Product Description
This completely revised and updated edition of the best-selling handbook on conventional and alternative sources of energy includes new material on biofuels, an expanded section on sustainability and sustainable energy, and updated figures and tables throughout. The first edition received tremendous praise – ‘Hugely informative and very clearly written. An outstanding and fair-minded introduction’ – “Future Survey Abstracts”. ‘This is a masterful compendium of curre… More >>
Energy for the 21st Century: A Comprehensive Guide to Conventional and Alternative Sources
Tags: 21st century, alternative sources of energy, compendium, comprehensive guide, sources of energy, survey abstracts, sustainability, sustainable energy
#1 by W Boudville on July 3, 2010 - 1:08 pm
The book is both a history of the main energy sources used globally, and of the prospects for energy generation going forward into this new century. So we get a walkthrough of how OPEC arose, and how the 1973 Yom Kippur war triggered an oil crisis that gave OPEC much power. But after 1979, this diminished for some 20 years.
Other energy sources are studied. Especially coal, which tends to be more evenly distributed around the world than oil. Perhaps more to the point, US and China have ample supplies. Which means that coal is unlikely to diminish in importance.
The most intriguing question posed in the book is the Hubbert hypothesis. Otherwise called the Peak Oil idea. Namely that global oil production has peaked, or will peak soon. To be followed by a gradual but relentless decline. Naturally a disquieting prospect. Especially since China and India (as well as other developing natioons) want to continue to modernise, and will presumably need more oil. Read this part of the book carefully.
Rating: 4 / 5