Nanotechnology and Energy: Science, Promises, and Limits

Novel breakthroughs in the cutting-edge field of nanotechnology, as a cross-sectional technology, show potential for being applied across the whole value chain of the energy sector (energy sources, energy conversion, energy distribution, energy storage, and energy use). This book gives an overview of nanotechnological applications within the value chain of the energy sector and evaluates selected applications and their direct and indirect impacts on the energy sector. It presents selected nanotechnological applications that influence the energy economy significantly. Furthermore, the authors give a comprehensive description of the impacts and outcomes of selected nanotechnological applications on energy consumption, energy sources, energy supply, and the energy industry in Germany and show the potential of these applications for energy savings, improvement in energy efficiency, and the reduction of emissions until 2030.

Jochen Lambauer is a research associate at the Institute for Energy Economics and the Rational Use of Energy (IER) at the. University of Stuttgart, Germany. In addition, he is managing director and scientific coordinator of the Graduate and Research School, Efficient Use of Energy, Stuttgart (GREES). Ulrica Fahl heads the Energy Economics and systems Analysis department at the Institute of Energy Economics and the Rational Use of Energy (IER) at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. Alfred Vo is director of the Institute of Energy Economics and the Rational Use of Energy at the University of Stuttgart, Germany.