Heat Transfer and Sustainable Energy Technologies

摘要

Energy and global warming are the two major challenges for the twenty-first century. To achieve a sustainable development, the origin and the use of energy have to be addressed, and advanced energy technologies for both fossil and renewable energy carriers have to be developed, requiring significant progress in research and technology. The recent rise of petrol price (100% during the last two years) and major natural catastrophes in 2005 have made the public aware and more sensitive to energy aspects and the impact of global warming. As the Kyoto protocol has entered into force in February 2005, this is the birth of a new hope for mankind and a visible signal for scientists to increase their efforts in research on safe, efficient, and sustainable systems. Therefore, the scientific and engineering communities have to develop and prove the technical and economical availability of innovative energy technologies. However, there is no unique solution—more likely a set or combinations of measures that have to be adapted at the local level: we should think globally but act locally. The scientific community has not only to think and develop advanced energy technologies, but also to contribute in improving the existing ones. Even if renewable energies and new energy carriers, such as hydrogen, are promising solutions, our society is still relying on fossil fuels as primary energy for many applications. Finally, energy conservation and energy efficiency has to be promoted, for the best energy is the one that is not wasted. It is only by re-enforcing collaboration between the various sectors and promoting an exchange of knowledge and experience between countries that we will be able to meet the sustainable energy challenge.