Energy transitions : global and national perspectives / / Vaclav Smil

• Autore: Smil Vaclav
• Pubblicazione: Santa Barbara, Calif. : , : Praeger, an imprint of ABC-CLIO, LLC, , 2017; London : , : Bloomsbury Publishing (UK), , 2024
• Edizione: 2nd ed.
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (297 pages)
• Disciplina: 333.79
• Soggetto topico: Power resources; Renewable energy sources
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• Nota di contenuto: Cover -- Previous works by Vaclav Smil -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Preface to the New Edition -- Introduction: The Book's Raison d'Être -- Chapter 1. Energy Systems: Their Basic Properties -- Resources and Prime Movers -- Conversions and Uses -- Infrastructures and Impacts -- Chapter 2. Energy Transitions: Universal Patterns -- Processes and Paces: Complexities of Energy Transitions -- Grand Fuel Sequence: From Biomass to Coal and Hydrocarbons -- A New Quality: Generation of Electricity -- History of Prime Movers: From Muscles to Machines -- Quantifying the Transitions: Uncertainties and Trends -- Chapter 3. National Transitions: Commonalities and Particularities -- United Kingdom and France: Great European Powers -- Netherlands and Sweden: Very Different Experiences -- United States and Russia: Energy Superpowers -- Japan and China: Asia's Leaders -- Changing Patterns: Commonalities and Exceptions -- Chapter 4. Decarbonization: Progress So Far -- Slow Gains: Relative Global Decarbonization -- Inadequate Shifts: Hydrocarbons and Primary Electricity -- New Renewables: Solar Energy and Wind Electricity -- Modern Biofuels: Electricity and Liquids -- National Trajectories: Aspirations and Accomplishments -- Chapter 5. Looking Ahead: Possibilities and Constraints -- Long-term Forecasts: Past Failures and New Visions -- Climate Change Challenge: How Much More CO2 Can We Emit? -- Indispensable Fossil Fuels: Steel, Cement, Ammonia, and Plastics -- Pace of Transitions: Innovations, Inertia, and Surprises -- Realistic Anticipations: More Than a Great Transition -- Chapter 6. Recapitulations -- Appendices -- References -- Index.
• Sommario/riassunto: Based on the best international and national statistical sources, the second edition of Energy Transitions: Global and National Perspectives supplies an in-depth evaluation of how economies and nations around the world are striving to move away from traditional energy sources, the unfolding decarbonization process, and problems with intermittent energies and national transition plans. It supplies readers with a clear introduction to the basic properties of energy systems and key concepts of their appraisal, puts energy transition patterns in long-term historical perspective, and looks at the energy transition in eight of the world's leading economies. The last chapters focus on the advances in the decarbonization of the global energy supply and consider how the energy transition will continue in the coming decades. This fully updated and substantially expanded edition addresses the many new developments affecting energy supply, such as the recent expansion of hydraulic fracturing, oil price fluctuations, the Fukushima nuclear power plant catastrophe, advances in solar and wind generation, adoption of combined cycle gas turbines, and increased availability of electric cars. The coverage highlights the differences in the pace of transitions in various countries, thereby providing a complete and accurate picture of the current state of energy development in different parts of the world. The book serves as an invaluable resource for students as well as for anyone interested in a realistic appraisal of the current state of energy transitions in various nations and regions and the likely future development of the global energy supply.
• Titolo autorizzato: Energy transitions
• ISBN: 979-84-00-64612-6; 979-82-16-07974-3
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Record Nr.: 9910148688103321
• Lo trovi qui: Univ. Federico II