Taking a fresh new look at the energy industry and how the Earth's
resources are being developed, the aim of this book is to aid engineers
and scientists in attaining sustainability in this field, both from an
economic and environmental perspective.
The author herein presents engineering research and practice that is
focused on achieving energy sustainability from a global perspective, as
is also outlined in other Scrivener books, such as The Greening of
Petroleum Operations and the author's own recently published book,
Sustainable Energy Pricing, the companion volume to this book. The
author applies the principles of economic sustainability developed there
to re-examine actual engineering practices in fossil fuel and
alternative energy (such as wind and tidal power) exploration and
development.
One of the book's unique features is its analysis of what is deficient
in the thinking and analytical frameworks that inform engineering work
done in the field. The book addresses the complex issues surrounding our
quest for sustainability and the key causes of the challenges that face
the energy industry and its resource development. From this standpoint,
the book challenges the reasoning and conclusions drawn from the
often-quoted theory of "peak oil".