Preface

Everything around us is a manifestation of energy. To understand this statement, we must recall the laws of thermodynamics. The first law states that matter and energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed. The second law states that in any such transformation the capacity of that energy to do useful work is diminished. The earth is a self-sustaining energy system therefore everything around us is a manifestation of energy.

The appropriation of energy, as it applies to the natural world—that is to say individuals and species—would require that those individuals and species that possess the largest net energy surplus could dedicate more time to their reproduction. By the same logic, those economies that possess the largest net surplus of energy would therefore be in a better position to thrive.

This is the reason why I chose to write this book on renewable or sustainable energy. The economy is a system of energy use and those economies that this book is focused on, those least developed economies and emerging economies have traditionally been those that are typified by lower GDP than that of the developed world.

It would therefore be beneficial to those economies that are struggling for them to increase their capacity for energy usage, however, they are faced with a world where climate change has been largely acknowledged and that an energy transition toward low-carbon technologies is a requirement for human survival. This transition is well under way in much of the developed world, but we need to assure a transition to low-carbon energy systems in the developing world.

This book is directed at developers of renewable energy projects in countries where access to finance, technologies, expertise, and regulatory frameworks is a challenge. So, as the reader of this book there are three questions to ask yourself:

1. What is the level of energy investment required for your energy infrastructure project?

2. What is the total energy appropriation of the economy in which your project is located?

3. How much energy is used to produce one unit of GDP in that economy?

The answers to those three questions will fundamentally affect how the project should be developed and framed in the future. My intention is for this book to assist you in successfully framing and ultimately delivering the project.

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