Powering Planet Earth (eBook)

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).

PREFACE

WHAT IS ENERGY?
Energy and Related Terms
From One Energy Form to Another
Sources of Energy
The Pillars of the Universe
Particles in Motion
Heat (Warmth) - an Exchangeable Energy
You Can't Run Away from Them - the Principles of Thermodynamics
Einstein's Equation: E = mc2
From Kilowatt-hour to the Barrel of Oil
From a Chemical Bond to a Tsunami

YESTERDAY AND TODAY
The Energy Slaves
From Coal to Coal?
Hidden Energy
From Faraday to Blackouts
From Muscle Work to Jet Aircraft
Petroleum to Food
From Fire to Air Conditioning
From Horseback Messengers to E-mails
From Gunpowder to the Atomic Bomb
Emerging Issues

HOW MUCH ENERGY GOES TO WASTE?
The Largest Explosion of All Time
Obese and Miserable
Fruits Out of Season
From Whale Oil to Pollution by Light
At Full Throttle
A Desperate Case - the Transportation System
Let's Get a Move on

ENERGY IN THE SPACESHIP?S HOLD
Crude Oil
Peaking of Oil Production?
Natural Gas
Coal and CO2 Rise
The Most Traded Commodities
The Hidden Treasure
Energy Also Travels
Costly Energy Invoices
Alliances, Tensions, Wars

COLLATERAL DAMAGE
The Planet Overheats
Agreements and Disagreements
Jailing the Offender?
A Subtle Danger
Rain Is No Longer What It Used to be
Financial Compensation
Minimize! Save the Planet

ENERGY FROM THE ATOM
Splitting the Atom
Nuclear Accidents
An Inconvenient Legacy
Where Do We Store Nuclear Wastes?
We'll Settle the Bill Later
Current Nuclear Power Plants
Tomorrow's Nuclear Power Plants (Maybe)
The Harsh Reality of the Marketplace
Solution or Problem?
Nuclear Fusion: if Not Roses . . . Then What?

ENERGY FROM THE SUN
Conversion and Exploitation of Sunlight
From Light to Heat
From Light to Electricity
Concentrating Sunlight
Light to Chemical Energy - Natural Photosynthesis
Light to Chemical Energy - the Sunshine Vitamin
Biomass and Biofuels: Yes, but . . . !
Artificial Photosynthesis
The Hydrogen Myth

ENERGY FROM AIR, WATER, AND LAND
Wind Changes
Wind Farms
Water - between Past and Future
Geothermal Energy
Sea Power

FUKUSHIMA AND THE FUTURE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
What Happened at Fukushima Daiichi?
The Consequences for the Population
A Lesson from the Fukushima Disaster
What Is Today's Cost of Nuclear Energy?
Should Italy Go Back to Nuclear Energy?
The Fate of Nuclear Energy
Global Expansion of Nuclear Power?
Is It Worthwhile to Get Energy Using Technologies Exposed to Great Risks?

ENERGY ITALY
Stop Navigating Blind
Conserve Energy! Where? How?
Italy - a Country with an Abundance of Sunlight
Wind, Geothermal Energy, Biomass
Conservation and Renewables - a Summary

ENERGY CANADA
Primary Energy Resources
Oil Sands or Tar Sands?
Oil Sands and Their Environmental Impact
Water Usage
Natural Gas Usage
Greenhouse Gases
Coal in Canada
Natural Gas
Nuclear Energy and Electricity
Electricity
Renewable Energy - Wind Power
Renewable Energy - Solar Power
Renewable Energy - Biomass Energy
Renewable Energy - Geothermal Energy
Renewable Energy - Sea Power
Canada and Energy - Doing More

ENERGY USA
Primary Energy Resources
Coal - Supply and Demand
Natural Gas - Supply and Demand
Nuclear Power
Historical Notes
Present Situation
Nuclear Renaissance
Water Usage in Nuclear Reactors
Plant Decommissioning
Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy - Wind Power
Renewable Energy - Solar Thermal Power
Renewable Energy - Solar Photovoltaic
Renewable Energy - Geothermal Energy
Renewable Energy - Biomass
Renewable Energy - Biofuels

ENERGY UK
Primary Energy Resources
Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels - Coal
Fossil Fuels - Natural Gas
Nuclear Power
Nuclear Waste Management and Disposal
Windscale Fire and Decommissioning
Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy - Wind Power
Some Historical Notes
Renewable Energy - Solar Power
Renewable Energy - Geothermal Energy
Renewable Energy - Wave and Tidal Power
Renewable Energy - Biofuels
Electricity in the United 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