Energy Options Impact on Regional Security

Energy appears to be a fundamental driving force of economic and political strategies as well as planetary stability. Energy-related issues such as (1) the availability of new energy sources and viable technologies, (2) the disparity in access to energy sources, (3) the role of energy in our societies (energy societal metabolism), (4) the energy support to the life of our cities (where about half of world population is going to live very soon), and (5) the energy demand for food security all over the world, are "hot" problems that humans will have to face within the framework of sustainability (ecologically sound production and consumption patterns associated with socially acce- able life styles), in terms of policies, technological development and economic processes. A coherent energy strategy is required, addressing both energy supply and demand, security of access, development problems, equity, market dynamics, by also taking into account the whole energy lifecycle including fuel production, transmission and distribution, energy conversion, and the impact on energy equipment manufacturers and the end-users of energy systems. Issues of energy efficiency and rebound effect must also be taken into proper account. In the short term, the aim should be to achieve higher energy efficiencies and increased supply from local energy sources, in particular renewable energy sources.

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Energy Options Impact on Regional Security, Split, Croatia, 22-25 April 2009.

Covers different aspects of future energy supply

Multi-method and Multi-scale Analysis of Energy and Resource Conversion and Use.- Using the MuSIASEM Approach to Study Metabolic Patterns of Modern Societies.- Seven Policy Switches for Global Security.- Energy Security and the Social Use of Energy.- Technology Wedges for Low Carbon-Strategies in Industry.- Sustainable Energy for World Economies.- Cadmium Flows and Emissions: CdTe PV Friend or Foe?.- Increasing RES Penetration and Security of Energy Supply by Use of Energy Storages and Heat Pumps in Croatian Energy System.- Goals of the European Union in Using Renewable Energy Sources and Abilities of the Republic of Croatia in Realization of Those Goals.- The Key Aspects of Electricity and Natural Gas Security of Supply in Croatia.- Zero Emission Sources of Electricity: Cost, Capacity, Advantages and Disadvantages.- Analysis of Energy Options Impact on Regional Security: The Case of Eastern Europe.- Socio-Economic and Energy Development in Ukraine - Problems and Solutions.- Advances in Small Hydropower Energy Production in Ukraine.- Securing Energy Supply at the Regional Level - The Case of Wind Farming in Germany : A Comparison of Two Case Studies from North Hesse and West Saxony.- Renewable Energies to Provide Sustainable Development Perspectives for North Africa: The Sahara Wind Project.- Renewable Energy Potentials in Serbia with Particular Regard to Forest and Agricultural Biomas.- Development of Strategic Scenarios and Optimal Structures for Sustainable Production of Biofuels in Slovenia.- Biomass for Energy and the Impacts on Food Security.- Changing Energy Production, Emerging Technologies and Regional Security.