Biomass Energies: Resources, Links, Constraints pdf

Vaclav Smil è attualmente Distinguished Professor presso la Facoltà di Ambiente dell'Università di Manitoba a Winnipeg, Canada. Ha completato i suoi studi universitari presso la Facoltà di Scienze Naturali della Carolinum University di Praga e presso il College of Earth and Mineral Sciences della Pennsylvania State University. I suoi interessi di ricerca interdisciplinari abbracciano un'ampia area di studi sull'energia, sull'ambiente, sull'alimentazione, sulla popolazione, sull'economia, sulla storia e sulle politiche pubbliche, e ha anche applicato questi approcci agli affari energetici, alimentari e ambientali della Cina.

È membro della Royal Society of Canada (Science Academy) e il primo non americano a ricevere l'American Association for the Advancement of Science Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology. È stato relatore invitato in più di 250 conferenze e workshop negli Stati Uniti, Canada, Europa, Asia e Africa, ha tenuto conferenze in molte università del Nord America, Europa e Asia orientale e ha lavorato come consulente per molti Stati Uniti, UE e istituzioni internazionali. Sua moglie Eva è un medico e suo figlio David è un chimico sintetico organico.

Biomass Energies: Resources, Links, Constraints pdf da Vaclav Smil

tions is not possible without first putting the problem into a wider con­ text. Consequently, before proceeding with detailed critical topical cov­ erage of individual biomass energy sources, uses, and effects, I will extend this preface with a few pages of rather personal reflections (I will use the same device in closing the book: after providing concise topical summaries in Chapter 8, I will conclude with some essayistic musings on renewable energetics, plants, people, and a scientist's responsibility). Interest in biomass energies is just a part of a broader global trend toward renewable energetics, a trend which has evolved speedily after the crude oil price escalation started in 1973. Yet one must be reminded that for the rich countries fossil fuels are, and for a long period shall remain, the foundation of an affluent civilization, while throughout the poor world the reliance of most people on biomass energies for everyday subsistence has brought many damaging environmental and social ef­ fects; that the reality of sharp price rises for crude oil (actually not so sharp once adjusted for inflation) should not be misconstrued as an "energy crisis"; that the rise of renew abies and the claims made on their behalf by countless enthusiasts look so much better on paper than in reality; and that the potential of biomass energies, an essential ingre­ dient of renewable scenarios, has been judged more with proselytizing zeal than with critical detachment.