Based on the Universe of Energy exhibit at Walt Disney's EPCOT Center, discusses the history and the future of energy sources.

Using the principle that extracting energy from the environment always involves some type of impact on the environment, The Future of Energy discusses the sources, technologies, and tradeoffs involved in meeting the world's energy needs. A historical, scientific, and technical background set the stage for discussions on a wide range of energy sources, including conventional fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal, as well as emerging renewable sources like solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuels. Readers will learn that there are no truly "green" energy sources—all energy usage involves some tradeoffs—and will understand these tradeoffs and other issues involved in using each energy source. Each potential energy source includes discussions of tradeoffs in economics, environmental, and policy implications Examples and cases of implementing each technology are included throughout the book Technical discussions are supported with equations, graphs, and tables Includes discussions of carbon capture and sequestration as emerging technologies to manage carbon dioxide emissions

Future Energy will allow us to make reasonable, logical and correct decisions on our future energy as a result of two of the most serious problems that the civilized world has to face; the looming shortage of oil (which supplies most of our transport fuel) and the alarming rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 50 years (resulting from the burning of oil, gas and coal and the loss of forests) that threatens to change the world’s climate through global warming. Future Energy focuses on all the types of energy available to us, taking into account a future involving a reduction in oil and gas production and the rapidly increasing amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. It is unique in the genre of books of similar title in that each chapter has been written by a scientist or engineer who is an expert in his or her field. The book is divided into four sections: • Traditional Fossil Fuel and Nuclear Energy • Renewable Energy • Potentially Important New Types of Energy • New Aspects to Future Energy Usage Each chapter highlights the basic theory and implementation, scope, problems and costs associated with a particular type of energy. The traditional fuels are included because they will be with us for decades to come - but, we hope, in a cleaner form. The renewable energy types includes wind power, wave power, tidal energy, two forms of solar energy, bio-mass, hydroelectricity, geothermal and the hydrogen economy. Potentially important new types of energy include: pebble bed nuclear reactors, nuclear fusion, methane hydrates and recent developments in fuel cells and batteries. - Written by experts in the key future energy disciplines from around the globe - Details of all possible forms of energy that are and will be available globally in the next two decades - Puts each type of available energy into perspective with realistic, future options

'The text provides an interesting history of previous and anticipated accomplishments, ending with a chapter on the relationship of fusion power to nuclear weaponry. They conclude on an optimistic note, well worth being understood by the general public.'CHOICEThe gap between the state of fusion energy research and public understanding is vast. In an entertaining and engaging narrative, this popular science book gives readers the basic tools to understand how fusion works, its potential, and contemporary research problems.Written by two young researchers in the field, The Future of Fusion Energy explains how physical laws and the Earth's energy resources motivate the current fusion program — a program that is approaching a critical point. The world's largest science project and biggest ever fusion reactor, ITER, is nearing completion. Its success could trigger a worldwide race to build a power plant, but failure could delay fusion by decades. To these ends, this book details how ITER's results could be used to design an economically competitive power plant as well as some of the many alternative fusion concepts.

"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.

The Future of Energy: Earth, Wind and Fire by the Editors of Scientific American Since the Industrial Revolution our civilization has depended on fossil fuels to generate energy – first it was coal; then petroleum. But there are two problems: the first is that petroleum isn't an infinite resource; and the second is that burning coal and oil puts billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, trapping heat. Temperatures have risen by about 0.6 degrees Celsius over the last 100 years, which may not sound like much, but even that small increase is showing some large effects. For one, records have been set for the seasonal loss of arctic ice. If business as usual continues, we are looking at a world where sea levels will be high enough to submerge many coastal cities and extreme weather events like 2012's Hurricane Sandy are the new normal. In this eBook, The Future of Energy: Earth, Wind and Fire, we review the energy problem and analyze the options from the mundane to the far out, beginning in Section One with an overview of issues and solutions, including the comprehensive "A Path to Sustainable Energy by 2030" and "7 Radical Energy Solutions." As these authors show, a multitude of possibilities exist. Renewable energy is more than photovoltaic cells and wind turbines – though these are viable options – and subsequent sections look at various sources, including solar power, hydropower, geothermal power, nuclear power and yes, wind power. For example, Section 4's "Can Nuclear Power Compete" examines the possibilities for nuclear rebirth and Section 5's "Turning the Tide" and "Moving Parts" discuss how tides could power coastal cities. Meanwhile we need to power transportation, and Section 7 reviews the search for biofuels that do not negatively impact the environment. Of course, all technologies have drawbacks that must be addressed, and not every idea will succeed. That isn't the point. There's no choice but to change the way we power our lives. The question is how and when. The longer we wait, the more painful the transition will be.

This book provides a concise but rigorous appraisal about the future of nuclear power and the presumed nuclear renaissance. It does so by assessing the technical, economic, environmental, political, and social risks related to all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, from uranium mills and mines to nuclear reactors and spent fuel storage facilities. In each case, the book argues that the costs of nuclear power significantly outweigh its benefits. It concludes by calling for investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency as a better path towards an affordable, secure, and socially acceptable future.The prospect of a global nuclear renaissance could change the way that energy is produced and used the world over. Sovacool takes a hard look at who would benefit — mostly energy companies and manufacturers — and who would suffer — mostly taxpayers, those living near nuclear facilities, and electricity customers. This book is a must-read for anyone even remotely concerned about a sustainable energy future, and also for those with a specific interest in modern nuclear power plants.