The Growing Scarcity of Fossil Fuels

From prehistory until the Industrial Revolution, most energy sources used by humans were localized (i.e., available within 5–10 miles of end users). Energy sources included draft animals, human slaves, and renewable sources such as biomass (wood and wastes), water mills, and wind power. Following the onset of the Industrial Revolution, with advancements in transportation technology and increased rates of deforestation in many regions, societies increasingly relied on long-distance shipments of coal, wood, and eventually oil, natural gas, and electric power. (more…)

Renewable Energy Sources in Europe: Geothermal, Wind Energy, Biomass

In Europe, modern renewable energy sources technologies were explored thoroughly for the first time after the oil embargo/ price crisis of 1973. Notably, market introduction of renewable energy technology started in about 1985, but the renewable energy sources industry has become vital only during the past decade. Accordingly, relevant statistical renewable energy sources data have been systematically compiled only over the past decade, although reliable and consistent statistical renewable energy sources data, collected since 1989, exist for all 15 countries of the European Union and for Western Europe (defined here as the EU-15 plus Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland). (more…)

The Role Of Nuclear Energy In Reducing Security Of Supply Risk

nuclear energy supply
Nuclear energy has some distinct advantages in strengthening the external dimension of energy supply security. These include:

Nuclear power plants produce electricity domestically. Their capital and labor inputs are also provided domestically. With more than 90% of its inputs in terms of value sourced domestically, it can be considered a largely domestic source of energy and electricity.

• Of course, a majority of OECD countries import part or all of their requirements of uranium plutonium. (more…)

Maglev Wind Turbine Levitating

Designers in China have launched the first wind turbine levitating in the world of permanent magnetic levitation (Maglev) in the Wind Power Asia Exhibition 2006.

Considered a key step in the evolution of global wind power technology and a notable advance in independent intellectual property rights in China. The generator was jointly developed by the Institute of Energy Research of Guangzhou in the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Guangzhou Hengyuan Energy Science & Zhongke Technology Co., Ltd. (more…)

Mustard-Based Fuel: Renewable Energy from Mustard Seeds Oil

Mustard and sausages are a couple indestructible material. This dressing made from seeds of Brassica plants is inevitable in most hot dogs, hot dogs, according to the country we are. However, a group of Argentine scientists is to demonstrate that mustard also has other elements function utilities. (more…)

Urban Renewable Energy Technology, Systems, and Industry Development

The aim is to work with cities in advancing renewable energy technologies and systems and to help promote the renewable energy industry in a way that allows it to serve as model for the rest of the national urban system. The emphasis is therefore on market-led approaches of technology system development and deployment, through pricing, investment, electricity purchasing policies, information, model action, and other means. (more…)

Bioenergy from Dedicated Resources (Crops, Biomass Feedstock, Woody Biomass)

The future development of energy crops, to the level at which they would replace residues as the major bioenergy fuel source, will be largely dependent on regional factors such as climate change and local energy requirements and emission factors, which will determine their environmental and financial viability. (more…)

The Future Role for Renewable Energy Foundations

Foundations have made good progress on the energy front, but huge gaps remain. Promising technologies in energy production and use today prove that the prospects for an affluent but low-carbon society are good. But the U.S. and the world economies continue to run primarily on oil and coal. As the largest consumer and producer of energy in the world, the United States has the responsibility to lead the transition to cleaner energy technologies. (more…)

The Economics of Energy Efficiency

economics energy efficiency

Energy efficiency is defined here to mean energy services provided per unit of energy input (for example, gallons of water heated to a specified temperature per British thermal units of natural gas input). Within this framework, energy efficiency is conceived primarily at the disaggregated, product level, rather than at a more aggregated sectoral level. (more…)

Energy Efficiency Gap - Technologies and Usages Perspectives

energy efficiency technologies
Recently, attention to energy efficiency has been gaining momentum. The attention given by policy maker is mainly due to concerns about climate change emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels. Particular attention has been paid on how the role of technological improvements in energy efficiency can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. (more…)

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