The Global COE is setting out a zero-emission technology roadmap and is promoting socioeconomic studies of energy, studies of new technologies for renewable energies, and research for advanced nuclear energy. It has also established the Global COE Unit for Energy Science Education to support young researchers as they apply their skills and knowledge and a broad international perspective to respond to issues of energy and the environment in our societies. This book follows on the earlier volumes Zero-Carbon Energy Kyoto 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Since 2008, the Global Center of Excellence (COE) at Kyoto University, Japan, has been engaged in a program called “Energy Science in the Age of Global Warming—Toward a CO2 Zero-Emission Energy System.” Its aim is to establish an international education and research platform to foster educators, researchers, and policy makers who can develop technologies and propose policies for establishing a CO2 zero-emission society no longer dependent on fossil fuels. It is well known that the energy problem cannot simply be labeled a technological one, as it is also deeply involved with social and economic issues. The establishment of a “low-carbon energy science” as an interdisciplinary field integrating social sciences with natural sciences is necessary. The Global COE is setting out a zero-emission technology roadmap and is promoting socioeconomic studies of energy, studies of new technologies for renewable energies, and research for advanced nuclear energy. It has also established the Global COE Unit for Energy Science Education to support young researchers as they apply their skills and knowledge and a broad international perspective to respond to issues of energy and the environment in our societies. Comprising the proceedings of the Third International Symposium of the Global COE Program, this book follows on the earlier volumes Zero-Carbon Energy Kyoto 2009 and 2010, published in March 2010 and February 2011, respectively.

Analyzing the impact and benefits of nuclear energy on environment, this book examines nuclear treaties in relation to environmental protection, highlights legal framework on non-proliferation and denuclearization, explores treaties on nuclear safety and nuclear security, discusses legal regimes on management of nuclear wastes, assesses the third-party liability regime and discusses the role of IAEA, EURATOM and NEA in regulating nuclear energy. It explores nuclear energy in the context of climate change and sustainable development. This book also examines the international legal framework on notification, assistance and emergency preparedness in the event of nuclear accidents, considers legal aspects of decommissioning of nuclear power plants and main legislative trends on nuclear energy use in selected countries. It also addresses regulatory responses to nuclear energy in the wake of the Fukushima power plant nuclear accident in Japan.

Energy risk has reappeared on the corporate and social agenda with a bang and the complexity of the issues has increased many-fold since the days of the last great wave of concern following the oil crises of the 1970s. Steven Fawkes’ Energy Efficiency is a comprehensive guide for managers and policy-makers to the fundamental questions underpinning energy-efficiency and our responses to it: ¢ what do we really mean by energy efficiency? ¢ what is the potential (in different dimensions)? ¢ why it is important? ¢ what management processes lead to optimisation of energy efficiency? ¢ what technologies are useful for improving energy efficiency? ¢ what policies can be used to promote energy efficiency? ¢ how can energy efficiency be financed? ¢ how can energy suppliers engage with energy efficiency? The result is the most comprehensive review to-date of the barriers and opportunities associated with improving energy efficiency. Clearly written and erudite, Steven Fawkes addresses every aspect of energy efficiency, including the huge and vitally important untapped potential offered by effective energy management and the application of existing technology. He also identifies barriers, such as the rebound effect and how they can be mitigated and he provides a comprehensive review of innovative energy efficiency financing options. This book is a ’must read’ for anyone with an interest in energy supply and demand reduction.

Metal Oxide-based Nanofibers and their Applications provides an in-depth overview on developments surrounding the synthesis, characterization properties, and applications achieved by scientific leaders in the area. Sections deal with the theoretical and experimental aspects of the synthesis and methodologies to control microstructure, composition and shape of the nanofibrous metal oxides, review the applications of metal oxide nanofibers in diverse technologies, with special focus on the relation between the structural, morphological and compositional features of the nanofibers, cover applications of metal oxide nanofibers in the fields of sensing (biosensing, gas sensing), and consider biomedical and cleaning technologies. Lastly, a final section covers their application in energy generation and storage technologies (e. g. piezoelectric, solar cells, solid oxide fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and hydrogen storage are reviewed. Reviews electrospinning methods for the synthesis and design of nanocomposites and hybrid metal oxide nanofibers Discusses applications of metal oxide nanofibers in sensing, biomedical fields, cleaning technologies, and energy Emphasizes the structural, morphological and compositional properties of nanofibers and their effect on device performance

The subject of this book is “Biofuel and Bioenergy Technology”. It aims to publish high-quality review and research papers, addressing recent advances in biofuel and bioenergy. State-of-the-art studies of advanced techniques of biorefinery for biofuel production are also included. Research involving experimental studies, recent developments, and novel and emerging technologies in this field are covered. This book contains twenty-seven technical papers which cover diversified biofuel and bioenergy technology-related research that have shown critical results and contributed significant findings to the fields of biomass processing, pyrolysis, bio-oil and its emulsification; transesterification and biodiesel, gasification and syngas, fermentation and biogas/methane, bioethanol and alcohol-based fuels, solid fuel and biochar, and microbial fuel cell and power generation development. The published contents relate to the most important techniques and analyses applied in the biofuel and bioenergy technology.

This book focuses on multi-level actions that have attracted considerable interest and discussion within academia, decision makers and the public as a tool to assess anthropogenic effects of low-carbon energy development. The book begins with an overview of the state of the art policies in emerging economies, which provides a starting point for understanding the concept of low-carbon green growth. A unified framework for structuring, categorizing, and integrating various regional-level actions is established on the basis of a thorough investigation into the theoretical and methodological aspects of non-conventional energy policies that have been widely adopted. Furthermore, the book brings clarity to the relationship between clean energy policies and stakeholder participation, and the significance of coordinated actions at the regional level. The findings provide novel insights and policy tools to help decision-makers in identifying ways to mobilize private investment in low-carbon energy systems.

Low Carbon Development: Key Issues is the first comprehensive textbook to address the interface between international development and climate change in a carbon constrained world. It discusses the key conceptual, empirical and policy-related issues of low carbon development and takes an international and interdisciplinary approach to the subject by drawing on insights from across the natural sciences and social sciences whilst embedding the discussion in a global context. The first part explores the concept of low carbon development and explains the need for low carbon development in a carbon constrained world. The book then discusses the key issues of socio-economic, political and technological nature for low carbon development, exploring topics such as the political economy, social justice, financing and carbon markets, and technologies and innovation for low carbon development. This is followed by key issues for low carbon development in policy and practice, which is presented based on cross-cutting issues such as low carbon energy, forestry, agriculture and transportation. Afterwards, practical case studies are discussed from low carbon development in low income countries in Africa, middle income countries in Asia and Latin America and high income countries in Europe and North America. Written by an international team of leading academics and practitioners in the field of low carbon development, this book is essential reading for students, academics, professionals and policy-makers interested in the fields of low carbon development, climate change mitigation, climate policy, climate change and development, global environmental change, and environment and development.

Nowhere is the connection between society and the environment more evident and potentially more harmful for the future of the world than in Asia. In recent decades, rapid development of Asian countries with very large populations has led to an unprecedented increase in environmental problems such as air and water pollution, solid and hazardous wastes, deforestation, depletion of natural resources and extinction of native species. This handbook provides a comprehensive survey of the cultural, social and policy contexts of environmental change across East Asia. The team of international experts critically examine a wide range of environmental problems related to energy, climate change, air, land, water, fisheries, forests and wildlife. The editors conclude that, with nearly half of the human population of the planet, and several rapidly growing economies, most notably China, Asian societies will determine much of the future of human impacts on the regional and global environments. As climate change-related threats to society increase, the book strongly argues for increased environmental consciousness and action in Asian societies. This handbook is a very valuable companion for students, scholars, policy makers and researchers working on environmental issues in Asia.

This book covers almost all of the diverse aspects of utilizing lignocellulosic biomass for valuable biorefinery product development of chemicals, alternative fuels and energy. The world has shifted towards sustainable development for the generation of energy and industrially valuable chemicals. Biorefinery plays an important role in the integration of conversion process with high-end equipment facilities for the generation of energy, fuels and chemicals. The book is divided into four parts. The first part, "Basic Principles of Biorefinery," covers the concept of biorefinery, its application in industrial bioprocessing, the utilization of biomass for biorefinery application, and its future prospects and economic performance. The second part, "Biorefinery for Production of Chemicals," covers the production of bioactive compounds, gallic acid, C4, C5, and C6 compounds, etc., from a variety of substrates. The third part, "Biorefinery for Production of Alternative Fuel and Energy," covers sustainable production of bioethanol, biodiesel, and biogas from different types of substrates. The last part of this book discusses sequential utilization of wheat straw, material balance, and biorefinery approach. The approaches presented in this book will help readers/users from different areas like process engineering and biochemistry to plan integrated and inventive methods to trim down the expenditure of the industrial manufacture process to accomplish cost-effective feasible products in biorefinery.