The Biomass assessment handbook: bioenergy for a sustainable environment, ed. by Frank Rosillo-Calle et al.  Earthscan Publications Ltd., 2007.  269p bibl index afp ISBN 1-84407-285-1, $89.95; ISBN 9781844072859, $89.95. Reviewed in 2007jun CHOICE.
44-5663  TP339   MARC

This comprehensive review of the possible biomass contribution to the world’s energy needs is summarized as food, feed, fuel, feedstock, fiber, and fertilizer. All humanity depends on biomass for food and feed for livestock, but over three-quarters of the world’s population get most of their fuel from biomass. Most biofuel energy is wasted in open fires or other inefficient processes. Ethanol and related fuels from biomass are a tiny but growing segment in this global picture. The future is bright for new, sophisticated technologies to capture and effectively utilize biomass. This book is a practical handbook of technical solutions for planners and developers. An example is the use of satellite imaging to assess the health of forests and croplands. Case studies show the way international experts are developing systems that demonstrate optimal results. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels. — J. C. Comer, emeritus, Northern Illinois University 

Biomass to renewable energy processes, ed. by Jay Cheng.  CRC Press, 2010.  505p bibl index afp; ISBN 9781420095173, $99.95. Reviewed in 2010jun CHOICE.
47-5671  TP339  2009-22591 CIP

The increasing competition for energy worldwide, diminishing fossil fuel reserves, geopolitical instability, the expanded use of grain crops for biofuels, and increased food demands challenge the US economy. Bioenergy can be an important resource for replacing imported fossil fuels in the future. A major issue with works addressing the topic of renewable energy is that the field is so fast moving that books tend to become outdated quickly. This volume is a major achievement for its coverage of the production and implementation of biologically based resources, and related principles and technologies. Cheng (North Carolina State Univ.) is an expert in bioprocessing and environmental engineering, but the text of this edited book is not very user-friendly. For all the good information held within, the writing is frequently dense, and the book needs improved editing of text, tables, diagrams, and pictures. A significant portion is redundant (chapters 2, 7, and 8), and the content could have been presented as a combined chapter. Algae, an important source of renewable biofuels, should have had its own chapter. A final chapter on future directions in renewable energy also would have been helpful. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and graduate students. — R. Islam, Ohio State University 

Demirbas, Ayhan.  Biofuels: securing the planet’s future energy needs.  Springer, 2009.  336p bibl index afp; ISBN 9781848820104, $139.00. Reviewed in 2009jun CHOICE.
46-5632  TP360   MARC

Demirbas (Sila Science and Energy, Turkey) has been the most cited author in the field of energy and fuels in the past decade. Here, he distills material from some of the hundreds of papers he has contributed to the field into a detailed and useful reference guide. The text is well written but repetitive, with whole paragraphs occasionally resurfacing. The book is amply and appropriately supplemented with clear figures, helpful flowcharts, chemical equations, and tabular data. Demirbas repeatedly describes biofuels as “potentially inexhaustible.” If our inevitable transition from fossil to renewable fuel sources is like learning to live on a fixed income after burning through a generous endowment, Biofuels offers little discussion of living within our means. Instead, it cheerfully assures us that a regular salary will keep us from going broke. Those seeking a thorough technical overview of the range of feedstocks and technologies available for biofuel production will find this book extremely useful. Those seeking a critical analysis of the sustainability of the various options should look elsewhere (e.g., Biofuels, Solar and Wind as Renewable Energy Systems ed. by David Pimentel, CH, Mar’09, 46-3867) Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. — M. K. Bomford, Kentucky State University 

Demirbas, Ayhan.  Biohydrogen: for future engine fuel demands.  Springer, 2009.  275p bibl index afp; ISBN 9781848825109, $169.00. Reviewed in 2010jan CHOICE.
47-2587  TP248   MARC

This book provides comprehensive discussions on the production, storage, transportation, usage, economy, policy, and environmental impacts of biohydrogen from biomass-based feed stocks. Demirbas (Sila Science and Energy, Turkey) has made a good attempt to address the needs of researchers, engineers, agriculturists, crop cultivators, policy makers, environmentalists, etc. However, the book lacks the necessary details needed for practitioners to design and operate large-scale plants. Similarly, the lack of experimental details would discourage its use by graduate students, research faculty, and others interested in pursuing further research on the topic, or by teaching faculty considering using the work as a textbook. The author seems to have carried out an extensive review of the literature, with numerous references to his own work. Additional reviews of the US literature, especially from power generation industries, the government (Departments of Energy and Agriculture), and academia would have been valuable. This book could best be used as a general reference source for non-engineering students. It can also be valuable for supplementary reading in courses dealing with energy and the environment or alternative fuels. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates, two-year technical program students, and general readers. — A. C. Sheth, emeritus, University of Tennessee Space Institute 

The Hydrogen economy: opportunities and challenges, ed. by Michael Ball and Martin Wietschel.  Cambridge, 2009.  646p bibl index; ISBN 9780521882163, $135.00. Reviewed in 2010may CHOICE.
47-5038  TP359  2009-10742 CIP 

This work methodically and convincingly presents the opportunities and challenges of an economy built on hydrogen and focuses on the growing energy demand for transport services and the environmental advantages of carbonless fuel. The book deftly reviews the surging growth and notable efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells, ranging from William Grove’s first fuel-cell battery in 1839 up to the most recent wave of commercial success. Even 150 years after Edwin Drake successfully drilled for oil in western Pennsylvania in his quest for kerosene to illuminate the night, the editors point out, oil and other fossil fuels still constitute 90 percent of the world’s fuel supply. Although the advent of civilian nuclear power in the UK (and Shippingport, Pennsylvania) in 1957 reduced dependency on fossil fuels, current practices relegate nuclear power to nonrenewable status, and hydrogen remains a renewable giant in terms of abundance and opportunity. Policy makers, technicians, and scientists who learn from and build on this book could lead the world into a sustainable future in a stable environment. Recent accounts of hydrogen-containing space shuttles lifting off to space tell readers that hydrogen is ready for prime time and that the Hindenburg airship is a fading memory. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All libraries. — R. M. Ferguson, emeritus, Eastern Connecticut State University 

Hydrogen fuel: production, transport, and storage, ed. by Ram B. Gupta.  CRC Press, 2009.  611p bibl index afp; ISBN 9781420045758, $129.95. Reviewed in 2009nov CHOICE.
47-1445  TP359  2008-265 CIP

Hydrogen is an important ingredient used in numerous industries including food, pharmaceuticals, chemical/metal processing, petroleum, and electronics. It has been used as fuel for spacecrafts, and it will be an important component of any future alternative fuel mix. This book covers several major topics on hydrogen: production, use, transportation, storage, safety, and environmental issues. Though hydrogen production from hydrocarbons is well developed, it is energy intensive. The use of renewables (nuclear, wind, solar) and thermochemical processing of biomass are new concepts. The work thoroughly addresses these latter technologies and identifies constraints in each. The discussion on the separation and purification of hydrogen is significant. Safe storage and transportation of hydrogen are colossal challenges. Gupta pays due attention to these issues, discussing onboard storage systems for hydrogen, and storage in pressurized and cryogenic tanks and in metal hydrides, carbonaceous materials, and organic chemicals. Addressing the safety and environmental impacts of hydrogen via review of existing and developing codes of standards complements this book’s rich content. As carbonaceous compounds will be important feedstock for hydrogen production, the thorough discussion of CO₂ sequestration technologies presented at the end of the book is excellent for conclusion. In short, a comprehensive work on hydrogen fuel. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections. — J. Tavakoli, Lafayette College 
 
Maugeri, Leonardo.  Beyond the age of oil: the myths, realities, and future of fossil fuels and their alternatives, tr. by Jonathan T. Hine Jr.  English ed., enl. and updated.  Praeger, 2010.  259p index afp; ISBN 9780313381713, $44.95. Reviewed in 2010aug CHOICE.
47-6890  TJ153  2009-48615 CIP

This authoritative, insightful assessment of the basic factors in the world’s energy future is so timely, comprehensive, and well written that it belongs in most academic and public library collections. Maugeri, a strategies and development executive at Italy’s Eni S.p.A., a major international oil and gas company, provides a lively analysis and interpretation of alternative energy sources (nuclear, water, biofuel, wind, solar, and hydrogen) in relation to those of the fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas). This follow-up to the author’s The Age of Oil (CH, Jan’07, 44-2726) is divided into 12 chapters, with 4 chapters focusing on the fossil fuels and 8 chapters on the alternatives. The conclusion is aptly titled “How Can We Escape Our Energy Trap?” The volume is very well footnoted and has a helpful glossary on units and measurements and a thorough index. Valuable for students of political science, economics, science, and technology. Summing Up: Highly recommended Academic and general libraries, all levels. — W. C. Peters, emeritus, University of Arizona 

Natural Renewable Energy Laboratory.  Internet Resource. Reviewed in 2010jun CHOICE.
47-5675
http://www.nrel.gov/ 
[Visited Mar’10]

This is the official Web site of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a laboratory of the US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. NREL’s main focus is research and development in renewable energy and energy efficiency, as well as in technology transfer. The site has an easy-to-navigate design. For example, it contains useful, clearly visible navigation tools such as the search box, a site map, and a link to contact information complete with phone numbers and addresses. The site incorporates Web 2.0 tools including RSS news feeds and the ability to follow the site via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

A series of blue tabs across the top of the screen divides the site into sections: About NREL, Energy Analysis, Science and Technology, Technology Transfer, and Applying Technologies. Under each tab are brief descriptions about NREL’s activities in each area along with links to more detailed information. A section titled Learning about Renewables, with a listing of resources for secondary school and college students, appears after a user clicks on one of the former sections. Related news and events are listed on the sidebar of some pages. The site offers detailed information about NREL’s research areas, such as advanced fuels and vehicles research and geothermal energy. Other useful resources include the Photographic Information eXchange (PIX), GIS maps and data, and a searchable publications database containing various documents (technical reports, conference papers, books, articles, etc.) from 1977 to the present. The NREL Web site is an important resource for anyone doing research or wanting to learn more about renewable energy and energy efficiency. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals; two-year technical program students. — E. A. Roberts, Library of Congress
 
Pahl, Greg.  Biodiesel: growing a new energy economy.  2nd ed.  Chelsea Green, 2008.  368p bibl index afp; ISBN 9781933392967  pbk, $19.95. Reviewed in 2009feb CHOICE.
46-3271  TP359  2008-21200 CIP

In this well-written new edition (1st ed., CH, Jul’05, 42-6526), freelance journalist Pahl, a writer involved in environmental issues for many years, provides a good introduction for readers who are new to the field of biofuel. The book contains four parts: “Biodiesel Basics,” “Biodiesel around the World,” “Biodiesel in the United States,” and “Biodiesel in the Future.” After briefly reviewing issues surrounding petroleum-based fuels, Pahl presents the historical evolution of the diesel engine and biodiesel, starting with the controversial death of Rudolf Diesel, the inventor and promoter of the engine. The following three informative, up-to-date chapters cover most of the technical fundamentals of the diesel engine and biodiesel fuel. Although the four parts can be read independently, one should not skip part 1 before reading the other three sections. As the book seems to address the US audience, part 2 appears unnecessarily long and/or misplaced. Part 3 provides a nice review of the history, development, and standing issues regarding biodiesel in the US. In part 4 the author carefully discusses the pros and cons of this alternative fuel and summarizes the challenges ahead. A list of available important organizations, a glossary, and chapter notes provide valuable resources for readers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers and lower-division undergraduates. — J. Tavakoli, Lafayette College 

Reijnders, Lucas.  Biofuels for road transport: a seed to wheel perspective, by Lucas Reijnders and Mark A. J. Huijbregts.  Springer, 2009.  170p bibl index afp; ISBN 9781848821378, $129.00. Reviewed in 2009aug CHOICE.
46-6832  TP339   MARC

The similarities of the physical/chemical characteristics of biofuels, ethanol and biodiesel in particular, to existing petroleum-based transportation fuels have made them a viable option to substitute or use in mixture with the latter. Using the existing transport fuel infrastructure with minimal adjustment makes biofuels even more attractive as an alternative. This book addresses critical issues related to a biofuel-driven transportation network. Reijnders (biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics, Univ. of Amsterdam, Netherlands) and Huijbregts (environmental science, Radboud Univ. Nijmegen, Netherlands) have done a thorough job explaining the varieties of biofuels (e.g., ethanol, lipid-based, microalgae), including their characteristics and production. They address the “cumulative fossil fuel demand” to obtain biofuel from different sources, and technologies to convert solar energy into transport kilometers. The authors also discuss the effects that a sustainable biofuel-based transportation system could have on natural resources, climate, the environment, and the ecosystem. The book concludes with “Frequently Asked Questions in the Transport Biofuel Debate.” This well-researched work, with an extensive bibliography, will be of interest to all levels of readers and should be on every fuel professional’s bookshelf. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All academic, professional, and two-year technical program readers. — J. Tavakoli, Lafayette College 

Renewable energy from forest resources in the United States, ed. by Barry D. Solomon and Valerie A. Luzadis.  Routledge, 2009.  330p bibl index; ISBN 9780415776004, $170.00. Reviewed in 2009sep CHOICE.
47-0303  HD9502  2008-19429 CIP

Whether energy from forest resources can sustainably reduce America’s carbon footprint without compromising ecosystem health is a question for foresters, engineers, ecologists, economists, and sociologists. Solomon (Michigan Technological Univ.) and Luzadis (State Univ. of New York–ESF) give experts from each of these fields a say in this fascinating and timely addition to the series “Routledge Explorations in Environmental Economics.” Perspectives from more than 30 academic contributors combine to offer a balanced, holistic, and readable overview of the possibilities and challenges associated with increased use of forest biomass for fuel. Apart from a string of erroneous metric conversions in an early presentation of an economic model, the volume is carefully edited. Discussions of history, economics, ecology, energy assessment, and conversion technologies flow logically. A chapter on biodiversity by three of Solomon’s MTU colleagues is particularly illuminating, concluding with the case that the US is–for the first time–discussing the ecological, economic, and social consequences of a major land use change before it happens. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers; upper-division undergraduates through professionals. — M. K. Bomford, Kentucky State University 

Wengenmayr, Roland.  Renewable energy: sustainable energy concepts for the future, ed. by Roland Wengenmayr and Thomas B^D”ührke.  Wiley-VCH, 2008.  118p index; ISBN 9783527408047, $37.50. Reviewed in 2009jan CHOICE.
46-2689  TJ808   MARC

In this era of monster storms producing economic chaos and widespread disasters, it is heartening to know that available and operational technologies exist to capture and utilize energy from the oceans and the atmosphere. Here 19 knowledgeable contributors address the critical objectives of energy production and efficient usage. The authors include pictures, historical accounts, and technical descriptions of Portugal’s four-year-old Archimedes Waveswing (around 1.5 megawatts of power) and the snake-like Pelamis plant (750 kilowatts of power) off the Scottish Orkney Islands. Although ocean waves are virtually inexhaustible sources of energy, the authors point out that large waves require heavy-duty stabilization when the force of such waves is huge. In response to apparent limitations and challenges, Germany has utilized the German Renewable Energy Act (EEG) to encourage innovative investments and assured compensation. This creative book dispenses with formal chapters, but the 20 major categories clearly document innovative and sustainable energy concepts using existing technologies based in Europe. The descriptions are clear, and the combination of pictures and diagrams are relevant and convincing. European leadership in sustainable energy alternatives is apparent. Readers will note that words such as “densifies” are not proper English, but their meanings are easy to interpret within the context. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels. —R. M. Ferguson, emeritus, Eastern Connecticut State University