Tomorrow's Energy by Peter Hoffmann

Tomorrow's Energy by Peter Hoffmann

How the use of nonpolluting, zero-emission hydrogen as fuel could be the cornerstone of a new energy economy.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. An invisible, tasteless, colorless gas, it can be converted to nonpolluting, zero-emission, renewable energy. When burned in an internal combustion engine, hydrogen produces mostly harmless water vapor. It performs even better in fuel cells, which can be 2.5 times as efficient as internal-combustion engines. Zero-emission hydrogen does not contribute to CO2-caused global warming. Abundant and renewable, it is unlikely to be subject to geopolitical pressures or scarcity concerns. In this new edition of his pioneering book Tomorrow's Energy, Peter Hoffmann makes the case for hydrogen as the cornerstone of a new energy economy.

Hoffmann covers the major aspects of hydrogen production, storage, transportation, fuel use, and safety. He explains that hydrogen is not an energy source but a carrier, like electricity, and introduces the concept of hydricity, the essential interchangeability of electricity and hydrogen. He brings the hydrogen story up to date, reporting on the latest developments, including new hydrogen and fuel-cell cars from GM, Daimler, BMW, Honda, and Toyota. He describes recent political controversies, including Obama administration Energy Secretary (and Nobel laureate in Physics) Steven Chu's inexplicable dismissal of hydrogen--which puts him at odds with major automakers, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and others.

Our current energy system is a complex infrastructure, and phasing in hydrogen will take effort and money. But if we consider the real costs of fossil fuels--pollution and its effects, international tensions over gas and oil supplies, and climate change--we would be wise to promote its development.

Hoffman, Peter: - Peter Hoffman is a Professional Engineer holding a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University. He was chief engineer with a global engineering firm. Now retired, he investigates the mechanics of reinforced soil as a research professor. Peter is associate director of the Reinforced Soil Research Center at the University of Colorado Denver.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780262516952
ISBN 10	0262516950
Title	Tomorrow's Energy
Author	Peter Hoffmann
Series	Tomorrow's Energy
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	MIT Press Ltd
Year published	2012-02-03
Number of pages	384
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.