Energy for a sustainable world : from the oil age to a sun powered future This book surveys the energy issue from a broad scientific perspective while considering environmental economic and social factors. It explains the basic concepts provides a historical overview of energy resources assesses our unsustainable energy system based on fossil fuels and shows that the energy crisis is not only a tough challenge but also an unprecedented opportunity to become more concerned about the world in which we live and the society we have built up. By outlining the alternatives for today and the future it gives an extensive overview on nuclear energy solar thermal and photovoltaics solar fuels wind power ocean energies and other renewables highlighting the increasing importance of electricity and the long term perspectives of a hydrogen based economy Back cover