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Book Reviews Introduction to Energy. Resources, Technology, and Society. By Edward S. Cassedy and Peter Z. Grossman. Cambridge University Press: ISBN 0-521-63767. $34.95. New York, 19xx; pp 427 + x. Global Energy Perspectives. Edited by Nebojsa Nakicenovic, Arnulf Grubler, and Alan McDonald. Cambridge University Press: New York 1998; pp 299 + xviii. ISBN Hb 0-52164200-0, $69.95; Pb 0-521-64569-7, $27.95. Together these two books are an excellent introduction to the technology and possibilities of energy production and utilization. The first introduces the reader to the ways in which useful energy is produced and briefly to developing energy technologies that are not yet commercial. The other book projects energy use into the future by developing a set of scenarios using widely varying boundary conditions. Both are written for the well-educated nonspecialist or student who can learn from the first book the ways in which the various technologies produce energy in forms useful to society, their relative efficiencies, costs, advantages, and problems and then, switching books, see projections of how the current mix of technologies will change in the future under several combinations of demand scenarios and boundary conditions. One could base a lovely and useful course on these two books. Written by an engineer and an economist, Introduction to Energy treats both aspects of energy production and use at a level that will stretch many students who shy away from math and science courses. Differential calculus is used early in the section on energy resources, but in such a way that the necessary mathematical concepts can be supplied. The book has three sections: I-Energy resources and technology, IIPower generation: the technology and its effects, and IIIEnergy technology in the future. The first section describes energy resources, the problems of estimating the amount of resources, conversion technologies (and their simplified thermodynamics), and global supply and demand including a very nice section on connections between energy and economic activity. The presentation is balanced and thoughtful and provides a good overview of global energy resources and utilization. The next section is devoted to the technology of power generation from fossil fuels and nuclear fission and to a discussion of electric power economics. The necessary attention is paid to process efficiencies and costs, including societal and environmental. Advantages and problems are presented in a balanced way. Environmental concerns, the need for power, and the emotional response to nuclear power are all discussed in a balanced way that provides no final answers and recognizes implicitly that the mix of power used in a society will be the result of compromise on many issues, not all of them technical. The last section discusses developing energy technologies briefly explaining the technical basis of each and what must be achieved before it becomes competitive. I cannot think of any they missed and their analyses are fair. This is an excellent book covering an enormous and enormously important area. Only a few things could have been done better. The problem of plant siting and its influence on technology choice deserves more attention that it got. For example, technologies with a small footprint have an advantage because they can be used to repower an existing small
site in areas where permission to build a new facility could never be obtained. The Carnot cycle was relegated to an appendix, a reasonable choice because conclusions based on it are more necessary to the book than understanding the cycle. It was not presented very clearly, not as clearly to my eyes as has been done in several introductory physical chemistry texts. Some of the data are a bit older than desirable and may have been missed when the original edition (1990) was updated. These are minor imperfections. The book’s great strengths are appropriate breadth of coverage, intelligent and balanced presentation of controversial issues, sufficient depth of presentation, and respect for the reader’s intelligence. The second book is the result of a 5-year study of energy futures conducted by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and the World Energy Council. This book too has respect for the reader. It does not predict the future. It says, if we decide that we need this (or that) much energy and that these forms of energy will (or will not) be used, then the result will likely look like this. Three “high growth”, one “middle course”, and two “ecologically driven” scenarios are presented. The world is divided into 11 geographic/economic regions and the impact of each scenario on each region is projected. Ample historical data are presented and the projections are detailed and quantitative. By interpellating, the reader can form other qualitative scenarios. All six scenarios are similar until about 2020. The pace of change in energy systems is that slow. They diverge after 2020. The book correctly emphasizes that choices being made now will have an impact on that divergence and as time passes the range of possible choices will decrease. Perhaps the best way to give the flavor of this thought-provoking book is to list the conclusions presented in the opening summary. They are: “World energy needs will increase. Energy intensities will improve significantly. Resource availability will not be a major global constraint. Quality of energy services and forms will increasingly shape future energy systems. Energy end-use patterns will converge, even as energy supply structures diverge. Technological change will be critical for future energy systems. Rates of change in global energy systems will remain slow. Interconnectivity will enhance cooperation, systems flexibility, and resilience. Capital requirements will present major challenges for all energy scenarios. Regional differences will persist in global energy systems. Local environmental impacts will take precedence over global change. Decarbonization will improve the environment at local, regional, and global levels.” If you disagree with any of the conclusions, I urge you to buy the book. If you wish to look beyond your local province of the energy world to see how the big picture is shaping up, both books are recommended. It would be wonderful if someone on the staff of every Member of Parliament or Congressman had read them. They are recommended enthusiastically to undergraduate and graduate students seeking an overview and comparison of the major energy technologies. Many area professionals will also find value in them, although much may be familiar. John Larsen, August 1999 EF990171T
