Paths to a Low-Carbon Future: The Situation and How to Move Forward [Book Review]

This book provides a valuable description of the role electricity plays in a low-carbon future. It focuses on describing steps toward a future low-carbon dioxide-emitting energy environment for the world. The book starts with descriptions of carbon footprints of four families living on different continents and economic situations to describe the present situation. The middle section of the book provides a detailed overview of energy and electricity systems. This starts with an overview of end-use applications of energy in housing, transportation, industry, agriculture, and services, including direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions. The authors provide basic calculations describing energy use, efficiency, and emissions. The final section of the book describes the authors’ view on where society should be heading to transition to using electricity to achieve a low-carbon future. The authors review public policy approaches, past and present, and propose a new approach. The fictional nation of Energia is revisited, with key steps used by Energia to mutate their energy systems to a low-carbon, electricity-based energy infrastructure. Finally, the four families described at the start of the book are revisited in 2035 to assess the changes in their energy use and carbon emissions. This is a well-written book. Although this book is written for a general audience, it is suitable for undergraduate-level engineering students taking a first class on sustainable and renewable energy systems or as a reference for students in a more advanced classes. The book will be of interest for practicing engineers seeking a better understanding of tradeoffs between different options for alternate forms of power generation, energy storage, or conservation.