A comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society throughout history, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel–driven civilization. "I wait for new Smil books the way some people wait for the next 'Star Wars' movie. In his latest book, Energy and Civilization: A History, he goes deep and broad to explain how innovations in humans' ability to turn energy into heat, light, and motion have been a driving force behind our cultural and economic progress over the past 10,000 years. —Bill Gates, Gates Notes, Best Books of the Year Energy is the only universal currency; it is necessary for getting anything done. The conversion of energy on Earth ranges from terra-forming forces of plate tectonics to cumulative erosive effects of raindrops. Life on Earth depends on the photosynthetic conversion of solar energy into plant biomass. Humans have come to rely on many more energy flows—ranging from fossil fuels to photovoltaic generation of electricity—for their civilized existence. In this monumental history, Vaclav Smil provides a comprehensive account of how energy has shaped society, from pre-agricultural foraging societies through today's fossil fuel–driven civilization. Humans are the only species that can systematically harness energies outside their bodies, using the power of their intellect and an enormous variety of artifacts—from the simplest tools to internal combustion engines and nuclear reactors. The epochal transition to fossil fuels affected everything: agriculture, industry, transportation, weapons, communication, economics, urbanization, quality of life, politics, and the environment. Smil describes humanity's energy eras in panoramic and interdisciplinary fashion, offering readers a magisterial overview. This book is an extensively updated and expanded version of Smil's Energy in World History (1994). Smil has incorporated an enormous amount of new material, reflecting the dramatic developments in energy studies over the last two decades and his own research over that time.

The need for clean sources of energy has increased dramatically as the realities of climate change have begun to effect life on earth. As a result, the demand for pioneering businesses in the sustainable energy industry will increase. Entrepreneurship and Business Development in the Renewable Energy Sector is a critical scholarly resource that examines the growing industry of clean energy as an opportunity to create and expand enterprises, as well as discusses the need for entrepreneurial thinking in this new and growing market. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as corporate entrepreneurship, business growth cycles, and photovoltaic energy, this book is geared towards academicians, researchers, and professionals seeking current research on the expanding economic market of clean energy.

The three-volume Proceedings include: (a) national and international hydrogen energy programs; (b) various hydrogen production methods; (c) transmission, storage and distribution of hydrogen; (d) hydrogen-hydride technology; (e) utilization of hydrogen by transportation, industrial, commercial, residential and utility sectors; (f) environmental effects and benefits of hydrogen energy system; (g) economics of hydrogen production, storage, transmission and utilization.

This book serves to define the foundation of the idea of harmonious progress in energy. It clarifies the main problem of the current ecological situation, namely the tendency to treat nature as an inexhaustible pool of natural resources and absorber of harsh outcomes of economic activity. Current definitions of progress in this case are equated to technological progress and economic growth, without considering the boundaries of nature’s capabilities. This book proposes a revolutionary idea: treating nature and its laws with major respect, as the foundation of all forms of life, defining the boundaries of economic activity and use of resources. The avant-garde role of energetics is reflected in this idea by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources and, therefore, implementing the obligations of the Climate Change Program. The text analyses current economic problems and defines a clear action plan for their solution, proposing the use of smart grids, urban energetics programmes, and green settlement movements. It also specifies the utmost importance of forests in the ecological system.

This book is a collection of essays focused on the Gordian knot of our time, the closely coupled problems of energy poverty for billions of humans, and global warming for all humans. The central thesis of the book in that nuclear power is not only the only solution, it is a highly desirable solution, cheaper, safer, less intrusive on nature than all the alternatives.

This thorough and highly relevant volume examines exergy, energy and the environment in the context of energy systems and applications and as a potential tool for design, analysis, optimization. It further considers their role in minimizing and/or eliminating environmental impacts and providing for sustainable development. In this regard, several key topics ranging from the basics of the thermodynamic concepts to advanced exergy analysis techniques in a wide range of applications are covered.