Energy Autonomy: The Economic, Social and Technological Case for Renewable Energy [Hardcover]

Hermann Scheer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1844073556 | ISBN-13: 978-1844073559

For 200 years industrial civilization has relied on the combustion of abundant and cheap carbon fuels. But continued reliance has had perilous consequences. On the one hand there is the insecurity of relying on the world's most unstable region - the Middle East - compounded by the imminence of peak oil, growing scarcity and mounting prices. On the other, the potentially cataclysmic consequences of continuing to burn fossil fuels, as the evidence of accelerating climate change shows. Yet there is a solution: to make the transition to renewable sources of energy and distributed, decentralized energy generation. It is a model that has been proven, technologically, commercially and politically, as Scheer comprehensively demonstrates here. The alternative of a return to nuclear power - again being widely advocated - he shows to be compromised and illusory. The advantages of renewable energy are so clear and so overwhelming that resistance to them needs diagnosis - which Scheer also provides, showing why and how entrenched interests and one-dimensional structures of thinking oppose the transition, and what must be done to overcome these obstacles. The new book from the award-winning author of THE SOLAR ECONOMY and A SOLAR MANIFESTO demonstrates why the transition to renewable energy is essential and how it can be done.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The most important political book of the year.' Die Zeit 'Hermann Scheer - principal architect of the policies that converted cloudy Germany into the world's leading market for solar energy - demonstrates that the German model can and must be replicated in every nation that aspires toward a healthy, peaceful future.' Deins Hayes, Former Director of the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory 'This book is a powerful indictment of how we meet our energy needs. In urging an acceleration of the transition to renewable energy, Scheer exposes the fallacies surrounding the current paradigm and looks beyond the purely environmental benefits to outline the path to energy security.' Lester Brown, President of the Earth Policy Institute 'Hermann Scheer has taken aim against a number of our planet's Goliaths all at once. The world needs pioneers like him.' Ernst Ulrich Von Weisacker, Dean of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara 'This book is strongly recommended for anyone interested in climate change and sustainability.' SPA Newsletter This is one of the most readable accounts of the alternative energy generation field that has been produced recently. It is clear in its analysis and certain in its direction...[and] deserves the widest readership. Bigpond '...definitely one of the best [books] yet written about renewable energy policy.' Photon International 'Comprehensively demonstrates why the transition to renewable energy is essential and how it can be done' SirReadaLot.org 'Sheer passionately addresses the book to the growing number of renewable energy advocates, and to the even greater number of those who are simply curious about it.' SirReadaLot.org

About the Author

DR HERMANN SCHEER is a member of the German Bundestag (Parliament) and President of EUROSOLAR, the European Association for Renewable Energy. He is also General Chairman of the World Council for Renewable Energy. In a career devoted to the replacement of nuclear and fossil fuels with environmentally sound energy sources, Dr Scheer has received numerous awards, including the World Solar Prize, the World Prize for BioEnergy, the World Wind Energy Award and the Alternative Nobel Prize. In 2002 Time Magazine recognized him as one of five 'Heroes for the Green Century'.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (December 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844073556
• ISBN-13: 978-1844073559
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #265,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong analysis by a leader who can speak from tangible experience, March 11, 2007

By 

Avid Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Energy Autonomy: The Economic, Social and Technological Case for Renewable Energy (Hardcover)

First, why I was compelled to read this book: Spending several months last year in Southern Germany after a 20 year absence, I observed a remarkable shift: unlike the acid-rain torn, brown, industrially wasted place I remembered, the region was greener than I had remembered, decked everywhere with fields of yellow blossoms that I learned were grown for biodiesel. What were mostly concepts of the progressive fringe back home were mainstream realities here, considered normal and desirable even among socio-economic conservative old world businessmen I met--like biodiesel at all the gas stations, solar panels and windmills everywhere. How did all this happen? How did the place get so sensible?

Hermann Scheer is essentially the architect of the shift in Germany--and because of his success, the role model of the planned shift of EU-- toward renewable energy. His latest book is well-written, dense, and compelling. He sums up the major crises arising from dependency on fossil fuels without pulling any punches. He also offers a solution--not one that is simply a theory, an abstract, but one based on policy he has fought for decades to implement and that has begun to be implemented in recent years with great, if hard-won success. He argues that the shift to a 100% renewable energy society is necessary now and possible now. He lays out in detail the historical, present, and probable future obstacles to that happening and calls for a summoning of political and societal courage. He has earned the right--as he has walked the talk.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scheer puts renewable and traditional fossil energy in their places, March 19, 2007

By 

Bruce Rhodes "love 2 read" (near Toronto) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Energy Autonomy: The Economic, Social and Technological Case for Renewable Energy (Hardcover)

Energy Autonomy is a refreshing and thorough look at how the traditional fossil energy industry (oil, natural gas, nuclear), with its finite energy availability and its polluting characteristics, uses Mafia tactics to perpetuate its existence, allthewhile trying to keep renewable energy in a cozy, non-threatening corner. I attended a presentation last month by Dr. Scheer in Toronto, and was impressed by his cogent, well-researched argument in favor of promoting renewable energy. As Dr. Scheer said, the price of fossil energy will only go up, going forward, and renewable energy costs will only go down. Anyone who relies on traditional fossil energy does so at their own peril.

Thanks to this book, I am much more optimistic about the energy future for humanity, although there are huge political barriers to overcome, as the lobbyists working for the oil and nuclear industries will never give up their belittling the potential role of renewable energy, and gun-shy governments are fearful of the consequences of cutting off the huge subsidies to the fossil energy industry.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indictment of Fossil Fuels and Strong Case for Distributed Generation, December 10, 2007

By 

Timothy B. Hurst (Fort Collins, CO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Energy Autonomy: The Economic, Social and Technological Case for Renewable Energy (Hardcover)

Written by German parliament member, Hermann Scheer, Energy Autonomy makes a strong case for the decentralization of energy production. Scheer was an instrumental part of passing legislation in Germany which has created the solar and wind boom in that country. Clearly writing with a very solid grasp on the politics of renewable energy, Scheer's argument is powerful and cogently presented.

This book is not just for policy wonks, renewable energy advocates, green investors and environmentalists. But the book is also very approachable for those with less background in the science, technology and politics of renewable energy. If you have never heard the term, 'distributed generation' you should read this book because you will find it fascinating. If you already find distributed generation fascinating, YOU MUST read this book because YOU WILL LOVE IT.