Energy Return On Investment with the concept of EROI. Applications, criticism and implications

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Publisher : GRIN Verlag
ISBN 13 : 3346382192
Total Pages : 26 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (463 download)

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Book Synopsis Energy Return On Investment with the concept of EROI. Applications, criticism and implications by : Anna Szujo

Download or read book Energy Return On Investment with the concept of EROI. Applications, criticism and implications written by Anna Szujo and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2021-04-08 with total page 26 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seminar paper from the year 2016 in the subject Engineering - Power Engineering, grade: 1,0, Technical University of Munich (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering), course: Advanced Seminar on Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems, language: English, abstract: This paper is about the energy return of investment. Energy has a significant impact on economic growth and is a key driver for the wellbeing of a society. The less a society has to spend on energy, the more remains for consumption and discretionary spending that is directly translated into economic growth. This impact can be assessed with the help of the net energy analysis that makes use of the concept of EROI. The Energy Return On Investment is the ratio of the quantity of energy delivered to the quantity of energy consumed in a given process. Thus, this metric serves to measure the accessibility of a resource, meaning that the higher the EROI, the greater the amount of net energy delivered to society in order to support economic growth. This goes hand in hand with the finding that there is a minimum level of EROI that has to be reached, otherwise economic growth cannot be possible. Given that net energy analysis is going to be one of the most fundamental concepts in academic and policy discussion in view of the future of the energy mix there is still a clear need for a standardized and independent framework to calculate EROI.

Energy Return on Investment

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Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319478214
Total Pages : 177 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (194 download)

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Book Synopsis Energy Return on Investment by : Charles A.S. Hall

Download or read book Energy Return on Investment written by Charles A.S. Hall and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-11-29 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This authoritative but highly accessible book presents the reader with a powerful framework for understanding the critical role of the energy return on investment (EROI) in the survival and well-being of individuals, ecosystems, businesses, economies and nations. Growth and development are fundamental and ubiquitous processes at all scales, from individuals to food crops to national economies. While we are all familiar with the concepts of economic growth and living standards as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), we often take for granted the energy use that underpins GDP and our expectations for year-on-year growth. In this book, you will learn how these measures of “progress” are completely dependent on the balance that can be achieved between energy costs (inputs) and gains. Nothing is made or moved without an energy surplus, and it is the EROI of available energy sources more than any other single factor that determines the shape of civilization. Nearly all politics and economics assume that policy and market forces are the levers upon which future outcomes will hinge. However, this book presents many examples of historical and current events that can be explained much more clearly from an energetic perspective. In addition, a future scenario is developed that gives a central place to EROI in assessing the potential of governmental and private initiatives to substitute so-called renewable energy sources for diminishing stocks of fossil fuels. When cheap fossil fuels are no longer available in the abundance needed to mask economic problems and power business as usual, it will be EROI more than the plethora of “green” technologies that creates the boundary conditions for a sustainable future.

Spain’s Photovoltaic Revolution

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Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1441994378
Total Pages : 142 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (419 download)

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Book Synopsis Spain’s Photovoltaic Revolution by : Pedro A. Prieto

Download or read book Spain’s Photovoltaic Revolution written by Pedro A. Prieto and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-01-04 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Energy Return on Energy Invested (EROI or EROEI) is the amount of energy acquired from a particular energy source divided by the energy expended, or invested, in obtaining that energy. EROI is an essential and seemingly simple measure of the usable energy or “energy profit” from the exploitation of an energy source, but it is not so easy to determine all of the energy expenditures that should be included in the calculation. Because EROI values are generally low for renewable energy sources, differences in these estimates can lead to sharply divergent conclusions about the viability of these energy technologies. This book presents the first complete energy analysis of a large-scale, real-world deployment of photovoltaic (PV) collection systems representing 3.5 GW of installed, grid-connected solar plants in Spain. The analysis includes all of the factors that limit and adjust the real electricity output through one full-year cycle, and all of the fossil fuel inputs required to achieve these results. The authors’ comprehensive analysis of energy inputs, which assigns energy cost estimates to all financial expenditures, yields EROI values that are less than half of those claimed by other investigators and by the solar industry. Sensitivity analysis is used to test various assumptions in deriving these EROI estimates. The results imply that the EROI of current, large-scale PV systems may be too low to seamlessly support an energy and economic transition away from fossil fuels. Given the pervasiveness of fossil fuel subsidies in the modern economy, a key conclusion is that all components of the system that brings solar power to the consumer, from manufacturing to product maintenance and life cycle, must be improved in terms of energy efficiency. The materials science of solar conversion efficiency is only one such component. Sunny Spain represented an ideal case study as the country had the highest penetration of solar PV energy at 2.3 percent of total national demand as well as state-of-the-art expertise in solar power including grid management of intermittent, modern renewable systems. This book, written by a uniquely qualified author team consisting of the chief engineer for several major photovoltaic projects in Spain and the world’s leading expert on the concept and application of EROI, provides a comprehensive understanding of the net energy available to society from energy sources in general and from functioning PV installations under real-world conditions in particular. The authors provide critical insight into the capacity of renewable energy sources to fill the foreseeable gap between world energy demand and depletion rates for fossil fuels. · Presents the first comprehensive study of the EROI of large-scale solar PV systems in a developed country · Uses real-world operational data rather than laboratory approximations and extrapolations · Describes the dependence of one alternative energy source on the goods and services of a fossil-fueled economy · Has global implications for the potential of renewable energy sources to replace dwindling reserves of fossil fuels · Written with the first-hand knowledge of the chief, on-site engineer for many solar installations in Spain together with the leader in the development and application of the concept of EROI

Energy Return on Investment

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Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 9783319029450
Total Pages : 120 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (294 download)

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Book Synopsis Energy Return on Investment by : Jessica G. Lambert

Download or read book Energy Return on Investment written by Jessica G. Lambert and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-06-30 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book describes the essential concepts and tools needed to analyze the quantity and quality of energy resources available to both developed and developing nations. Although economists regard energy as just another marketable commodity, the energy return on investment (EROI) underpins all societal functions, and is a major determinant of economic status and the potential of any development scenario. In addition to a summary of the various approaches that have been used to derive EROI, this book will review existing studies as applied to various energy sources, including, where possible, time series analysis. Particularly new is an assessment of some 76 countries with respect to the relation of various energy indices to a number of well-accepted indices of social well-being. The book concludes with policy recommendations as governments and development agencies attempt to wrestle with changing quantity and quality of energy available globally and the resulting economic impacts. Energy Return on Investment is required reading for: Energy analysts and technologists Economists and others who want a better understanding of the ubiquitous role of energy in society National and regional level decision-makers who are concerned with how to generate effective development in a changing world National and International companies working in developing countries Urban and Regional Planners. The report contained herein was commissioned by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and developed by the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF).

Energy and the Wealth of Nations

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Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319662198
Total Pages : 507 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (196 download)

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Book Synopsis Energy and the Wealth of Nations by : Charles A.S. Hall

Download or read book Energy and the Wealth of Nations written by Charles A.S. Hall and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-03-05 with total page 507 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this updated edition of a groundbreaking text, concepts such as energy return on investment (EROI) provide powerful insights into the real balance sheets that drive our “petroleum economy.” Hall and Klitgaard explore the relation between energy and the wealth explosion of the 20th century, and the interaction of internal limits to growth found in the investment process and rising inequality with the biophysical limits posed by finite energy resources. The authors focus attention on the failure of markets to recognize or efficiently allocate diminishing resources, the economic consequences of peak oil, the high cost and relatively low EROI of finding and exploiting new oil fields, including the much ballyhooed shale plays and oil sands, and whether alternative energy technologies such as wind and solar power can meet the minimum EROI requirements needed to run society as we know it. For the past 150 years, economics has been treated as a social science in which economies are modeled as a circular flow of income between producers and consumers. In this “perpetual motion” of interactions between firms that produce and households that consume, little or no accounting is given of the flow of energy and materials from the environment and back again. In the standard economic model, energy and matter are completely recycled in these transactions, and economic activity is seemingly exempt from the Second Law of Thermodynamics. As we enter the second half of the age of oil, when energy supplies and the environmental impacts of energy production and consumption are likely to constrain economic growth, this exemption should be considered illusory at best. This book is an essential read for all scientists and economists who have recognized the urgent need for a more scientific, empirical, and unified approach to economics in an energy-constrained world, and serves as an ideal teaching text for the growing number of courses, such as the authors’ own, on the role of energy in society.

Precious Forests

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Publisher : BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN 13 : 9535121758
Total Pages : 290 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (351 download)

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Book Synopsis Precious Forests by : Miodrag Zlatic

Download or read book Precious Forests written by Miodrag Zlatic and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2015-09-30 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Forests are the dominant terrestrial ecosystem of Earth. They are distributed across the globe. Forests account for 75% of the gross primary productivity of the Earth's biosphere, and contain 80% of the Earth's plant biomass. Human society and forests influence each other in both positive and negative ways. Forests provide ecosystem services to humans. Forests can also impose costs, affect people's health, and interfere with tourist enjoyment. This publication presents reviews and research results on negative and positive human interference on forests, as well as ecology, management, governance, policy and economic issues. The book consists of four sections with 12 chapters derived from around the world.

BioH2 & BioCH4 Through Anaerobic Digestion

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Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 1447164318
Total Pages : 230 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (471 download)

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Book Synopsis BioH2 & BioCH4 Through Anaerobic Digestion by : Bernardo Ruggeri

Download or read book BioH2 & BioCH4 Through Anaerobic Digestion written by Bernardo Ruggeri and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-02-02 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents a Two-Stage Anaerobic Digestion (TSAD) technique for producing hydrogen and methane, following a step-by-step approach in order to guide readers through the experimental verification of the related hypothesis. In the first stage of AD, the reaction conditions are optimized to obtain the maximum amount of hydrogen, while in the second the liquid residue from the first phase is used as a substrate to produce fuel-methane. AD has traditionally been used to reduce the organic content of waste; this results in a biogas that is primarily constituted of CH4 and CO2. Over the last few decades, the conversion of organic matter into hydrogen by means of AD and selecting Hydrogen Producing Bacteria (HPB) has matured into a viable and sustainable technology among the pallet of H2 generation technologies. The combined bio-production of hydrogen and methane from Organic Waste Materials (OWM) is considered to be an ideal way of utilizing waste, and can increase energy efficiency (the substrate Heat Value converted into H2 and CH4 fuel) to roughly 80%, since the energy efficiency of H2-production alone (15%) is not energetically competitive. The two gas streams can be used either separately or in combination (Hytane®), be supplied as civilian gas or used for transportation purposes. All the aspects of this sustainable technology are taken into account, from the basic biochemical implications to engineering aspects, establishing the design criteria and the scale-up procedures for full-scale application. The sustainability of the TSAD method is assessed by applying EROI (Energy Return On Investment) and EPT (Energy Payback Time) criteria, and both the general approach and application to the field of Anaerobic Digestion are illustrated.

Approaches to Determine Minimum Energy Return on Investment (EROI). A Summarization and Evaluation

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9783346530417
Total Pages : 24 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (34 download)

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Book Synopsis Approaches to Determine Minimum Energy Return on Investment (EROI). A Summarization and Evaluation by : Minh Hien Phan

Download or read book Approaches to Determine Minimum Energy Return on Investment (EROI). A Summarization and Evaluation written by Minh Hien Phan and published by . This book was released on 2021-10-05 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seminar paper from the year 2021 in the subject Energy Sciences, grade: 1,3, University of Cologne, language: English, abstract: This paper derives four major approaches from contemporary literature; furthermore, the difference in boundaries, and data requirement might indicate problems that should be subject to future researches. One of the biggest concerns of the contemporary generation is the so-called energy transition, i.e., the transitioning of the energy sector away from fossil fuels (FF) to more sustainable renewable energy (RE). In this regard, current discussions are surrounding the two main topics: firstly, whether and how such a transition can be economically profitable (or even feasible); and secondly, whether it would cause energy scarcity. Many scholars who concern themselves with the latter topic utilize the concept "Energy Return on Investment" (EROI) as a means to quantify the effect of the transition on the abundance of energy. Nevertheless, an EROI value on its own is hardly meaningful (except when it is smaller than 1:1, or higher than 50:1); scholars would be more interested in whether the EROI of RE has met or will meet a threshold value which would indicate its sufficiency to sustain the current economic growth and societal well-being, termed minimum EROI.

Principles of Sustainable Energy Systems, Second Edition

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Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 146655696X
Total Pages : 793 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (665 download)

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Book Synopsis Principles of Sustainable Energy Systems, Second Edition by : Frank Kreith

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.

Energy Return on Investment

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (137 download)

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Book Synopsis Energy Return on Investment by : Rigo Melgar

Download or read book Energy Return on Investment written by Rigo Melgar and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Energy return on investment (EROI) is a biophysical and ecological economics concept that is useful to think about how organisms, ecosystems and societies must obtain enough surplus energy returned from energy gathering activities to live, reproduce, and thrive. EROI can help us overcome the false dualism between nature and society. EROI is a useful metric for economics because it is based on immutable physical laws rather than sometimes arbitrary human preferences. It is essential for assessing useful power, energy trade-offs, efficiencies (and inefficiencies), resource depletion trends, resource quality, and surplus potentials of different fuels and technologies that power, or might power, our socio-economic systems. Apparent inconsistencies in the literature can generally be reduced or eliminated by paying careful attention and explicitly stating boundaries and definitions. We argue that proper use of EROI is critical to understand the interconnections among the environment, energy, and socio-economic development, and inform future energy transitions.

Our Renewable Future

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Publisher : Island Press
ISBN 13 : 1610917790
Total Pages : 244 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (19 download)

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Book Synopsis Our Renewable Future by : Richard Heinberg

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.

Energy Systems Evaluation (Volume 1)

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Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3030675297
Total Pages : 225 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (36 download)

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Book Synopsis Energy Systems Evaluation (Volume 1) by : Jingzheng Ren

Download or read book Energy Systems Evaluation (Volume 1) written by Jingzheng Ren and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-06-01 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents various methods for sustainability assessment of energy systems, under various different conditions and scenarios. It answers the questions of how to measure the sustainability of energy systems by adopting appropriate metrics and methods. This book provides readers with a comprehensive view of the frontiers of sustainability assessment methods for energy system analysis. It presents various methodologies, allowing readers to understand: the complete metrics for sustainability assessment; life cycle thinking for sustainability assessment of energy systems; and the advanced sustainability assessment methods for energy systems. This book is of interest to researchers, engineers, decision makers, and postgraduate students within the field of energy systems, sustainability, and decision analysis.

World Energy Outlook 2013

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Publisher : OCDE
ISBN 13 : 9789264201309
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (13 download)

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Book Synopsis World Energy Outlook 2013 by : International Energy Agency

Download or read book World Energy Outlook 2013 written by International Energy Agency and published by OCDE. This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication provides comprehensive and consistent information on African central government debt statistics for the period 2003-2012. Detailed quantitative information on central government debt instruments is provided for 17 countries to meet the requirements of debt managers, other financial policy makers, and market analysts. A cross country overview on African debt management policies and country policy notes provides background information on debt issuance as well as on the institutional and regulatory framework governing debt management policy.

Upscaling Low-Carbon Energy Resources: Exploring the Material Supply Risk, Environmental Impacts and Response Policies

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Publisher : Frontiers Media SA
ISBN 13 : 2889719839
Total Pages : 110 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (897 download)

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Book Synopsis Upscaling Low-Carbon Energy Resources: Exploring the Material Supply Risk, Environmental Impacts and Response Policies by : Jianliang Wang

Download or read book Upscaling Low-Carbon Energy Resources: Exploring the Material Supply Risk, Environmental Impacts and Response Policies written by Jianliang Wang and published by Frontiers Media SA. This book was released on 2022-01-06 with total page 110 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Economic Superorganism

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Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3030502953
Total Pages : 474 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (35 download)

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Book Synopsis The Economic Superorganism by : Carey W. King

Download or read book The Economic Superorganism written by Carey W. King and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-10-07 with total page 474 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Energy drives the economy, economics informs policy, and policy affects social outcomes. Since the oil crises of the 1970s, pundits have debated the validity of this sequence, but most economists and politicians still ignore it. Thus, they delude the public about the underlying influence of energy costs and constraints on economic policies that address such pressing contemporary issues as income inequality, growth, debt, and climate change. To understand why, Carey King explores the scientific and rhetorical basis of the competing narratives both within and between energy technology and economics. Energy and economic discourse seems to mirror Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion: For every narrative there is an equal and opposite counter-narrative. The competing energy narratives pit "drill, baby, drill!" against renewable technologies such as wind and solar. Both claim to provide secure, reliable, clean, and affordable energy to support economic growth with the most benefit to society, but how? To answer this question, we need to understand the competing economic narratives, techno-optimism and techno-realism. Techno-optimism claims that innovation overcomes any physical resource constraints and enables the social outcomes and economic growth we desire. Techno-realism, in contrast, states that no matter what energy technologies we use, feedbacks from physical growth on a finite planet constrain economic growth and create an uneven distribution of social impacts. In The Economic Superorganism, you will discover stories, data, science, and philosophy to guide you through the arguments from competing narratives on energy, growth, and policy. You will be able to distinguish the technically possible from the socially viable, and understand how our future depends on this distinction.

Heat, Power and Light

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Publisher : Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781782542520
Total Pages : 496 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (425 download)

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Book Synopsis Heat, Power and Light by : Roger Fouquet

Download or read book Heat, Power and Light written by Roger Fouquet and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2008-01-01 with total page 496 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In this book, Roger Fouquet investigates the impacts of technological innovations and economic development over the last thousand years on our ability to provide heat, power, transport and light. Using a unique data set, collected over a decade, the analysis identifies the forces driving revolutions in energy services. The framework, analysis and insights in this book offer an original perspective on future energy markets, transitions to low-carbon economies and strategies for addressing climate change."--BOOK JACKET.

Drilling Down

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Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1441976779
Total Pages : 248 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (419 download)

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Book Synopsis Drilling Down by : Joseph A. Tainter

Download or read book Drilling Down written by Joseph A. Tainter and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2011-09-18 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For more than a century, oil has been the engine of growth for a society that delivers an unprecedented standard of living to many. We now take for granted that economic growth is good, necessary, and even inevitable, but also feel a sense of unease about the simultaneous growth of complexity in the processes and institutions that generate and manage that growth. As societies grow more complex through the bounty of cheap energy, they also confront problems that seem to increase in number and severity. In this era of fossil fuels, cheap energy and increasing complexity have been in a mutually-reinforcing spiral. The more energy we have and the more problems our societies confront, the more we grow complex and require still more energy. How did our demand for energy, our technological prowess, the resulting need for complex problem solving, and the end of easy oil conspire to make the Deepwater Horizon oil spill increasingly likely, if not inevitable? This book explains the real causal factors leading up to the worst environmental catastrophe in U.S. history, a disaster from which it will take decades to recover.