Powering Planet Earth: Energy Solutions for the Future - Softcover

"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)

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.