Powering Planet Earth

Nicola Armaroli got his PhD in chemistry in 1994 from the Uni-versity of Bologna. After post-doctoral work in the U.S. and Italy, in 1997 he joined the Italian National Research Council (CNR), where he became Research Director in 2007. His activity is concerned with the photochemistry and photo-physics of molecules and materials targeted at lighting devices and solar energy conversion. He has published 3 books and over 150 papers and is a consultant on the issues of energy and natural resources. He is chairman of the Working Party on Chemistry and Energy of the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EUCheMS). Vincenzo Balzani is Professor Emeritus at the University of Bologna where has been doing research and teaching in chemistry since 1973. He was visiting Professor in Canada, Israel, France and Belgium, headed various scientific committees and institutes and has held over 300 lectures worldwide. Alongside his membership of several editorial boards, Vincenzo Balzani has six books and more than 500 papers to his name. His research interests include photochemistry, photophysics, supramolecular chemistry, electron transfer reactions, molecular-level devices and machines, molecular nanotechnology, and photochemical solar energy conversion. Nick Serpone is Professor Emeritus and currently a Visiting Professor at University of Pavia, Italy; was also Visiting Professor at Universities of Bologna and Ferrara, EPFL Lausanne, Ecole Centrale in Lyon, and Tokyo University of Science & Technology. He was Program Director at National Science Foundation (USA) and consultant of 3M Company, USA. He has edited over 5 books and published over 400 papers. Research interests focused on photophysics and photo-chemistry of semiconductor metal oxides, photochemistry of sun-screens, heterogeneous photo-catalysis, environmental remedi-ation, and microwave chemistry. He is a Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences (Materials Sciences Division).

Introduction
What is energy?
Yesterday and today
How much energy do we waste?
Energy in the starship's hold
Collateral damage
Energy of the atom
Energy from the Sun
Energy from air, water, and land
Fukushima and the future of nuclear energy
Spaceship Italy
Spaceship Canada
Spaceship USA
Spaceship United Kingdom
Global trends
Scenarios for a possible future
Epilog - 18 myths to undo
Maybe you didn't know
Bibliography
Useful Websites
Bibliographical sources
Analytical index

"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)