This book is intended for students, professionals, and anyone seeking a comprehensive, global perspective on energy.
Over the past two centuries, the use of coal, followed by oil and gas, has enabled an unprecedented rise in living standards. In the last fifty years, nuclear energy has provided access to an even more powerful energy source, while more recently there has been renewed interest in renewable energy technologies.
This fully updated edition explores energy sources of the past, present, and future, examining their uses through technological, economic, and environmental lenses. Each energy source is presented with its key advantages and disadvantages, providing a balanced and practical overview.
The book also offers guidance on using energy more efficiently to reduce dependence on increasingly scarce and costly fossil fuels. Numerous tables and figures allow readers to compare data on reserves, consumption, production, and other key energy metrics.
