Interdisciplinary in its approach and global in its perspective, Energy Systems and Sustainability: Power for a Sustainable Future, Second Edition, provides a contemporary exploration of the economic, social, environmental, and policy issues raised by current systems of energy use. Emphasizing the important issue of sustainability, it analyzes the historical evolution of the world's energy systems, the principles underlying their use, and their present status and future prospects.

Beginning with a survey of basic energy concepts, the book describes the magnitude and patterns of human energy needs at various levels.

It moves on to an overview of the fossil and nuclear-fuelled energy that, together with hydroelectric power and traditional biofuels, supply most of the world's commercial energy needs. Sections on economics describe the basic methods through which the monetary costs of energy are calculated, also considering the "external" costs of energy production.

Finally, the book looks at the sustainability issues associated with both fossil- and nuclear-fuel use--and considers the technological advancements and social developments that might solve these problems.

Providing a truly interdisciplinary approach, Energy Systems and Sustainability: Power for a Sustainable Future, Second Edition, is ideal for undergraduate engineering students and undergraduates studying policy making.

FEATURES

* The only text to provide a fresh, contemporary perspective on energy and sustainability for an undergraduate audience

* Provides extensive coverage of both fossil fuels and nuclear power, both in the context of an increasing use of renewable energy

* Engaging boxes throughout the text present clear explanations of key technologies, underlying physics, and other more advanced topics

COMPANION WEBSITE (www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780199593743)

* Resources for Students: Weblinks to sources of further information and up-to-date energy statistics and self-assessment questions linked to topics in the book

* Resources for Instructors (available to adopting instructors): Downloadable figures from the book

About the Author:
Godfrey Boyle is professor of renewable energy and director of the Energy and Environment Research Unit in The Open University's Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology. He has chaired the Open University teams that have produced various Open University courses and study packs on renewable and sustainable energy, most recently 'Energy for a Sustainable Future'. His main research interests are in renewable energy, particularly wind and solar power, energy systems modelling and energy policy.
He is also a visiting professor at The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) University in New Delhi, India, Trustee of the National Energy Foundation in the UK and Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, UK (formerly the Institution of Electrical Engineers).
Dr Bob Everett is lecturer in renewable technology in The Open University's Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology. His background is in electronics, working in the 1970s on computer phototypesetting and a patent for using random dots of ink to print pictures (as used in modern ink jet printers). He has worked on energy issues since 1977, initially on computer modelling of active and passive solar heating, later on the monitoring of large scale housing field trials, leading to an Open University PhD in 1989. Since then Bob has continued research work on combined heat and power systems and office energy use at The Open University, the Martin Centre at Cambridge University, the Building Research Establishment and University College London.

Bob has been involved in the development and teaching of Open University courses on energy and environment issues since 1993. He was contributing author to the first and second editions of Renewable Energy (Oxford University Press, 1996 and 2004) in addition, he was author and editor of the first edition of Energy Systems and Sustainability (Oxford University Press, 2003). He has also contributed chapters to a number of other energy publications
Dr Stephen Peake is senior lecturer in environmental technology at The Open University and fellow at the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, where he leads courses on sustainability and climate leadership. Over the last 19 years, Stephen has worked on climate change in various interesting guises: as a researcher at the University of Cambridge, as a fellow of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London (including a stint at the Shell International Petroleum Company), as a Fonctionnaire at the International Energy Agency within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris, and as a diplomat with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bonn, Germany.
Over the years, he has been called on to give evidence to various national governments and international organisations including: the Fuel Economy Panel of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association in Detroit, USA; the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment; and the UK Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. He is author of seven authored books and numerous articles on energy, transport and climate change.
Dr Janet Ramage is a visiting lecturer at The Open University, and was an editor and contributing author to the first edition of Energy Systems and Sustainability (Oxford University Press, 2003). Her academic background is in physics, and her first post after completing her studies in London was as a lecturer at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Returning to London, she was attracted by the growing interest in energy studies in the late 1970s, and began to develop short courses in this field, including multi-disciplinary 'modules' within a degree program and courses for physics teachers. A sabbatical year spent at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and Harvard led to the publication of Energy, A Guidebook (Oxford University Press, 1983). Intended as an introduction for the general reader, this became popular for sixth form and even undergraduate studies, and a second edition appeared in 1997.
Janet had by then joined the Open University as a member of the team developing teaching materials on renewable energy, which lead to an Open University undergraduate course with the associated text Renewable Energy (Oxford University Press,1996, 2004). Having written a number of the study guides that form part of the course materials for Open University students, she continued in this role when the renewables course was succeeded in 2003 by the present broader course, with the associated publication of the first edition of Energy Systems and Sustainability.