Towards the energy of the future – the invisible revolution behind the electrical socket

Energy is everywhere. We take for granted that it will be available when we want to heat our homes, cook, use our computers, mobile phones, escalators, cranes, X-ray machines, buses, trains, planes and cars. It is an integral, often invisible – and unfortunately rather unsustainable part of our lives.

Today, we know that the world’s energy system needs to be fundamentally transformed. This is crucial if we want to be able to slow down climate change and create a sustainable society. And we all have important roles to play in the transformation. But how do we change something we cannot see?

In this book, some of Sweden’s leading energy researchers share their views on familiar and less familiar challenges and solutions related to the energy system of the future. The purpose of the anthology is to stimulate conversation and constructive debate so that we can address the challenges in open dialogue and ensure that facts and knowledge shape our future. The anthology is co-created through workshops and training in science communication organised jointly by KTH and Public & Science Sweden.

Chapters and authors:

• What is energy? (Matthäus Bäbler & Fredrik Brounéus)
• What is electricity? (Lina Bertling Tjernberg)
• Energy in a historical perspective (Per Högselius)
• A sustainable society cannot afford to waste energy (Christophe Duwig)
• Shaping energy projects and policies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Francesco Fuso-Nerini)
• Oil (and gas) addiction (Christophe Duwig)
• Biomass (Henrik Kusar)
• Energy from faeces: harnessing energy from one of the most abundant materials on the planet (Daniel Ddiba)
• Back to the future with hydrogen (Ann Cornell)
• Materials – a tangible challenge for the electrification of society (Kerstin Forsberg & Christopher Hulme)
• Sustainable electricity grids – a prerequisite for the energy system of the future (Lina Bertling Tjernberg)
• Nuclear power of the future (Pär Olsson)
• Homes in the smart grid (Cecilia Katzeff)
• The Internet of Things (Carlo Fischione)
• Cyber security in the energy system (Fredrik Heiding)

The book can be downloaded free of charge as a PDF (in Swedish and English) or purchased in paper form or as an e-book in bookstores or directly from the publisher.