IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 50

Nuclear eNergy:
aN eNergy TechNology
ThaT's BeeN Pushed

60

nuclear power was the first major
energy technology to owe its
development largely to government
investment and subsidies, as can be
seen from its very different fortunes
in these three countries.

FRANCE
40

JAPAN
20

UNITED STATES

PERCENTAGE OF ELECTRICITY GENERATED

80

0
1980

1971

1989

1998

PERCENTAGE OF ELECTRICITY GENERATED
ANUALLY BY WIND IN THE UNITED STATES

10

0.09%

0.15%

0.44%

2.29%

2.91%

2010

2011

TWo risiNg
PoWers, china and

8

india, together outweigh
the united states in
carbon emissions.

Terawatt-hours
120

WiNd PoWer
iN The uNiTed
sTaTes has grown

TOTAL EMISSION

BILLIONS OF METRIC TONS OF CO 2

2007

EMISSIONS FROM COAL

quickly, but from a
very low base, and as
the history of such
technologies shows,
the real challenge
comes later.

100

6

80

4
60

40
2

0

0
CHINA

INDIA

but it could be used in many countries in
Europe, Asia, and Latin America, which
also have large shale deposits. Some countries, such as France and Germany, have
banned the technology for fear of possible
environmental effects, but such concerns
accompany all new energy technologies,
even those touted for their environmental virtues. And natural gas can be used
50

NA * iEEE SpEctrum * july 2012

UNITED STATES

1990

to generate electricity in particularly efficient ways. For example, combined-cycle
gas plants exploit the heat leaving the
gas turbine to produce steam and generate additional electricity using a steam
turbine. What's more, gas turbine modules with up to 60 megawatts of capacity
can be up and running within a month
of delivery, and they can be conveniently

2000

2005

sited so as to feed their output into existing transmission lines.
the sitinG of massive Wind farms is

also becoming increasingly contentious-
many people don't like their look, object
to their noise, or worry about their effect
on migrating birds and bats [see "Fixing
Wind Power's Bat Problem," in this issue].
spectrum.ieee.org

infographics: Bryan christie design; data source: VaclaV smil

20



http://spectrum.ieee.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Spectrum July, 2012

IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - Cover1
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - Cover2
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 1
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 2
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 3
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 4
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 5
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 6
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 7
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 8
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 9
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 10
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 11
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 12
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 13
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 14
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 15
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 16
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 17
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 18
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 19
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 20
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 21
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 22
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 23
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 24
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 25
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 26
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 27
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 28
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 29
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 30
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 31
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 32
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 33
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 34
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 35
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 36
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 37
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 38
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 39
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 40
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 41
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 42
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 43
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 44
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 45
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 46
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 47
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 48
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 49
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 50
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 51
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 52
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 53
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 54
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 55
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 56
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 57
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 58
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 59
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - 60
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - Cover3
IEEE Spectrum July, 2012 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0917
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0717
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0517
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0317
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0916
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0716
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0516
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0316
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0915
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0715
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0515
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0315
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0107
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com