Description
In their book Nicola Armaroli, Vincenzo Balzani and Nick Serpone uncover the background details associated with a transition to sustainable energy production that are routinely swept under the table in public discussions. They are not only concerned with the (alleged) advantages
and disadvantages of any one energy generation technology from a technical viewpoint, but also with the ecological, economic, political and social consequences of an inevitable transition. In a highly readable manner aimed at an international audience, the authors introduce the often misused and sometimes abused term 'energy' and give a lucid account of the development of energy production from timber to nuclear energy and renewable energies. They compare various energy generation methods with respect to their efficiency and practicability for large-scale implementation and examine if,
In their book Nicola Armaroli, Vincenzo Balzani and Nick Serpone uncover the background details associated with a transition to sustainable energy production that are routinely swept under the table in public discussions. They are not only concerned with the (alleged) advantages
and disadvantages of any one energy generation technology from a technical viewpoint, but also with the ecological, economic, political and social consequences of an inevitable transition. In a highly readable manner aimed at an international audience, the authors introduce the often misused and sometimes abused term 'energy' and give a lucid account of the development of energy production from timber to nuclear energy and renewable energies. They compare various energy generation methods with respect to their efficiency and practicability for large-scale implementation and examine if, and how, these methods live up to the expectations and promises their proponents make. In addition, the authors juxtapose the political and economic prerequisites in different regions of the world that advance, or hinder, an energy turnaround. They round off their book by debunking the seventeen most popular myths often cited in discussions on energy issues. As a result, the authors provide ammunition for debate, underpin (and unsettle) opinions using facts, and challenge comfortable and popular chains of reasoning.
Table of ContentsPreface XIII
Introduction 1
1 What Is Energy? 5
Energy and Related Terms 6
From One Energy Form to Another 7
Sources of Energy 8
The Pillars of the Universe 9
Particles in Motion 9
Heat (Warmth) - an Exchangeable Energy 10
You Can't Run Away from Them - the Principles of Thermodynamics 10
Einstein's Equation: E = mc2 13
From Kilowatt-hour to the Barrel of Oil 14
From a Chemical Bond to a Tsunami 15
2 Yesterday and Today 17
The Energy Slaves 17
From Coal to Coal? 19
Hidden Energy 21
From Faraday to Blackouts 22
From Muscle Work to Jet Aircraft 22
Petroleum to Food 24
From Fire to Air Conditioning 25
From Horseback Messengers to E-mails 26
From Gunpowder to the Atomic Bomb 27
Emerging Issues 29
3 How Much Energy Goes to Waste? 31
The Largest Explosion of All Time 31
Obese and Miserable 32
Fruits Out of Season 33
From Whale Oil to Pollution by Light 33
At Full Throttle 35
A Desperate Case - the Transportation System 36
Let's Get a Move on 38
4 Energy in the Spaceship's Hold 41
Crude Oil 41
Peaking of Oil Production? 43
Natural Gas 44
Coal and CO2 Rise 45
The Most Traded Commodities 45
The Hidden Treasure 48
Energy Also Travels 50
Costly Energy Invoices 51
Alliances, Tensions, Wars 52
5 Collateral Damage 55
The Planet Overheats 56
Agreements and Disagreements 57
Jailing the Offender? 59
A Subtle Danger 59
Rain Is No Longer What It Used to be 61
Financial Compensation 62
Minimize! Save the Planet 63
6 Energy from the Atom 65
Splitting the Atom 66
Nuclear Accidents 68
An Inconvenient Legacy 71
Where Do We Store Nuclear Wastes? 71
We'll Settle the Bill Later 73
Current Nuclear Power Plants 76
Tomorrow's Nuclear Power Plants (Maybe) 78
The Harsh Reality of the Marketplace 79
Solution or Problem? 80
Nuclear Fusion: if Not Roses . . . Then What? 81
7 Energy from the Sun 83
Conversion and Exploitation of Sunlight 84
From Light to Heat 84
From Light to Electricity 85
Concentrating Sunlight 88
Light to Chemical Energy - Natural Photosynthesis 88
Light to Chemical Energy - the Sunshine Vitamin 89
Biomass and Biofuels: Yes, but . . . ! 92
Artifi cial Photosynthesis 93
The Hydrogen Myth 95
8 Energy from Air, Water, and Land 99
Wind Changes 99
Wind Farms 101
Water � between Past and Future 105
Geothermal Energy 108
Sea Power 111
9 Fukushima and the Future of Nuclear Energy 115
What Happened at Fukushima Daiichi? 115
The Consequences for the Population 117
A Lesson from the Fukushima Disaster 118
What Is Today�s Cost of Nuclear Energy? 120
Should Italy Go Back to Nuclear Energy? 121
The Fate of Nuclear Energy 123
Global Expansion of Nuclear Power? 125
Is It Worthwhile to Get Energy Using Technologies Exposed to Great Risks? 126
10 Energy Italy 127
Stop Navigating Blind 127
Conserve Energy! Where? How? 128
Italy a Country with an Abundance of Sunlight 129
Wind, Geothermal Energy, Biomass 131
Conservation and Renewables - a Summary 132
11 Energy Canada 133
Primary Energy Resources 133
Oil Sands or Tar Sands? 136
Oil Sands and Their Environmental Impact 138
Water Usage 139
Natural Gas Usage 139
Greenhouse Gases 139
Coal in Canada 141
Natural Gas 142
Nuclear Energy and Electricity 143
Electricity 146
Renewable Energy - Wind Power 148
Renewable Energy - Solar Power 150
Renewable Energy - Biomass Energy 150
Renewable Energy - Geothermal Energy 151
Renewable Energy - Sea Power 151
Canada and Energy - Doing More 151
12 Energy USA 153
Primary Energy Resources 153
Coal - Supply and Demand 156
Natural Gas - Supply and Demand 159
Nuclear Power 161
Historical Notes 161
Present Situation 162
Nuclear Renaissance 164
Water Usage in Nuclear Reactors 165
Plant Decommissioning 165
Renewable Energy 166
Renewable Energy - Wind Power 167
Renewable Energy - Solar Thermal Power 170
Renewable Energy - Solar Photovoltaic 173
Renewable Energy - Geothermal Energy 174
Renewable Energy - Biomass 176
Renewable Energy - Biofuels 179
13 Energy UK 181
Primary Energy Resources 181
Fossil Fuels 183
Fossil Fuels - Coal 184
Fossil Fuels - Natural Gas 184
Nuclear Power 185
Nuclear Waste Management and Disposal 188
Windscale Fire and Decommissioning 188
Renewable Energy 190
Renewable Energy - Wind Power 191
Some Historical Notes 191
Renewable Energy - Solar Power 194
Renewable Energy - Geothermal Energy 196
Renewable Energy - Wave and Tidal Power 197
Renewable Energy - Biofuels 198
Electricity in the United Kingdom 198
14 Global Trends 201
A Shot at the Wrong Target 202
Sustainability of the Photovoltaic Option 204
Will Renewable Energy Sources Suffi ce? 205
But There Is Always a Limit 206
15 Scenarios for the Future 209
(Un)Sustainable Development 209
America's Big Footprint 210
The More We Consume, the More We're Happy? 211
That's Enough! 212
Strategies 213
At the Crossroads 214
Transition to Renewable Energy Resources 215
The Scientist's and the Politician's Responsibility 216
Challenges and Opportunities 216
Appendices 219
Appendix A: 17 Myths to be Dispelled 221
Appendix B: Maybe You Didn�t Know That . . . 225
Consumption 225
Transportation 226
Nuclear Energy 226
Renewable Energy Sources 227
Wastes and Pollution 227
Disparity 228
Appendix C 229
Appendix D: Bibliography 231
Useful Websites 232
General Energy Databases 232
Data on Resources, Pollution and the State of the Planet 233
Renewable Energies 233
Nuclear Energy 234
Efficiency and Energy Education 234
Climate Changes 234
For Children and Teachers 234
Index 235
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Author Information
Nicola Armaroli is Research Director in the Italian National Research Council (CNR) at the University of Bologna, Italy. He obtained in PhD in chemical sciences in 1994 and was post-doc at the Center for Photochemical Sciences at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA. His current research is concerned with the photochemistry and photophysics of coordination compounds, carbon nanostructures and supramolecular materials, with focus on luminescence and photoinduced energy- and electron-transfer. This work is of interest both in fundamental science and technological applications, such as solar energy conversion and lighting devices.
Vincenzo Balzani is Professor Emeritus at the University of Bologna where has been doing research and teaching in chemistry since 1973. He was visiting Professor in Canada, Israel, France and Belgium, headed various scientific committees and institutes and has held over 300 lectures worldwide. Alongside his membership of several editorial boards, Vincenzo Balzani has six books and more than 500 papers to his name. His research interests include photochemistry, photophysics, supramolecular chemistry, electron transfer reactions, molecular-level devices and machines, molecular nanotechnology, and photochemical solar energy conversion.
Nick Serpone is Professor Emeritus and Visiting Professor at the University of Pavia, Italy. As a senior academic and research scientist in organic and photochemistry, program manager and industry consultant with extensive North American and international experience, he has an intimate knowledge of the working relationships between academia, industry and government agencies in various countries. Nick Serpone is a prolific editor and contributor to numerous books and journals, with over 360 papers published in a variety of prestigious journals. Nick Serpone is a frequent Keynote Address Speaker and Invited Plenary Lecturer.
"The book can be read by generalists who want to expand their knowledge of energy and by those concerned with energy policy and energy advocates who want to deal with a leading challenge to the continued existence of the world as it exists today." (Energy Technology, 14 February 2014)
"As a result, the authors provide ammunition for debate, underpin (and unsettle) opinions using facts, and challenge comfortable and popular chains of reasoning." (ETDE Energy Database, 1 December 2013)
"A valuable resource for both serious students of the field and general readers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All students, researchers/faculty, professionals/practitioners, and general audiences. (Choice, 1 November 2013)
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