Topical Themes in Energy and Resources

This book combines issues several critical ones in the energy field (low-energy technologies, renewable energies such as the hydrogen economy, and geothermal energy).Moving towards a more sustainable world requires a complete revolution in the way we manage energy and resources. However, from an academic perspective, this theme is so broad that most educators and researchers tend to focus on just one aspect, and maintaining the broad viewpoint which is necessary for making strategic judgments becomes difficult. Tohoku University addressed this challenge when developing a new education and training program for environmental leaders and brought together the extensive range of expertise available in specific fields into one special course which forms the basis of this book. Now in one volume, both students and educators can be brought up to date on a wide range of critical issues currently being addressed in the field of energy and resources. Chapters on resources include availability (for instance, rare earth metals), extraction and recycling of metals and plastics, and technological solutions to specific waste-disposal problems. In addition, broader strategic issues such as limits to growth and the interaction between the economic system and environmental issues are addressed. Even though each chapter provides topical data and knowledge from disparate and specialized fields, the book is written at a level that is readily understandable by students from all scientific, engineering, and humanities fields.

InhaltsangabeEnvironmental Leadership Training at Tohoku University.- Introductory Lecture and Course Background.- Limits to Resources, Economic Growth and Happiness.- Fuel Cells and Energy.- New Energy and Supercritical Fluids.- Resource and Energy Use in Production of Food and Agriculture.- Geothermal Energy and Use.- Waste Materials in Construction: Sludge and Recycling.- Recycling of Waste Plastics.- Globalization and the Environment.- Resources and Recycling of Base Metals.- Environmental Strategy, Environment and Development.- Environment and Energy Economics.- Economic Geology of Rare Metals and Rare Earth Elements.- Resource and Environmental Issues in the Steel Industry.- Synthesis and Conclusions.