Contesting The Future Of Nuclear Power: A Critical Global Assessment Of Atomic Energy PDF Download

Author: Benjamin K Sovacool
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Company
ISBN: 9813107979
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 308

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Book Description
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.

Author: Naoto Kan
Publisher: Cornell University Press
ISBN: 1501726951
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 49

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Book Description
In a speech delivered in Japanese at Cornell University, Naoto Kan describes the harrowing days after a cataclysmic earthquake and tsunami led to the meltdown of three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. In vivid language, he tells how he struggled with the possibility that tens of millions of people would need to be evacuated. Cornell Global Perspectives is an imprint of Cornell University’s Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies. The works examine critical global challenges, often from an interdisciplinary perspective, and are intended for a non-specialist audience. The Distinguished Speaker series presents edited transcripts of talks delivered at Cornell, both in the original language and in translation.

Author: Nikolay Belyakov
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0128170123
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 620

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Book Description
Sustainable Power Generation: Current Status, Future Challenges, and Perspectives addresses emerging problems faced by the transition to sustainable electricity generation and combines perspectives of engineering and economics to provide a well-rounded overview. This book features an in-depth discussion of the main aspects of sustainable energy and the infrastructure of existing technologies. It goes on to evaluate natural resources that are sustainable and convenient forms of energy, and finishes with an investigation of the environmental effects of energy systems and power generating systems of the future. Other sections tackle fundamental topics such as thermal power, nuclear energy, bioenergy, hydropower, challenges and risks to sustainable options, and emerging technologies that support global power trends. Sustainable Power Generation explores the future of sustainable electricity generation, highlighting topics such as energy justice, emerging competences, and major transitions that need to be navigated. This is an ideal reference for researchers, engineers, and other technical specialists working in the energy sector, as well as environmental specialists and policy makers.

Author: Reinhard Haas
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3658259876
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 382

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Book Description
This open access book discusses the eroding economics of nuclear power for electricity generation as well as technical, legal, and political acceptance issues. The use of nuclear power for electricity generation is still a heavily disputed issue. Aside from technical risks, safety issues, and the unsolved problem of nuclear waste disposal, the economic performance is currently a major barrier. In recent years, the costs have skyrocketed especially in the European countries and North America. At the same time, the costs of alternatives such as photovoltaics and wind power have significantly decreased.

Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309052327
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 303

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Book Description
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was given a mandate in the 1992 Energy Policy Act (EPACT) to pursue strategies in coal technology that promote a more competitive economy, a cleaner environment, and increased energy security. Coal evaluates DOE's performance and recommends priorities in updating its coal program and responding to EPACT. This volume provides a picture of likely future coal use and associated technology requirements through the year 2040. Based on near-, mid-, and long-term scenarios, the committee presents a framework for DOE to use in identifying R&D strategies and in making detailed assessments of specific programs. Coal offers an overview of coal-related programs and recent budget trends and explores principal issues in future U.S. and foreign coal use. The volume evaluates DOE Fossil Energy R&D programs in such key areas as electric power generation and conversion of coal to clean fuels. Coal will be important to energy policymakers, executives in the power industry and related trade associations, environmental organizations, and researchers.

Author: Jason Parisi
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 1786345447
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 405

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Book Description
'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.

Author: Brian F. Towler
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0128010657
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 389

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Book Description
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

Author: Andy Bowman
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781682831861
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
How one solar power plant might chart a sustainable path forward for enlisting American capitalism in the fight against climate change.

Author: Michael Levi
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199390029
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 267

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Book Description
Looks at the clash between gas/oil proponents and supports of alternative energies and offers a plan for the future that combines the best of both worlds.

Author: Hans B (Teddy) Puttgen
Publisher: World Scientific
ISBN: 9811227314
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 485

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Book Description
Climate change is no longer deniable. Neither is the fact that greenhouse gas emissions due to human activities need to be mitigated. The question is how to rapidly transit to an increasingly low-carbon world while essentially sustaining the quality of life of the fortunate and providing better lives for the less fortunate.The challenge is to decarbonize both energy consumption and production with electricity at the core of energy systems.Perhaps Energia, a fictitious country whose 50 million inhabitants endorse climate change objectives and that embodies the energy mutations proposed by the authors, has the answers. Along with Energia, four families living in Africa, America, Asia and Europe who represent us, the consumer, set the stage for the book's discussions.On the user front, the presentation primarily focuses on energy consumption at home and for transport. On the energy production front, the focus shifts to the integration of renewables with fossil and nuclear energy. The book's coverage includes crucial systemic issues related to energy storage, electric power systems and multi-energy systems. In a dedicated chapter, the authors put forward their energy and environmental public policy observations and proposals, including a carbon fee scheme.Electricity is written for readers interested and concerned by the environmental and energy challenges we face, and who seek to participate, as well-informed citizens, in discussions on future energy-related options. The book provides a balanced, factual and unemotional presentation of readily available energy systems and technologies which, when widely deployed, can contribute, both short and long term, toward a low-carbon and electricity-centered world.