction: Energy Demand and Expected Growth
2.2. United States Energy and Climate Policy
2.3. Energy and Climate Policy in the European Union
2.4. China Energy and Climate Change Policy
2.5. Russia Energy and Climate Change Policy
2.6. Brazil Energy and Climate Change Policy
2.7. India Energy and Climate Change Policy
Chapter 3: Social Engagement by the Engineer
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Social Systems
3.3. Common Authentic Values and Principles
PART 2: ENERGY CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY
Chapter 4: Harnessing Nature: Wind, Hydro, Wave, Tidal, and Geothermal Energy
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Wind Energy
4.3. Hydroelectric Energy
4.4. Wave and Tidal Energy
4.5. Geothermal Energy
4.6. Impact of Renewable Technologies on Electricity Grid Developments
Chapter 5: Solar Power and the Enabling Role of Nanotechnology
5.1. Introduction
5.2. Solar Power Overview
5.3. Nanotechnology
5.4. Solar Photovoltaics
5.5. Thermoelectrics
5.6. Nanotechnology in Other Energy Applications
Chapter 6: Biofuel Prospects in an Uncertain World
6.1. Biofuels History
6.2. First Generation Biofuels
6.3. Second Generation Biofuels
6.4. Conclusions: Major Challenges and Opportunities
Chapter 7: A Future Role for Nuclear Energy?
7.1. Introduction: Essentials of Nuclear Energy
7.2. History of Nuclear Engineering
7.3. Current Status of Nuclear Energy
7.4. Nuclear Energy Safety
7.5. Nuclear Accidents and Impacts
7.6. Challenges in Nuclear Waste Management
7.7. Future Role for Nuclear Power
7.8. Social Engagement
7.9. Future for Nuclear Fusion
PART 3: ENERGY DISTRIBUTION AND USE
Chapter 8: Taking Emerging Renewable Technologies to Market
8.1. Introduction
8.2. Economic Factors
8.3. Political Factors
8.4. Social Factors
8.5. Maintainability Factors
8.6. Economics of Energy
8.7. Some Challenges for Emerging Wave Energy Technologies
8.8. Conclusion
Chapter 9: Transportation and Energy
9.1. Transportation Energy Overview
9.2. Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
9.3. Aviation Fuels and Regulation
Chapter 10: Policy Challenges for the Built Environment: The Dilemma of the Existing Building Stock
10.1. Introduction
10.2. Energy Conserving Building Retrofit Technologies
10.3. Complexity of Energy Efficiency Retrofit Strategies
10.4. Policy Challenges to Energy Efficiency Retrofit Success
10.5. Building Energy Reduction Programs Recently Employed in the US and EU
10.6. Recommendations and Opportunities for Future Solutions
Epilogue: Reflections on Our Path Forward
Index
Foreword
I believe that this book will be regarded as a classic in describing the emerging global energy crises and alternate approaches for addressing them. It will not only serve several purposes in the technology and policy worlds but will also appeal to a broader audience. As the authors intended, it is an excellent technical source book for engineers and technologists. It provides a comprehensive review of the history of energy conversion and use; current and emerging technologies to achieve energy sustainability in a highly stressed planet; and contemporary international efforts to find solutions to the complex issues involved. Accordingly, it is also a must read for all young individuals of social consciousness, who see themselves as inheritors of grand challenge world issues and have a keen desire to contribute to their solution.
The book is organized such that each chapter begins with an abstract of the subject matter and ends with a summary of key points. The language is aimed at a Popular Science level of technical exposition and is relatively jargon-free considering the wide spectrum of technologies presented. Each chapter includes an extensive list of references to assist the reader in finding sources and additional details of the referenced content.
However, the most important aspect of the book, which is relatively unique, is the way the subject matter is organized. Energy sustainability is presented as a complex issue (or a wicked problem ) that is interrelated with other complex issues, such as environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, and in the case of biomass-derived fuels, water and soil sustainability. For such problems there exists not a single solution but a multiplicity of solutions, which must then be judged by equally complex interrelationships among technical, social, and economic factors. These in turn vary regionally throughout the world based on different histories, cultures, social norms, etc. The book carefully addresses these complexities for each energy policy topic presented.
The editors have carefully selected expert authors to explain the technical, social, and economic factors for each topic and present alternative approaches to a solution. The book intentionally avoids advocacy and attempts to be an honest broker to the readers so that they can draw their own conclusions based on the relative advantages and disadvantages presented.
I am exceedingly proud that this book originated in Professor Coyle’s Fulbright Fellowship at Purdue University’s Global Policy Research Institute. I also applaud the members of the faculty at Purdue and at the Dublin Institute of Technology who contributed to it, exemplifying a successful trans-Atlantic partnership. This product is a glowing example of the vision of the GPRI to engage more faculty and students at Purdue and elsewhere to conduct research and careful analysis of grand challenge global issues to inform the nation’s policy and decision makers.
Arden L. Bement, Jr .
Biographical Sketch
Arden Bement, Jr. retired from his position as the founding Director of the Global Policy Research Institute at Purdue University in 2013. Prior to that position, he was the Director of the National Science Foundation from 2004 to 2010. He served as a member of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO and as the vice-chair of the Commission’s Natural Sciences and Engineering Committee. He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Preface
This book brings together experts in energy policy, social science, power systems, solar energy, agronomy, renewable energy technologies, nuclear engineering, transportation, and the built environment from both sides of the Atlantic to explore the future of energy production and consumption from technological, political, and sociological perspectives. The volume is not intended to serve as complete in-depth coverage of all energy sector technologies, nor to cover energy policy comprehensively for all world regions. It is, however, hoped that the topics selected and questions addressed will encourage further engagement and debate among not only students, but anyone with interest in energy sustainability, climate change, and related challenges.
These issues are multi-dimensional and complex in nature; “wicked problems” with no easy answers. The book explores issues such as financial outlay and tariff support, the readiness of emerging technologies such as wave and tidal energy converters, the degree of wind energy that may be accommodated on national networks, the extent to which solar energy may be deployed, challenges and uncertainties in the production of advanced biofuels, concerns about natural gas extraction via hydraulic fracture (hydrofracking), and whether nuclear energy should become more widely used or taken out of the generation mix.
In many quarters there is a sense of a race against time in trying to undo the current and introduce the new technologies that will help reduce carbon emissions back to wi