Energy powers our life, and energy consumption correlates well with our standards of living. The developed world has become accustomed to cheap and plentiful supplies. Recently, more of the developing world populations are striving for the same, as well as taking steps toward securing their future needs. Competition over limited supplies of conventional resources is intensifying, and more challenging environmental problems are springing up, especially related to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Strong correlations have been demonstrated between CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and the average global temperature, and predictions indicate that the observed trends over the past century will continue. Given the potential danger of such a scenario, steps should be taken to curb energy-related CO2 emissions, enabled technologically and applied in a timely fashion. These include substantial improvements in energy conversion and utilization efficiencies, carbon capture and sequestration, and expanding the use of nuclear energy and renewable sources.

Introduction

Energy has been regarded as the most challenging need for humanity, and has been ranked highest on the list of priorities and requisites for human welfare. Through rapid industrialization and the implementation of modern economic systems, food production has expanded, at the expense of using more energy in agriculture and food transportation and processing.