ABSTRACT
Energy exists in many forms and is convertible from one form to another. Energy production mainly involves converting one form of energy to a form that is needed. For example, the chemical energy in fossil fuels such as coal or natural gas can be used in steam power plants to produce electricity, while hydroelectric power is based on the kinetic energy of flowing water. Also, polygeneration is the production of more than one useful form of energy from the same energy source. There are two main types of energy: renewable (solar, hydraulic, wave, ocean, wind, biomass, geothermal, etc.) and nonrenewable (fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, uranium, etc.). The world’s energy demand is expected to rise considerably in the future as the global population rises and developing countries industrialize and raise standards of living.
This chapter examines such technical topics as energy production and conversion, energy conservation and efficiency, energy storage, energy analysis and advanced tools like exergy analysis. Coverage is also provided of broader energy-related topics, such as energy economics, the food energy water nexus, life cycle assessment of energy systems, and energy analysis and sustainability. Case studies are included to illustrate energy issues.
