Energy

Energy

The graph plots the per capita average energy consumption rate (for 2006) versus the per capita income for all countries with more than 20 million inhabitants, more than 90% of the world's population. To obtain the yearly energy usage per capita in joules, multiply the rate in kW by 3.15 x 10¹⁰ (Note: for engineers, 1 BTU = 1.055 x 10³ joules). With a population of about 300 million, the US consumed 10¹⁷ BTUs in 2006. The total worldwide energy consumption in 2006 was about 5 x 10¹⁷ BTU. For comparison, the total energy from the Sun reaching the Earth's surface in one year is about 3 x 10²¹ BTUs. Click on the graph to increase its size.

World Energy Usage (2006)
Fossil fuels represent 85% of the total world energy usage.
Click on the chart to increase its size.

Sources of electricity in the U.S. in 2006. Fossil fuel generation (mainly coal) was the largest source.
Click on the chart to increase its size.

General
- International Energy Outlook (DOE report)
- The MIT Energy Initiative
- US Department of Energy
- Energy Information Administration (EIA) (Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government)
- What You Need to Know about Energy (National Academy publication)
- America's Energy Future (National Academy report, 2008)
- Energy conversions and equivalencies from Zombeck's Handbook of Space Astronomy and Astrophysics.
- Breaking the Energy Deadlock-New Technologies for a Secure and Sustainable Energy Economy (A Panel Discussion, 2002; MIT World streaming video)
- Energy for the Coming Decades: Trends and Technologies (Steven E. Koonin, 2005; MIT World streaming video)
- Science and Technology for a Clean Energy Future (MIT Energy Forum, 2006; MIT World streaming video)
- British Petroleum (BP). Statistical reviews: world energy, oil, natural gas, coal including historical data.
- Sustainable Energy without the Hot Air, by David MacKay
  - 10 page synopsis
  - The complete book (50 Mb pdf file)
  - Review
  - Book Web site
Nuclear Energy
- The Future of Nuclear Power (An MIT study, 2003)
- Reading Up on Nuclear Energy (WSJ article, November 17, 2008; lists several on line and published articles - both pro and con)
- Nuclear Power Joint Fact-Finding (A June 2007 report by the Keystone Center, a non-profit organization that brought together a cross section of parties interested in nuclear energy)
- Nuclear Illusion by Amory Lovins and Imram Sheikh in the November 2008 Ambio, the Journal of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
- The Politically Correct Atomic Reactor (Andrew C. Kadak, 2001; MIT World streaming video)
- Nuclear Technology in a Changing World: Have We Reached a Turning Point? (Mohamed ElBaradei, 2003; MIT World streaming video)
- The Future of Nuclear Energy (Moderator: John Durant, Andrew C. Kadak, Allison MacFarlane and Victor Reis, 2007; MIT World streaming video)
- The U.S. Energy Crisis and the Role of New Nuclear Plants (Thomas A. Christopher, 2007; MIT World streaming video)
- Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist Sept/Oct 2008 (Issue devoted to Nuclear Energy)
- Molten Salt Reactors and the Thorium Cycle (University Professor Frank Shu, University of California San Diego)
- World Nuclear Fuel Facilities
Fossil Fuels
- CO₂ Emissions
  - Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Generation of Electric Power in the United States (Department of Energy Report)
  - Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Country (Wikipedia)
- Coal
  - The Future of Coal (An Interdisciplinary MIT Study, 2007)
- Gas
  - The Future of Natural Gas (An Interdisciplinary MIT Study, 2010)
  - Natural Gas (Wikipedia article)
- Oil
  - Oil, Security, Environment, Technology; The Segway Alternative (Ernest J. Moniz and Dean Kamen, 2004; MIT World streaming video)
Biofuels
- The Role of Biomass in America's Energy Future (Lee R. Lynd, 2006; MIT World streaming video)
- Winning the Oil Endgame (Amory Lovins, 2006; MIT World streaming video)
Wind
- Wind Power (Wikipedia article)
- Wind Power in the United States (Wikipedia article)
- Map of Wind Power in the United States (from the Wikipedia article above; click on the map to increase its size.)
- Danish Windpower Organization (Excellent tutorial: "Wind Know-How")
- How Wind Power Works (from howstuffworks.com)
Solar
- Solar Energy (Wikipedia article)
- Solar Energy as a Major Replacement for Fossil Fuel (Roger Angel, 2007; MIT World streaming video)
- Solar Power in the United States (Wikipedia article)
- Map of Solar Power in the United States (from the Wikipedia article above; click on the map to increase its size.)
Geothermal
- Geothermal - An Undervalued Primary U.S. Energy Source (Jefferson W. Tester, 2007; MIT World streaming video)
- Geothermal Power (Wikipedia article)
Tidal
- Tidal Power (Wikipedia article)
Hydroelectric
- Hydroelectricity (Wikipedia article)

* MIT World at http://mitworld.mit.edu/ has many videos of presentations and panel discussions on the topic of energy. Go to this site and use the search term "energy" to find them. We have only given a few examples from this treasure.

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