The report gives a review of the development status of several advanced energy concepts and discusses the primary environmental hazards of each system. Systems reviewed include potential new sources of energy and improved energy conversion. Each system is evaluated with respect to its development status, and estimates made as to when each will begin to contribute significantly to U.S. energy needs. Appraisals were made of the environmental impact of each system including assessment of the adequacy of pollution control technology and potential gross ecological impact. Considering both the expected environmental impact and period of technology break through/commercialization, the following order of R&D priorities on the candidate energy systems has been developed: high temperature turbines, ocean thermal gradients, windmills, magnetohydrodynamics, metal vapor (potassium) Rankine topping cycles, hydrogen fuel cells, thermionics, electrogasdynamics, and thermoelectric conversion.

Project Officer: William Cain. Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. "June 1977." Includes bibliographical references (p. 96-98). "EPA-600/7-77-062."

The report gives a review of the development status of several advanced energy concepts and discusses the primary environmental hazards of each system. Systems reviewed include potential new sources of energy and improved energy conversion. Each system is evaluated with respect to its development status, and estimates made as to when each will begin to contribute significantly to U.S. energy needs. Appraisals were made of the environmental impact of each system including assessment of the adequacy of pollution control technology and potential gross ecological impact. The overall conclusion is that each energy system has a negligible or mild direct environmental impact when compared with conventional fossil fuel and nuclear systems, but that indirect impacts for some of the energy systems could be severe and need further study to quantify their impacts. Considering both the expected environmental impact and period of technology break through/commercialization, the following order of R&D priorities on the candidate energy systems has been developed: high temperature turbines, ocean thermal gradients, windmills, magnetohydrodynamics, metal vapor (potassium) Rankine topping cycles, hydrogen fuel cells, thermionics, electrogasdynamics, and thermoelectric conversion.