Energy Autonomy: The Economic, Social and Technological Case for Renewable Energy

Book Description

* * The new book from the internationally renowned author of The Solar Economy and A Solar Manifesto, and named one of Time Magazine’s "Heroes of the Green Century."

For 200 years industrial civilization has relied on the combustion of abundant and cheap carbon fuels. But continued reliance has lead to perilous consequences. On the one hand, the insecurity of relying on the world’s most unstable region--the Middle East--compounded by the imminence of Peak Oil, growing scarcity, and mounting prices.

Yet there is an answer: to make the transition to renewable sources of energy and to distributed, decentralized energy generation. It is a model that has been proven, technologically, commercially and politically, as Scheer comprehensively demonstrates. He shows that the widely advocated return to nuclear power is compromised and illusory.

The energy autonomy route does not just avoid the harm from following business-as-usual, but also offers enormous additional positive benefits. Whole new industries will be created to stimulate the global economy and two billion people, who don't receive electricity now, will have access to it. The advantages are so clear and so overwhelming that resistance to them needs diagnosis, which Scheer also provides, showing why and how entrenched interests oppose the transition and what must be done to overcome these obstacles.

Customer Reviews:

Energy Autonomy & Gluttony.......2007-05-26

Hermann Scheer's book is not as much about energy autonomy as it is about battling the fossil fuel and nuclear energy industries.
Scheer pays no attention to the past when Germany used little fossil fuels and no nuclear power. He doesn't mention that many poor countries are still as free from fossil fuels as Germany hopes to become years hence.
Nature, the beauty of sunlight, the excitement of towns, buildings and travels as seasons change, these topics don't come up in Energy Autonomy. Does Scheer notice nature, the sun and the seasons? I think he is too absorbed in battle to consider what the battle is for.
Nevertheless, however focused on a grim cloud bank, Scheer is a smart, stalwart solar advocate with a great deal of combat experience. He has grappled with the most powerful and wiley groups who insist on overfeeding us fossil fuels and nuclear power.
I would have read the entire book just to learn what a quango is (a non governmental organization that has become overwhelmingly and permanently dependant on government money), or to read his thoughts on "proactive neutralization".
Give this veteran an iron cross, and a long vacation in a sunny land. On his next campaign the sun will touch him; he will awake from the German (and American) spell and see the goal is not to be rich and fat, Energy Autonomy and Gluttony, but a new civilization.

Scholarly but dry.......2007-04-10

I bought this book after hearing an interview with Mr. Scheer on NPR. I must say the interview was much more interesting that the book proved to be.

Mr. Scheer is very thorough in making his arguments and I sure this is necessary to convince government and industry but it sure makes for dry reading for the average lay person.

Scheer puts renewable and traditional fossil energy in their places.......2007-03-19

Energy Autonomy is a refreshing and thorough look at how the traditional fossil energy industry (oil, natural gas, nuclear), with its finite energy availability and its polluting characteristics, uses Mafia tactics to perpetuate its existence, allthewhile trying to keep renewable energy in a cozy, non-threatening corner. I attended a presentation last month by Dr. Scheer in Toronto, and was impressed by his cogent, well-researched argument in favor of promoting renewable energy. As Dr. Scheer said, the price of fossil energy will only go up, going forward, and renewable energy costs will only go down. Anyone who relies on traditional fossil energy does so at their own peril.
Thanks to this book, I am much more optimistic about the energy future for humanity, although there are huge political barriers to overcome, as the lobbyists working for the oil and nuclear industries will never give up their belittling the potential role of renewable energy, and gun-shy governments are fearful of the consequences of cutting off the huge subsidies to the fossil energy industry.

Strong analysis by a leader who can speak from tangible experience.......2007-03-12

First, why I was compelled to read this book: Spending several months last year in Southern Germany after a 20 year absence, I observed a remarkable shift: unlike the acid-rain torn, brown, industrially wasted place I remembered, the region was greener than I had remembered, decked everywhere with fields of yellow blossoms that I learned were grown for biodiesel. What were mostly concepts of the progressive fringe back home were mainstream realities here, considered normal and desirable even among socio-economic conservative old world businessmen I met--like biodiesel at all the gas stations, solar panels and windmills everywhere. How did all this happen? How did the place get so sensible?
Hermann Scheer is essentially the architect of the shift in Germany--and because of his success, the role model of the planned shift of EU-- toward renewable energy. His latest book is well-written, dense, and compelling. He sums up the major crises arising from dependency on fossil fuels without pulling any punches. He also offers a solution--not one that is simply a theory, an abstract, but one based on policy he has fought for decades to implement and that has begun to be implemented in recent years with great, if hard-won success. He argues that the shift to a 100% renewable energy society is necessary now and possible now. He lays out in detail the historical, present, and probable future obstacles to that happening and calls for a summoning of political and societal courage. He has earned the right--as he has walked the talk.

Understanding Electric Utilities and De-Regulation (Power Engineering) (Power Engineering, 6)

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A very accessible book about the new power industry.

Understanding Electric Utilities and De-Regulation (Power Engineering) (Power Engineering, 6)
Lorrin Philipson , and H. Lee Willis
Manufacturer: Marcel Dekker
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0824719204

Book Description

Provides a thorough review of the past, present, and future of the wholesale and retail electric power industry, including tutorial chapters on electric utility function and structure, electricity and power, the uses of electric power, and more. Provides a simple but complete description of de-regulation and explains the structure of the "de-regulated" electric power industry, including the competitive wholesale and retail levels, the retail energy services sector, and more.

Customer Reviews:

A very accessible book about the new power industry........1998-10-11

Although rather pricey. I thought this book was worth it. It is a very good layman's introduction to the electric power industry, power systems, and electric industry de-regulation. I found it particularly easy to read and the authors manage to make the material interesting and to keep the reading lively. The book appears to be quite objective -- in particular it goes into all the alternatives of the many steps in de-regulation, and reviews all sides of various issues and arguments about electric policy and de-regulation.

Book Description

What do phone rates, frequent flyer programs, and railroad tariffs all have in common? They are all examples of nonlinear pricing. Pricing is nonlinear when it is not strictly proportional to the quantity purchased. The Electric Power Research Institute has commissioned Robert Wilson to review the various facets of nonlinear pricing. The work starts with a general non-mathematical discussion, followed by a more technical presentation intended for readers with a fairly advanced background. Thorough and detailed, this study has ample examples of case studies from a variety of industries.

Customer Reviews:

Whoa, Einstein-dude!.......2002-10-25

This is the worst business book I have ever read. The connection between his hypothesis on pricing and his discourse on science and mathematics is lacking or at best weak. This is truly voodoo-finance at its worst.

Academically oriented........2002-01-02

Managers that have been out of school for two years will benefit more from theor own experiences.

Good text for MBAs to chew on.

Handy compendium.......2001-01-21

This is the most detailed monography on nonlinear pricing that one can get nowadays. Written by one of the most active and innovative theorist the book is filled with the masterly blend of both applications and theoretical models. Accessible to anyone who has a solid grasp on the fundamentals of microeconomic theory. It was written in the beginning of the 90s and since then significant research has been done - including the mechanism design aspect of nonlinear pricing theory. Thus a new, revised edition would be welcome both for researchers and students.

This is really the best and thorough book on the subject. The only wish I could have is the too light and concise treatment of nonlinear pricing in noncompetitive markets that are far from both extrema of monopoly and perfect competition. Nevertheless, an excellent read.

Nonlinear Pricing.......2000-05-01

This is a good book that gives an overview of how to a company can maximize its products/services by establishing a multiple pricing structure for identical products based on what customers they are targetting.

Poverty And The Public Utility: Building Shareholder Value Through Low-income Initiatives

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Poverty And The Public Utility: Building Shareholder Value Through Low-income Initiatives
Kevin Monte De Ramos
Manufacturer: Pennwell Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0878148833

Book Description

The low-income population represents a valuable market segment within the utility service territory. Forty-seven million individuals live near poverty, occupying over 35 million households. Together, these households represent 28% of the $159 billion U.S. home energy market. This book illuminates the interaction between poverty and the public utility. Building upon established approaches, Kevin trips the alarm by asking industry participants to carefully consider fresh prospectives. Social workers, regulators, program managers, corporate executives, and even the general public will find common ground within the content of this work.

Book Description

Energy theft is more common than most think. It costs consumers billions of dollars every year in the United States alone. In his new book Karl Seger explains how a utility can establish a revenue protection program or evaluate and improve an existing one. This how-to book includes a number of appendices with sample web pages, investigative reports, and more. The program will also help identify customer fraud and billing errors. Seger's advice applies to those associated with both large and small utilities.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Utility: Happiness in Philosophical and Economic Thought (St. Andrews Studies in Philosophy & Public Affairs)

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Two scholars tackle "Happiness"

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Utility: Happiness in Philosophical and Economic Thought (St. Andrews Studies in Philosophy & Public Affairs)

Manufacturer: Imprint Academic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1845400526

Book Description

A volume on nature, ingredients, causes and consequences of human happiness by father and son team of Antony and Charles Kenny.

Customer Reviews:

Two scholars tackle "Happiness".......2007-03-17

"Happiness studies" is a new and growing field, but is also currently dominated by pop-psychology and some rather confusing studies based on surveys which try to compare across countries. This book by Anthony and Charles Kenny brings a serious scholarly perspective--actually, two perspectives that work surprisingly well together--to the subject matter. The book is a set of essays, each chapter alternately on the philosophy (written by Anthony, a former master of Balliol College, Oxford) and the economics (written by Charles, a noted economist) of happiness. Their approach implicitly reminds the reader that philosophy and economics used to be one and the same (a commentary in itself on the sometimes sorry effects of growing academic specialization). The book asks essentially two questions: What is happiness all about? And how is it related other things we are supposed to care about, like quality of life or wealth? The two authors weave together history with current debates and new evidence to give a rich account of the state of our understanding. And it's actually very readable, so don't let the imposing academic cover scare you off.

The Virtual Utility: Accounting, Technology & Competitive Aspects of the Emerging Industry (Topics in Regulatory Economics and Policy)

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The Virtual Utility: Accounting, Technology & Competitive Aspects of the Emerging Industry (Topics in Regulatory Economics and Policy)

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0792399021

Book Description

The virtual utility (VU) is a flexible collaboration of independent, market-driven entities that provide efficient energy service demanded by consumers without necessarily owning the corresponding assets. The VU becomes a metaphor for lean, flexible electricity production/delivery and flexible, customer-oriented energy service provision.
Experience in manufacturing suggests that traditional engineering and accounting-based approaches to valuing radical innovations such as the VU are limited in that they fail to consider the full spectrum of benefits that new technologies may yield when fully exploited in a new production process. The purpose of this book is to identify new areas of research by presenting new academic and practitioner research intended to further our understanding of the strategic, technologically-driven issues confronting the electricity production/distribution process.

The Development and Finance of Global Private Power

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The Development and Finance of Global Private Power
M. A. Hines
Manufacturer: Quorum Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1567200710

Book Description

Dr. Hines draws on her own extensive worldwide research and her consultations with major multinational corporations to provide a comprehensive, detailed study of the rationale underlying the emergence of global private power, ways to find opportunities for further development within the global private power business, and alternative methods and techniques for its development and finance. Her book shows that, with assistance from bilateral and multilateral government agencies such as the International Finance Corporation and the various national export-import banks, project debt ratios resonably low. Equity is usually contributed to the project by all the major participants. Global competition for viable power projects is tending to reduce costs and increase plant efficiencies. This work is a major contribution to our understanding of what global power privatization is, where it is being implemented and how it is done, and the various considerations that energy executives and public policymakers worldwide should keep in mind when they seek financing for their private power projects. Global power plant development commonly starts with regional and country risk analysis as the developer views alternative opportunities and compiles a prospectus for potential investors. As the developer analyzes the financial, market, operating, resource, political, and other risks, he or she usually considers possible methods of risk mitigation. With the participation of key host and home country and foreign partners, the developer selects the new location, the type of power plant and necessary equipment for the desired output, the fuel types and sources, the potential customers, the private financing methods, and the possibility of financial guarantees from the host government and bilateral and multilateral organizations. The markets of Asia, Latin America, and Europe present unusually good opportunities at the turn of the new century.

Competitive Electricity Markets And Sustainability

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Competitive Electricity Markets And Sustainability

Manufacturer: Edward Elgar Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1845429214

Book Description

'Pre-reform electricity markets had monopoly generation and transmission companies that were well placed to coordinate investment in generation and transmission, financed by captive customers. Reforms to create competitive electricity markets and regulated transmission grids have transformed the investment problem, raising concerns that the new actors will be unable to deliver timely, coordinated least-cost investments while retaining the virtues of workably competitive markets. This book brings together a distinguished set of experts who set out how a liberalized electricity industry could function, and confront the theory with evidence. The three parts cover investment in generation, in transmission, and how they may be coordinated. Its clarity and coverage make it an essential primer for policymakers, industry investors, and students of this fascinating reform experiment.'
- David Newbery, University of Cambridge, UK

This book responds to the opening up of electricity markets to competition, which has completely changed the nature of power generation. The building of new generation and transmission capacity and the setting of the energy mix between nuclear, gas and renewable resources are mainly left to private initiative and investors.

The authors and the editor of this book explore whether or not market forces offer a sustainable future for electricity generation. They employ economic theory and method to answer questions such as: Will the market be able to ensure adequacy of generation capacity and security of supply? Can price signals from future electricity markets lead to an acceptable level of investment for society? How can market and public intervention combine to deliver the right signal to invest in expanding and reinforcing the grid? How can two complementary investments such as the building of power plants and the expansion of the network be coordinated successfully?

With a focus on the EU and US liberalized electricity markets, these questions, and others, are answered by leading thinkers in the field, and offer a much-needed assessment of the long-term consequences of liberalization.

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