Power Generation and the Environment

Energy policy is one of the central questions on the political agenda. The problems involved in satisfying the world's ever-increasing energy needs have been compounded by the realization that increasing use of fossil fuels may damage the environment and cause irreversible climatic changes. The consumption of electricity is likely to grow because of its versatility, cleanliness, and efficiency at the point of use. The authors review the environmental effects of the large-scale generation of electricity. After tracing the reasons for the pattern of generation we have today, they consider generation from fossil fuels, from nuclear energy, and from some of the more promising 'renewable' technologies. The book is aimed primarily at the general reader rather than the technical expert, and the object throughout has been to set out the evidence in sufficient detail for readers to reach their own conclusions. An extensive bibliography is included.