Ecological Effects of Electricity Generation, Storage and Use

Paperback
June 2018
9781786392015
More details
  • Publisher
    CABI
  • Published
    21st June 2018
  • ISBN 9781786392015
  • Language English
  • Pages 240 pp.
  • Size 6.75" x 9.5"
  • Images color photos & tables
$49.45

This book reviews the past, present and future generation and use of electricity. While noting the importance of electricity to the well-being of people, it argues that all means of electricity generation have adverse ecological consequences. The ecological effects of all the main forms of electricity generation, storage and transmission are reviewed in 14 chapters. The chapters briefly cover the engineering and physics of each method of electricity generation followed by a description of the different ways in which the technology interacts with the natural world. Finally, sections consider the importance of these impacts and how they can be mitigated or avoided. A final chapter summarizes the issues and emphasizes that the only way to truly minimize the impacts of electricity generation is to minimize our consumption and transmission. Future efforts should continue to focus on increasing the efficiency of light production, refrigeration, electrical appliances and batteries.

Key Features:

- Addresses climate change issues, providing practical and hands on experience from the author and drawing on original case studies
- Discusses the highly topical issue of power generation policy

1. Our Need for Electricity and the Main Energy Sources Available
2. Hydroelectric Generation
3. Tidal Generation
4. Wave Power and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
5. Steam Turbines and Their Cooling Systems
6. Nuclear Generation
7. Coal and Oil-Fired Power Plants
8. Gas-Fired Power Plants
9. Wind Turbines and the Effects of Offshore Piling
10. Solar Power
11. Fuel Cells and Flow Batteries
12. Batteries
13. Biofuels and Waste-Powered Generation
14. Small-Scale and Mobile Electric Generators
15. Ecological Issues Relating to Transmission Lines
16. Geothermal Generation
17. Minimizing Environmental Damage While Generating Electricity Cost-Effectively

Peter Henderson

Peter Henderson is with the Pisces Conservation Ltd and the University of Oxford, UK.