Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation

Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation
Author: Ottmar Edenhofer
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 1088
Release: 2011-11-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781107607101

This Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report (IPCC-SRREN) assesses the potential role of renewable energy in the mitigation of climate change. It covers the six most important renewable energy sources - bioenergy, solar, geothermal, hydropower, ocean and wind energy - as well as their integration into present and future energy systems. It considers the environmental and social consequences associated with the deployment of these technologies, and presents strategies to overcome technical as well as non-technical obstacles to their application and diffusion. SRREN brings a broad spectrum of technology-specific experts together with scientists studying energy systems as a whole. Prepared following strict IPCC procedures, it presents an impartial assessment of the current state of knowledge: it is policy relevant but not policy prescriptive. SRREN is an invaluable assessment of the potential role of renewable energy for the mitigation of climate change for policymakers, the private sector, and academic researchers.

Framework for Detailed Site-specific Studies of Local Socio-economic Impacts from Energy Development. [Mercer County, North Dakota].

Framework for Detailed Site-specific Studies of Local Socio-economic Impacts from Energy Development. [Mercer County, North Dakota].
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 1976
Genre:
ISBN:

The extraction and/or conversion of energy resources can be expected to proliferate in the immediate future. The socio-economic consequences of the ''boom-town'' phenomena are pervasive; they impact both energy consumers and producers as well as the indigenous and in-migrating populations of the areas exposed to development. While the effects are potentially more severe on the old and new households in the impact area, the consequences of the social and economic disruptions experienced in ''boom towns'' are transmitted to the energy producers in the form of higher costs from the declines in productivity attributable to high labor turnover and ultimately to energy consumers in the form of higher prices. Thus, the problems associated with the socio-economic impacts of energy development are properly the responsibility of officials at the Federal, state, and local levels; the energy industry; and consumer advocacy groups. This report describes an analytic approach that can be used to assess the impacts of energy development in site-specific situations and to prepare recommendations for the mitigation of these impacts. The framework presented enables the user to forecast annual changes in the magnitude and composition of employment and population of the impact area, then evaluate the effects of these changes on the provision of needed services specifically and local quality of life generally over time. Thus, while this approach permits an analysis of future growth due to energy development, its primary concern is to evaluate the site-specific implications of growth and possible strategies for their mitigation. The framework outlined here has been applied to the case of a single coal gasification facility in Mercer County, North Dakota. The results of that study are summarized here to illustrate the nature of the analysis, the types of conclusions, and the variety of mitigating strategies obtainable from the use of this framework.

Our Energy Future

Our Energy Future
Author: Don E. Albrecht
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 187
Release: 2014-07-25
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1317666186

Rapid changes in energy production and consumption are having major socioeconomic implications for the communities of rural America. Technological developments in horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) nuclear energy, biofuels, wind and solar energy have significantly increased domestic energy production and the production of energy from renewable sources has encouraged energy efficiency. Yet, severe concerns persist and policy decisions on energy issues will have profound implications for all Americans and rural communities where consequences are experienced most directly. Thus, the time is appropriate for a careful exploration of the socioeconomic implications of our energy future. The purpose of this book is to present timely and scientifically sound information on energy policy, socioeconomic aspects of energy production and consumption with a focus on rural areas. The book presents the latest research by top scholars with the goal of clarifying options and providing the basis for informed policy decisions.