Do renewable energy sources really provide a realistic alternative to fossil fuels? How much power can be obtained from all the various forms of energy? Can global warming be combated with the energy technologies currently available? Energy Science: Principles, Technologies, and Impacts enables the reader to evaluate the key sources of energy available to us today on the basis of sound, quantitative understanding. Covering renewable, fossil fuel, and nuclear energy sources, the book relates the science behind these sources to the environmental and socioeconomic issues which surround their use to provide a balanced, objective overview. It also explores the practicalities of energy generation, storage, and transmission, to build a complete picture of energy supply, from wind turbines, nuclear reactors, or hydroelectric dams, to our homes. Different energy sources have different social, environmental, and economic impacts. The authors use examples and case studies throughout to help the reader make quantitative estimates and critically assess the information to hand in order to reach a well-rounded, informed view of the relative merits and drawbacks of the energy sources available. The problems with current and future energy use and supply extend globally; Energy Science: Principles, Technologies, and Impacts introduces the potential solutions that science can offer, within a framework that encourages the critical assessment of the pros and cons of each. Online Resource Centre: The Online Resource Centre to accompany Energy Systems features: For students: * Multiple choice questions to check your understanding as you progress through the text For registered adopters of the book: * Figures from the book available to download, to facilitate lecture preparation * Solutions to end of chapter questions, to aid marking and assessment