Climate change, renewable energy and low carbon transition are arguably the most debated topics of the twenty-first century. Climate and Energy Decoded provides a rare, unbiased overview of these critical topics. The book also methodically debunks the many associated myths.
The daily glut of biased information is leading to ill-informed discussions. In this book, Dr. Tushar Choudhary, a highly awarded industry expert, focuses on both science and practical matters for his clarifying analysis. Such an analysis, which uses the most reliable data available, is essential for informed debates on energy policies. The book has over 700 references and notes.
This concise book addresses all crucial aspects about climate and energy. Climate discussions include the history of climate change, the science behind climate change and myths about climate change. Energy discussions include the history of energy, technology basics, advantages & challenges of the different low carbon technologies, and myths about fossil fuels, renewable energy and energy transition. The final big picture discussion provides a framework for efficiently addressing climate change using both science and common sense.
The book also provides answers to the critical questions in this area that have been widely misunderstood.
Examples of questions addressed are:
Climate change: Should we ignore the climate warnings because of the past exaggerations by media and certain scientists? Can we ignore climate impacts since death rates from climate disasters have decreased drastically? Is climate mitigation the most important issue for humans currently? What is the estimated long-term economic impact of climate change?
Renewable energy & electrification: Is electricity from solar and wind cheaper than that from fossil fuels? Can energy costs of renewables become cheaper than fossil fuels? Why are most countries lagging when some countries already generate most of their electricity from renewable sources? Why is there so much controversy about green hydrogen? Are battery electric vehicles a very effective solution? What are the key challenges related to electrification?
Fossil fuels: Do fugitive emissions negate the advantage of natural gas over coal power? Do fossil fuels receive several trillion dollars in subsidies each year? What is the impact of fossil fuels on air pollution?
Energy transition: What are the key learnings from the previous energy transitions? How much will the low-carbon energy transition cost? What are the key challenges for the low-carbon energy transition? Why is there so much unrealistic optimism about the energy transition? Is there consensus amongst energy experts about the path forward?
Tushar Choudhary has over 25 years of experience in addressing environmental issues related to energy. His experience covers a wide spectrum from basic research to developing and implementing novel technologies. Prior to retiring, he served in a senior technical role at a multinational energy company. He has authored 20 U.S. Patents and over 100 research papers and presentations. He has received several awards and honors for his work, for example from the American Chemical Society and National Academy of Engineering. He has been ranked among the world's top 2% scientists and engineers based on the career impact of his publications. He is the author of the book "Critical Comparison of Low-Carbon Technologies".
Tushar received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Texas A&M University, College Station; following which he joined the energy industry as a R&D scientist. One of his greatest joys during his time in the energy industry was receiving and sharing knowledge related to all aspects of technology innovation. Following retirement, his goal is to continue sharing knowledge by writing books in areas that he is extremely passionate about.
