Prospects for Sustainable Energy - A Critical Assessment

Hardback  294 pages  ISBN 0521631203      £60.00

Paperback  294pp  ISBN 0521018374      £24.00

Fossil fuels are a finite resource, and their continued use as the world's dominant energy supply may be damaging the environment. Future use of alternative methods of energy supply is inescapable, and this book explores the historical origins, technical features, marketability, and environmental impacts of the complete range of sustainable energy technologies: solar, biomass, wind, hydropower, geothermal power, ocean-energy sources, solar-derived hydrogen fuel, and energy storage. The aim is to inform policy analysts and decision makers of the options available for sustainable energy production. The book is therefore written so as to be accessible to an audience from a broad range of backgrounds and scientific training for those interested in environmental studies, energy economics, energy policy and engineering. Following a preface, the contents are as follows:

Part I. Introduction:
Part II. The Candidate Sustainable Technologies: Technological/Economic Assessments:

• Solar energy sources
• Biomass energy
• Windpower
• Hydroelectric power
• Energy storage
• Geothermal energy
• Ocean energy
• Nuclear fusion
• Hydrogen fuel from renewable resources
• Summary assessment of the technologies

Part III. The Prospects for Technological Change Toward Sustainability:

• Research & development

Appendix I. Energy cost analysis
Appendix II. Glossary of symbols
Appendix III. The conduct and management of research and development.