Product Description
After WWII, in a memoir entitled "The Gathering Storm," Churchill described the buildup to war in terms that evoke uncomfortable comparisons. Today, the palpable sense of another storm gathering demands attention as the sources of instability, once underestimated, reach the headlines. But something crucially different underlies this new threat, something not seen before.While we have previously faced the growing popularity of utopian, totalitarian ideologies with global aspirations, we had not until now experienceda looming U.S. energy crisis inextricablyintertwined with the threat.In the worst scenario, taking the brunt of this coming storm could result in a global economic, political, social, and ecological disaster. My book, which is the result of a uniquely broad-based, three-year investigation, is built on the premise that the complex threat we face can be mitigated by addressing the energy crisis.Written for the general public and government leaders, it describes how we got to this critical point in our history, what has kept us from effective action, and how we can stop funding our enemies, stop polluting our planet, regain our energy independence, and put Western Civilization on a more secure foundation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A really solid primer on energy & power alternatives
A nice survey for people who don't consider themselves scientists and don't want to get bogged down by the chemistry & electrons of power and energy.

Lots of alternatives discussed, with practical implications and comparative costs analyses included.Early chapters cover the history of how we got to where we are, which is actually pretty useful for picturing out how we might move forward.

A nice wrap-up at the end.

Disappointments:the author refuses to even discuss nuclear, which is a disservice to the rest of the book; so you'll have to find another book to help to understand *that* elephant in the room.The author lets her political leanings color things a bit too much in an early chapter and at the end of the book, which fortunately doesn't impact the value of the information in the bulk of the book.

She's NO Expert
This woman is a phd in Software design - NOT mechanical engineering.I have seen her speak as well.She is nothing more than another lay person (no expert) with an opinion of global warming.This is just a hobby for her and it shows.NO expertise or depth of knowledge in her work.This is just a rehash of silly environmentalist junk.Save the world by using flourescent bulbs and driving a Prius.Whatever!She gave a speech at National Engineers Week and was all but laughed off the stage.Way Way Way out of her league. Her book is something maybe a junior high student or entry level environmentalist might want to read, but don't buy it.

Green me, please!
I found this book entirely readable and very educational. I am a lay person but I know alot about climate change and our country's part in it. This book complimented my knowledge and also stretched my mind into areas I had not focused on before. From the invention of the external combustion engine (steam engines)to the rise of the internal combustion engine and beyond. Also included is an important discussion on the problems solved to make the internal combustion engine the engineering marvel taken for granted by millions. It is no wonder the general public hasn't a clue how truly toxic it is. Klein also takes us from the AC and DC electricity war of the late 1800s to tomorrow's exciting technologies. And does so with 'green' in mind. Political and cultural issues are discussed as they should be, since they are integral to the problem as well as the solution. The future energies discussed will amaze and hopfully push the world to cleaner, peaceful solutions to today's dirty problems. This book belongs in homes and schools and in our country's leaders' hands. Benefits the engineer or the homemaker. Thanks to S.L. Klein for the time and energy put into such a useful book. I am waiting for part 2 with more hope in my heart for a greener tomorrow. ... Read more

Product Description

Given the backdrop of intense interest and widespread discussion on the prospects of a hydrogen energy economy, this book aims to provide an authoritative and up-to-date scientific account of hydrogen generation using solar energy and renewable sources such as water. While the technological and economic aspects of solar hydrogen generation are evolving, the scientific principles underlying various solar-assisted water splitting schemes already have a firm footing. This book aims to expose a broad-based audience to these principles. This book spans the disciplines of solar energy conversion, electrochemistry, photochemistry, photoelectrochemistry, materials chemistry, device physics/engineering, and biology.

Product Description
The Hydrogen Energy Transition addresses the key issues and actions that need to be taken to achieve a changeover to hydrogen power as it relates to vehicles and transportation, and explores whether such a transition is likely, or even possible. Government agencies and leaders in industry recognize the need to utilize hydrogen as an energy source in order to provide cleaner, more efficient, and more reliable energy for the world's economies. This book analyzes this need and presents the most up-to-date government, industry, and academic information analyzing the use of hydrogen energy as an alternative fuel.

With contributions from policy makers and researchers in the government, corporate, academic and public interest sectors, The Hydrogen Energy Transition brings together the viewpoints of professionals involved in all aspects of the hydrogen-concerned community. The text addresses key questions regarding the feasibility of transition to hydrogen fuel as a means of satisfying the world's rapidly growing energy needs. The initiatives set forth in this text will mold the research, development and education efforts for hydrogen that will assist in the rapidly growing transportation needs for automobiles and other vehicles.

* Presentations by the world's leaders in government, industry and academia

* Real-world solutions for the world's current fuel crisis.

* Endorsed by the University of California Transportation Center and Transportation Research Board ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Hydrogen is made from natural gas.Hello?
Another drawback to hydrogen is that fuel cell engines are even more complicated and less developed than internal combustion engines- you would be right back in the same boat- beholden to dealer service and having expensive maintenance bills.
But it's even worse than that-we would have to build a completely new infrastructure to deal with it, AND although the end result of using hydrogen is 0 pollution, current technology uses natural gas to make it(a fossil fuel).So what is the point?
The point is that making hydrogen happen in the transportation sector would be a boon for oil, automotive and large construction companies. Those are very strong lobbies and they are good at finding "experts" to talk up their product (and write negative stories about alternatives). So that's why you keep hearing about it so much, but it's not a good deal at all. We need to expose this deception.
Sustainably derived Biofuels and Electric cars (initially hybrids until battery technology improves) make much more sense for the people.

These "Experts" are confused
"Government agencies and leaders in industry recognize the need to utilize hydrogen as an energy source..."

This is from people who are supposed to know what they are talking about? Hydrogen is not an energy source at all. It takes energy to make hydrogen, much more than what you can ever get back with a fuel cell. Hydrogen is an energy carrier, and a very inefficient one at that.

Fail. Do not waste your money.

Have We Passed Go in Hydrogen Energy for Transport?
The book is a collection of papers from the 2003 IX th Biennial Asilomer Conference, (plus two papers added after) on transportation and energy. It represents the very leading edge of debate and discussion on the petroleum-hydrogen transition and is, in my view, essential and useful reading, and a milestone reference work on the current `state of play'. By having contributions from a diverse range of sectors, the collection has a unique combination of those `for' and those `not-necessarily-against' hydrogen in energy systems and transportation. It is a useful and, by no means one sided, look at the key issues that are and need to be addressed. Some of the more provocative contributions are from those who seriously question whether we have been cajoled into a solution (hydrogen) which could be better dealt with by other means.

Daniel Sperling's introduction highlights key `drivers' of the progress to sustainable energy as increasing carbon dioxide emissions, the depletion of existing oil resources and persistent air pollution. The hindrances to progress are the commitment to the status quo by the automotive and energy industries and policy environments that unwittingly discourage significant change.

As such, the volume is not so much about the challenges to be overcome in making the transition to hydrogen energy, but more with the entire transformation of the distributed energy system of the entire globe and its adaptation to a new form over the next 70-90 years. Each of the diverse contributions looks at different aspects of the transition from coal (electricity) and oil (transportation) to both distributed hydrogen (electricity) and fuel cell power (transportation) systems.

David Scott examines the contrast between distributed electricity systems and a similar network for gaseous hydrogen. While his broad analysis of the long term transition to the hydrogen age is compelling, one kept asking where were the holdups to this gradual transition and how will we overcome them? Kenneth Kurani and others examines the future for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and suggests that, rather than just being a question of changing the fuel type and reducing the running costs, the long term future for such vehicles will be determined by the fusing of several functions into a `mobility-information' platform.Only by doing so will the underlying basic needs be met as well as those of environmental protection and reduced use of fossil fuels.

Taiyo Kawai examines the challenge to build commercial fuel cell hybrid vehicles, and he concludes that the greatest challenge will not be the development of vehicle technology, which is readily adaptable, but rather the cost and development of hydrogen infrastructure. Joan Ogden follows the same line and asks the question: what is the best production and distribution pathway? The answer, she suggests is that it will depend upon both the geographic aspects of hydrogen demand, interdependencies with other energy systems, as well as the severe competition which fuel celled vehicles will face from traditional automobile technologies.

Richard Doctor and John Molburg plea for greater generation of hydrogen from coal in addition to the current use of reformation from natural gas. The high volume of CO2 generated in the process can be geosequestrated but public acceptance and costs are key uncertainties.David Bodde looks at the uncertainties of technology in the transition to hydrogen and suggests that policy can only `guide' in a very general sense; it can't `pick winners'. He sees the nurturing of entrepreneurial activity and private investment in the hydrogen related business as the key role for government.

Chip Schroeder (Proton Energy Systems Inc.) advocates the electrolysis of hydrogen from water as the only practical and sustainable solution for hydrogen fuel generation. But he also recognizes the practical limitations facing his company in developing proton exchange membrane electrolyzers; he sees niche markets with high value revenue generation as being the key to use of such technologies today. He sees no commercial sense in direct competition with established technologies who hold all the market advantages.

Steve Chalk and Lauren Inouye see US government R&D as essential to supporting the technical and economic feasibility of hydrogen power and fuel cells; but it also will need to develop codes and standards, and build human infrastructure necessary to ensure hydrogen safety. James Boyd,indiscussing California's experience, asks whether we have learnt enough before embarking upon pathways which will not necessarily deliver what we seek; he sees an absolute necessity in not picking `winners and losers' in the process. A similar answer seems to apply to the European Union approach described by Barend van Engelenburg.

Jerry McNutt and David Rogers look at the lessons learnt from 15 years of alternative fuel programs and the major barriers which hydrogen will also face; lack of refueling infrastructure, high cost, conversion costs, market barriers, safety and reliability and vehicle driving range. They see no easy transition and infrastructure development as the major limiting factor. Bernard Robertson and Loren Beard see similar issues arising as result of DamlierChrysler's experiences with alternative fuel vehicles. Paul Leiby and Jonathan Rubin suggest that market barriers to hydrogen are substantial but that the world market price for oil will be a key `driver'; similarly by having the US sign the Kyoto protocol would have significant impacts and allow the alternative fuel and fuel celled vehicles to be rapidly competitive.

John DeCicco suggests the focus on hydrogen is premature at best, as the technology is not mature enough to justify mandated changes ahead of maturing the policy debate over air quality, global warming and energy security. Paul MacCready likewise suggests that the case for hydrogen fuel may be premature as the development of lithium battery technology has made it a viable source of propulsion energy for a range of mobile sources.

Daniel Sperling and James Cannon summarize the volume and point to the precarious situation which hydrogen based fuel systems find themselves; poorly supported and lacking the essential backing of strict air quality standards, the Kyoto protocols (in the US at least), or broad public support for global warming measures. Most of the short-term and intermediate gains which are desired on these issues he sees as being better provided by hybrid electric vehicles, cleaner combustion engines and cleaner fuels. He suggests that rather than mimicking existing energy distribution systems it may be that the only viable development of hydrogen fuels will be in the form of dispersed and small hydrogen refueling appliances at residences.

I found the volume to be a good summary of the current state of play that is neither too technical nor too simple in its treatment. It provides a useful insight into issues related to the hydrogen transition as well as the factors that are limiting to its wide adoption and development. Suitable for senior undergraduate as well as graduate standards, I recommend the volume as a topical collection of issues and debate which fellow `students' of the global energy scene will find both informative and thought provoking.

(Dr) Ian Lavering
Adjunct Professor
MBT Program UNSW
... Read more

Product Description
Discusses the pros and cons of using hydrogen power to help fight air pollution and meet our growing demand for electricity. ... Read more

Product Description

This book fills the need for a practical reference for all scientists and graduate students who are seeking to define a mathematical model for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) simulation. Structured in two parts, part one presents the basic theory, and the general equations describing SOFC operation phenomena. Part two deals with the application of the theory to practical examples, where different SOFC geometries, configurations, and different phenomena are analyzed in detail.

Product Description
There are few industry sectors in the world today with more potential than renewable and hydrogen energy. Clean, green and renewable energy technologies are receiving immense emphasis from investors, environmentalists, governments and major corporations. Today's high prices for crude oil, coal and natural gas will increase the demand for renewables of all types. A wide variety of technologies are being researched, developed and implemented on a global basis, from Stirling engines to wind power, from advanced nuclear plants to geothermal and fuel cells. Our analysis also includes tar sands (oil sands), oil shale, fuel cells, clean coal, distributed power, energy storage, biofuels and much more. You'll find a complete overview, industry analysis and market research report in one superb, value-priced package. It contains thousands of contacts for business and industry leaders, industry associations, Internet sites and other resources. This book also includes statistical tables, an industry glossary and thorough indexes. The corporate profiles section of the book includes our proprietary, in-depth profiles of the 250 leading companies in all facets of the alternative, renewable and hydrogen energy business. Here you'll find complete profiles of the hot companies that are making news today, the largest, most successful corporations in the business. Purchasers of either the book or PDF version can receive a free copy of the company profiles database on CD-ROM, enabling key word search and export of key information, addresses, phone numbers and executive names with titles for every company profiled. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's large-scale digitization efforts. The Library seeks to preserve the intellectual content of items in a manner that facilitates and promotes a variety of uses. The digital reformatting process results in an electronic version of the original text that can be both accessed online and used to create new print copies. The Library also understands and values the usefulness of print and makes reprints available to the public whenever possible. This book and hundreds of thousands of others can be found in the HathiTrust, an archive of the digitized collections of many great research libraries. For access to the University of Michigan Library's digital collections, please see http://www.lib.umich.edu and for information about the HathiTrust, please visit http://www.hathitrust.org ... Read more

Product Description
In his 2003 State of the Union address, President Bush announced a hydrogen initiative to reverse America's growing dependence on foreign oil and improve the environment. The President urged the development of commercially viable fuel cells for cars, truck homes, and businesses. A transition to hydrogen as a major fuel in the next 50 years could fundamentally transform the U.S. energy system, creating opportunities to increase energy security through the use of a variety of domestic energy resources for hydrogen production while reducing environmental impacts, including atmospheric CO2 emissions and criteria pollutants. This book provides information on the Department of Energy's (DOE) hydrogen program which has made important progress in all research and development areas, including both fundamental and applied science.Specifically, the DOE has reduced the cost of producing hydrogen from natural gas, an important source of hydrogen through the next 20 years, developed a sophisticated model to identify and optimise major elements of a projected hydrogen delivery infrastructure, increased the storage capacity of hydrogen by 50 per cent, and reduced the cost and improved the durability of fuel cells. However, some of the most difficult technical challenges lie ahead, including reducing the cost of delivering hydrogen to consumers, and further reducing the cost and improving the durability of fuel cells. The difficulty of overcoming these technical challenges, as well as hydrogen research and development budget constraints, has led the DOE to push back some of its interim target dates. ... Read more

Product Description
Achieving a successful transition to hydrogen-powered vehicles in the U.S. automotive market will require strong and sustained commitment by hydrogen producers, vehicle manufacturers, transporters and retailers, consumers and governments. The interaction of these agents in the marketplace will determine the real costs and benefits of early market transformation policies, and ultimately the success of the transition itself. Furthermore, the transition to hydrogen-powered transportation faces imposing economic barriers. The authors of this book analyse the hydrogen infrastructure analysis and deployment scenarios, policy options for supporting hydrogen energy infrastructure and vehicle developments during the transition to they hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and the costs of implementing selected policy options to encourage the transition to hydrogen. This book consists of public documents which have been located, gathered, combined, reformatted, and enhanced with a subject index, selectively edited and bound to provide easy access. ... Read more

Product Description
There are few industry sectors in the world today with more potential than renewable and hydrogen energy. Clean, green and renewable energy technologies are receiving immense emphasis from investors, environmentalists, governments and major corporations. Today's high prices for crude oil, coal and natural gas will increase the demand for renewables of all types. A wide variety of technologies are being researched, developed and implemented on a global basis, from Stirling engines to wind power, from advanced nuclear plants to geothermal and fuel cells. Our analysis also includes tar sands (oil sands), oil shale, fuel cells, clean coal, distributed power, energy storage, biofuels and much more. You'll find a complete overview, industry analysis and market research report in one superb, value-priced package. It contains thousands of contacts for business and industry leaders, industry associations, Internet sites and other resources. This book also includes statistical tables, an industry glossary and thorough indexes. The corporate profiles section of the book includes our proprietary, in-depth profiles of the 250 leading companies in all facets of the alternative, renewable and hydrogen energy business. Here you'll find complete profiles of the hot companies that are making news today, the largest, most successful corporations in the business. Purchasers of either the book or PDF version can receive a free copy of the company profiles database on CD-ROM, enabling key word search and export of key information, addresses, phone numbers and executive names with titles for every company profiled. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Misleading title!
Don't waste your money on this book if you are looking to find a job in or learn about companies in alternative, sustainable, or renewable energy! It just lists large companies that might dabble a little bit in alternative energy. Exxon is listed, for example. As is Ford, GM, Chryster, etc.

Totally not worth it! ... Read more

Product Description
In the near future the world will need to convert to asuitable, clean energy supply: one that will meet the demands of anincreasing population while giving few environmental problems. Onesuch possible supply is hydrogen. Hydrogen Energy Systemdescribes the present status of hydrogen as an energy supply, as wellas its prospect in the years to come. It covers the transition tohydrogen-based, sustainable energy systems, the technology of hydrogenproduction, its storage and transport, and current and future hydrogenutilisation. Economic analyses of the hydrogen energy system, togetherwith case studies, are also presented. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An excelent piece of research and foresight on future engery
Although this book is scientificly sound, it is easy to read and understand. The facts and figueres as well as the options we are facing on future engergy systems are really mind-opening. A must for everyone, who cares about the future. ... Read more

Product Description

Energy and environmental security are truly major problems facing our global economy. Fossil fuels, particularly crude oil, are confined to a few regions of the world and the continuity of supply is governed by dynamic political, economic and ecological factors. These factors conspire to force volatile, often high fossil fuel prices while, at the same time, our environmental policies are demanding a reduction in greenhouse gases and toxic emissions. Thus a coherent energy strategy is required, addressing both energy supply and demand, taking account of the whole energy lifecycle including fuel production, transmission and distribution, and energy conversion, and the impact on energy equipment manufacturers and the end-users of energy systems. In the short term, our aim should be to achieve higher energy efficiency and increased energy supply from local energy sources, in particular renewable energy sources. In the long term, a hydrogen-based economy will have an impact on all these sectors. In view of technological developments, vehicle and component manufacturers, transport providers, the energy industry, and even householders are seriously looking at alternative energy sources and fuels and more efficient and cleaner technologies – especially hydrogen and hydrogen-powered fuel cells.