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The costs of failure: A preliminary assessment of major energy accidents, 1907-2007

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  • Sovacool, Benjamin K.

Abstract

A combination of technical complexity, tight coupling, speed, and human fallibility contribute to the unexpected failure of large-scale energy technologies. This study offers a preliminary assessment of the social and economic costs of major energy accidents from 1907 to 2007. It documents 279 incidents that have been responsible for $41 billion in property damage and 182,156 deaths. Such disasters highlight an often-ignored negative externality to energy production and use, and emphasize the need for further research.

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  • Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2008. "The costs of failure: A preliminary assessment of major energy accidents, 1907-2007," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 1802-1820, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:36:y:2008:i:5:p:1802-1820
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    1. Munson, Richard, 2005. "From Edison to Enron," The Electricity Journal, Elsevier, vol. 18(9), pages 51-61, November.
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