Energy: the solar prospect

Book · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7218953

Hayes, D

About one-fifth of all energy used around the world now comes from solar resources--wind power; water power; biomass; and direct sunlight. According to Mr. Hayes, such renewable energy sources could provide 40 percent of the global energy budget by the year 2000; by 2025, humanity could obtain 75 percent of its energy from solar resources. Such a transition would not be cheap, but Mr. Hayes feels that if this timetable is not met, it will be because of political obstacles, since technology has already been proven for all the options. Transitions must take place, he says, with oil-based societies, foundations anchored in the Middle East and the price of oil out of reach of Third World countries. He then surveys briefly the other energy sources and cites their finiteness, environmental impacts, pointing out especially the hurdles that fusion must cross before the year 2025. Discussed in depth are solar heating and cooling, electricity from the Sun, utilizing the wind and falling water, power from biomass, heat storage in rocks or water, the hydrogen economy, pumped-hydro storage. Finally, energy conservation measures are pointed out and energy-use transitions needed in our buildings environment, transportation systems, and food consumption patterns are discussed, along with decentralized power systems for bridging the gap as we are weaned off oil and natural gas. (MCW)

• OSTI ID: 7218953
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140000 -- Solar Energy
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299001* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Solar-- (1989-)
CONVERSION
DECISION MAKING
ELECTRIC POWER
ENERGY
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SHORTAGES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY STORAGE
GLOBAL ASPECTS
HEATING
HYDROELECTRIC POWER
POWER
POWER GENERATION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOCIAL IMPACT
SOLAR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR HEATING
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
SPACE HEATING
STORAGE
USES