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Biofuels, Solar and Wind as Renewable Energy Systems

Benefits and Risks

  • Book
  • © 2008

Overview

Editors:
  1. David Pimentel

    1. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA

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  • Stimulates the discussion on the use of biomass for biofuels
  • Contributes to the growing interest in alternative energy sources
  • 20 chapters by worldwide experts in the field illuminate the global discussion

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Table of contents (20 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-XXI
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Renewable and Solar Energy Technologies: Energy and Environmental Issues

    • David Pimentel
    Pages 1-17

  3. Can the Earth Deliver the Biomass-for-Fuel we Demand?

    • Tad W. Patzek
    Pages 19-55

  4. A Review of the Economic Rewards and Risks of Ethanol Production

    • David Swenson
    Pages 57-78

  5. Subsidies to Ethanol in the United States

    • Doug Koplow, Ronald Steenblik
    Pages 79-108

  6. Peak Oil, EROI, Investments and the Economy in an Uncertain Future

    • Charles A. S. Hall, Robert Powers, William Schoenberg
    Pages 109-132

  7. Wind Power: Benefits and Limitations

    • Andrew R.B. Ferguson
    Pages 133-151

  8. Renewable Diesel

    • Robert Rapier
    Pages 153-171

  9. Complex Systems Thinking and Renewable Energy Systems

    • Mario Giampietro, Kozo Mayumi
    Pages 173-213

  10. Sugarcane and Ethanol Production and Carbon Dioxide Balances

    • Marcelo Dias De Oliveira
    Pages 215-230

  11. Biomass Fuel Cycle Boundaries and Parameters: Current Practice and Proposed Methodology

    • Tom Gangwer
    Pages 231-257

  12. Our Food and Fuel Future

    • Edwin Kessler
    Pages 259-294

  13. A Framework for Energy Alternatives: Net Energy, Liebig’s Law and Multi-criteria Analysis

    • Nathan John Hagens, Kenneth Mulder
    Pages 295-319

  14. Bio-Ethanol Production in Brazil

    • Robert M. Boddey, Luis Henrique de B. Soares, Bruno J.R. Alves, Segundo Urquiaga
    Pages 321-356

  15. Ethanol Production: Energy and Economic Issues Related to U.S. and Brazilian Sugarcane

    • David Pimentel, Tad W. Patzek
    Pages 357-371

  16. Ethanol Production Using Corn, Switchgrass and Wood; Biodiesel Production Using Soybean

    • David Pimentel, Tad Patzek
    Pages 373-394

  17. Developing Energy Crops for Thermal Applications: Optimizing Fuel Quality, Energy Security and GHG Mitigation

    • Roger Samson, Claudia Ho Lem, Stephanie Bailey Stamler, Jeroen Dooper
    Pages 395-423

  18. Organic and Sustainable Agriculture and Energy Conservation

    • Tiziano Gomiero, Maurizio G. Paoletti
    Pages 425-464

  19. Biofuel Production in Italy and Europe: Benefits and Costs, in the Light of the Present European Union Biofuel Policy

    • Sergio Ulgiati, Daniela Russi, Marco Raugei
    Pages 465-491

  20. The Power Density of Ethanol from Brazilian Sugarcane

    • Andrew R.B. Ferguson
    Pages 493-498
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Keywords

About this book

The petroleum age began about 150 years ago. Easily available energy has s- ported major advances in agriculture, industry, transportation, and indeed many diverse activities valued by humans. Now world petroleum and natural gas s- plies have peaked and their supplies will slowly decline over the next 40–50 years until depleted. Although small amounts of petroleum and natural gas will remain underground, it will be energetically and economically impossible to extract. In the United States, coal supplies could be available for as long as 40–50 years, depending on how rapidly coal is utilized as a replacement for petroleum and natural gas. Having been comfortable with the security provided by fossil energy, especially petroleum and natural gas, we appear to be slow to recognize the energy crisis in the U. S. and world. Serious energy conservation and research on viable renewable - ergy technologies are needed. Several renewable energy technologies already exist, but sound research is needed to improve their effectiveness and economics. Most of the renewable energy technologies are in uenced by geographic location and face problems of intermittent energy supply and storage. Most renewable technologies require extensive land; a few researchers have even suggested that one-half of all land biomass could be harvested in order to supply the U. S. with 30% of its liquid fuel! Some optimistic investigations of renewable energy have failed to recognize that only 0. 1% of the solar energy is captured annually in the U. S.

Reviews

From the reviews:

"The book dedicates most of its 20 chapters to biofuels … . The test is well referenced … . The collection amasses evidence for one side of the increasingly polarized debate about biofuels. It is an important addition to libraries that include works on biofuels … . Summing Up: Recommended. Professional and academic audiences, upper-division undergraduates and up." (M. K. Bomford, Choice, Vol. 46 (7), March, 2009)

Editors and Affiliations

  • College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA

    David Pimentel

About the editor

David Pimentel is a professor of ecology and agricultural sciences at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-0901. His Ph.D. is from Cornell University. His research spans the fields of energy, ecological and economic aspects of pest control, biological control, biotechnology, sustainable agriculture, land and water conservation, and environmental policy. Pimentel has published more than 600 scientific papers and 25 books and has served on many national and government committees including the National Academy of Sciences; President’s Science Advisory Council; U.S Department of Agriculture; U.S. Department of Energy; U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare; Office of Technology Assessment of the U.S. Congress; and the U.S. State Department.

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