Electricity from Sunlight, 2nd Edition

1Introduction

1.1 Energy and Sustainable Development

This book is written by a chemical engineer and an electronic engineer who believe that continuing to burn fossil fuels for energy is not sustainable and that a transition to renewable energy is feasible. Let us start the discussion by reflecting on what sustainability of certain development is all about. “Sustainable development” is characterized as the “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Now it becomes clear why continuation of using fossil fuels for energy is not sustainable. First, the combustion of fossil fuels results in the release of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other pollutants (NO_x, SO_x, particulates, mercury, and other toxic metals) into the atmosphere. The increased atmospheric concentrations of these pollutants cause a series of environmental impacts, including global warming and respiratory health effects. Second, the rate at which we consume fossil fuels is much higher than the rate at which they are replenished so mankind cannot rely on this source of energy forever.

The main candidates for facing this dual challenge of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and fossil fuel depletion are coal with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), nuclear, and renewable sources of energy. However, safe and economic concepts for carbon sequestration have not been proven; nuclear suffers from high cost, radioactive waste management, fuel availability, ...