Introduction

Energy is most often used in the context of energy resources, their development, consumption, depletion, and conservation. Since economic activities such as manufacturing and transportation can be energy intensive, energy efficiency, energy dependence, energy security and price are key concerns. Increased awareness of the effects of global warming has led to international debate and action for the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions.

In the context of natural science, energy can take several different forms: thermal, chemical, electrical, radiant, nuclear, etc. These are often grouped as being either kinetic energy or potential energy.
Many of these forms can be readily transformed into another with the
help of a device; from chemical energy to electrical energy using a battery,
for example. Most of our available energy comes from the sun. The
enormous potential for energy is expressed by the famous equation E = mc².

The concepts of energy and its transformations are useful in explaining natural processes. Meteorological phenomena like wind, rain, lightning and tornadoes all result from energy transformations brought about by solar energy on the planet. Life itself is critically dependent on biological energy transformations; organic chemical bonds are constantly broken and made to make the exchange and transformation of energy possible. Read more...

Selected article

Climate Change 2007, the fourth report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to evaluate the risks of global warming
since 1990, is being published in sections throughout 2007. Prior to
publishing, the report - which is the combined work of hundreds of
experts - is reviewed by representatives from many of the world's
governments.

Due to the accumulation of evidence, the report goes further than
previous reports by stating that 'warming of the climate system is unequivocal'.
It goes on to say that 'most of the observed increase in globally
averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is 'very likely' due
to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations'. Fossil fuel use is given as the primary source of the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, with the increase in methane being very likely caused by a combination of agricultural practices and fossil fuel use.

Based on an analysis of computer climate models, the report states that average surface temperatures will rise during this century, most likely between 1.1 to 4.3°C (5.2 to 11.5 °F), depending on the mitigation actions taken. Excluding the effects of ice sheet flow, they also predict a sea level rise of 18 to 26 cm (7 to 23 inches), more heat waves and more heavy rain. An increase in areas affected by droughts, in the intensity of tropical cyclones and in extreme high tides
is also likely. The IPCC believe that stabilization of greenhouse gas
concentrations is possible at a reasonable cost, with stabilization
between 445 and 535 ppm costing less than 3% of global GDP. They do warn, however, that a 'large shift in the pattern of investment' is required. Read more...

Selected picture

Photo credit: Johnson Space Center/NASA

Tropical cyclones feed on the heat released when moist air rises and the water vapor condenses.

Did you know?

• The Stuart Shale Oil Plant (pictured) in Australia was in operation only five years?

• Atlantic LNG Company of Trinidad and Tobago operates the world's largest LNG train?

• Despite projections of producing four times as much power as it used in heating, the Riggatron fusion reactor was never built due to a lack of funding?

• In the late 1980s, as many as 50 percent of Argentina's thermal power plants had to be shut down due to lack of maintenance, causing a supply crisis?

• Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Japan is the largest nuclear power plant in the world, which was shut down after being hit by the Chūetsu offshore earthquake in July 2007?

• The world's largest surface oil shale pyrolysis reactor is Petrosix, operated by the Brazilian oil company Petrobras?

• Russia plans to build several floating nuclear power stations?

• Shale gas, a form of natural gas extracted from shale, may also refer to oil shale gas?

Selected biography

James Watt (19 January 1736 – 19 August 1819) was a Scottish inventor and engineer. His improvements to the steam engine,
which had hardly changed for fifty years, produced a source of power
that transformed the world of work, and was the key innovation that
brought forth the Industrial Revolution.

In recognition of Watt's achievements, the SI unit of power, the watt, is named after him.

James Watt was born on 19th of January, 1736 in Greenock, a seaport on the Firth of Clyde. His father was a shipwright, shipowner and contractor, while his mother, Agnes Muirhead, came from a distinguished family and was well-educated. Both were Presbyterians and strong Covenanters. Watt attended school irregularly and instead was mostly schooled at home by his mother.

After studying instrument-making for a year in London, the University of Glasgow offered him the opportunity to set up a small workshop within the university. It was established in 1757. After four years, Watt began to experiment with steam, finally producing a working model steam engine in 1765. Strapped for resources to develop a full-scale engine, Watt was forced to take up employment as a surveyor for eight years. Finally, in 1776, the first engines were installed and working in commercial enterprises.

After further improvements, Watt and foundry owner Matthew Boulton established Boulton and Watt in 1794 to exclusively manufacture steam engines. By 1824 it had produced 1,164 steam engines having a total nominal horsepower of about 26,000. Read more...

Energy news

• 14 November 2009: Russia and Slovenia signed an agreement to route the South Stream pipeline through Slovenia.
• 12 November 2009: The final section of the Rockies Express Pipeline is completed.
• 7 November 2009: The Swedish and Finnish authorities give a permit to build the controversial Nord Stream natural gas pipeline in their exclusive economic zones.
• 31 October 2009: Construction of the Sino–Burma oil pipeline starts.
• 27 October 2009: Hydro-Quebec agrees to acquire most of NB Power assets, including the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station.
• 27 October 2009: Qatar inaugurates one of the world largest LNG trains, operated by RasGas.
• 26 October 2009: The blast near Mosul halts oil supplies through the Kirkuk–Ceyhan Oil Pipeline.
• 19 October 2009: Italy, Russia and Turkey agree the participation of Russian oil companies in the Samsun–Ceyhan pipeline project.
• 19 October 2009: The Arab Gas Pipeline starts supplying Lebanon.

Wikinews on energy

Quotations

• "There are only two ways to stabilize concentration of greenhouse gases. One is to avoid emitting them in the first place; the other is to try to capture them after they're created. And there are problems with both approaches." – George W. Bush, 2001
• "The planet has a fever. If your baby has a fever you go to the doctor. If the doctor says you need to intervene here, you don't say, 'Well, I read a science fiction novel that told me it's not a problem.' If the crib's on fire, you don't speculate that the baby is flame retardant. You take action." – Al Gore, 2007
• "If the climate researchers' reports are to be believed, global warming is a huge medium and long-term threat, one which could have dramatic consequences such as refugee flows and armed conflicts." – Angela Merkel, 2007

Related portals

WikiProjects

WikiProjects connected with energy:

• WikiProject Energy
• Oil megaprojects task force

Other WikiProjects that may be of interest:

• WikiProject Environment
• WikiProject Technology
• WikiProject Biography

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