Energy and Resources

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the relative significance of factors that influence investment decision-making to conduct foreign direct investment (FDI) in the wind and solar energy sectors in a nascent market in Bangladesh, which is partially opening up to renewables. Design/methodology/approach This study uses an analytical hierarchy process to investigate the determinants of firms’ decision-making processes in Thailand, Singapore, China, the United Arab Emirates, Japan and the UK. For the analysis of group judgements, a new consensus indicator, Shannon entropy, is introduced to further clarify the relative significance of the determinants for attracting FDI in the solar and wind energy projects. Findings The results reveal that the natural condition dimension assumes the highest weight over institutional and macroeconomic conditions for attracting FDI in Bangladesh’s wind and solar energy projects. In the natural condition dimension, land availability is the most crucial determinant influencing firms’ decision to conduct FDI. Among traditional policy instruments, real exchange rates, tariffs and tax incentives are critically important for ranking the determinants of FDI in renewables. Practical implications This study can assist managers in identifying the relative importance of the key factors influencing FDI in the renewable energy sector. This can also assist governments in establishing appropriate policies for sustainable development of FDI in the renewable energy sector. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first in Bangladesh’s power sector to systematically investigate the relative significance of factors in ranking the determinants of attracting FDI in solar and wind energy projects. It also discusses the policies for drawing sustainable FDI into Bangladesh’s wind and solar energy sectors.

This research conducts a comparative analysis of the renewable energy potential and job satisfaction within the energy sectors of Azerbaijan and Turkey. Drawing upon insights from discussions within this thread, the research explores the unique characteristics, challenges, and opportunities inherent in each country's energy landscape. It examines factors such as resource availability, technological advancements, policy frameworks, and workforce dynamics to provide comprehensive insights into the complex relationship between sustainable energy development and employee well-being. The research reveals that Azerbaijan and Turkey both exhibit significant renewable energy potential, encompassing diverse sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass energy. Both countries are investing in various projects to increase their future potential in the field of renewable energy. Azerbaijan plans to increase its renewable energy capacity by focusing on solar and wind energy projects. Türkiye, on the other hand, focuses on sustainable energy production with solar, wind and hydroelectric energy projects. Cooperation and joint projects between Azerbaijan and Turkey can enable more efficient use of the renewable energy potential in the region. For example, through energy trade and joint infrastructure projects, both countries can increase energy supplies and support sustainable development. While Azerbaijan's transition to renewable energy is relatively nascent, its rich fossil fuel reserves necessitate a strategic shift towards sustainable alternatives. In contrast, Turkey, amid rapid industrialization and urbanization, has prioritized the development of renewable energy sources to meet growing demands and address environmental concerns. Furthermore, the research highlights the importance of job satisfaction in fostering a resilient and motivated workforce within the energy sectors of both countries. Factors influencing job satisfaction, including compensation, career advancement opportunities, organizational culture, and work-life balance, are analyzed to identify areas for improvement and strategic interventions. By understanding and addressing these factors, energy companies in Azerbaijan and Turkey can enhance employee engagement, retention, and overall organizational performance amidst the evolving energy landscape. Keywords: Renewable energy, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Energy sector, Job satisfaction, Sustainable development.

Throughout its forty-three-year history, the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) has been one of the most celebrated environmental laws but also one of the most reviled. After passing with strong bi partisan support in 1973, the ESA has recently faced growing opposition, amid concerns that it has failed to adequately protect species, while unreasonably impeding economic development. Much of the criticism has been directed towards section 7 of the ESA, which requires federal agencies to ensure that actions they undertake or authorize do not jeopardize threatened or endangered species, by consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”). Industry groups have argued that the consultation requirement frequently stops or delays much needed energy, transportation, water supply, and other projects.This study seeks to assess the impact of consultation, under section 7 of the ESA, on energy development on public land. To this end, the study analyzes 179 consultations undertaken between FY2010 and FY2014 with respect to oil, gas, solar, and wind energy projects on public land managed by the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”). Basic information about each consultation, including a brief description of the project involved and a list of specie affected, was obtained from FWS’s Tracking and Integrated Logging System. We also reviewed the biological opinions and concurrence letters issued by FWS and, for a subset of consultations, interviewed agency staff and industry representatives involved.Key findings from the analysis include:1. A relatively small number of energy projects authorized on federal lands between FY2010 and FY2014 went through the consultation process. The majority (eighty percent) of consultations that were carried out involved oil and gas drilling projects. Fifteen percent of consultations related to solar energy projects and five percent to wind energy projects.2. Only a small proportion (ten percent) of all oil and gas drilling projects approved by BLM from FY2010 to FY2014 were subject to consultation. In contrast, eighty-two percent of BLM approved solar energy projects and seventy-one percent of BLM approved wind energy projects underwent consultation.3. Most of the energy project consultations undertaken between FY2010 and FY2014 were completed within the 135 day time limit set in the ESA. There was, however, often significant back and-forth between FWS, BLM, and the project proponent prior to the official start of consultation. This is a concern for industry, as pre-consultation discussions can add significant time to the review process and thereby lead to project delays.4. The need to consult can also give rise to significant uncertainty for industry. The assessment of project effects and the measures required to mitigate those effects often differs markedly between, and even within, FWS offices. Similar projects may, therefore, be assessed differently depending on the FWS staff handling the consultation.5. FWS has recently taken steps to address industry concerns regarding the potential for project delays and inconsistencies in the review process. To this end, FWS has issued a number of programmatic biological opinions, which cover multiple similar actions.6. Where a project is covered by a programmatic biological opinion, consultation tends to proceed more quickly, and there is less need for pre-consultation discussions. The existence of a programmatic biological opinion can also greatly reduce the complexity of consultation and generally leads to increased certainty for project developers.

The deployment of solar and wind energy technologies has witnessed remarkable growth globally. Solar wind energy requires careful grid management and the development of energy storage technologies to ensure a stable and reliable electricity supply. The selection policy for solar and wind energy is crucial to promoting the efficient and effective deployment of renewable energy technologies. This study provides an overview of the critical considerations and criteria for the selection policy for solar and wind energy projects. It emphasizes the importance of site suitability, resource assessment, technological feasibility, economic viability, environmental impact, community engagement, and regulatory compliance. By implementing a robust selection policy, policymakers and stakeholders can ensure the successful implementation of solar and wind energy projects that contribute to a sustainable and low-carbon energy future. This study builds a framework with three stages. In the first stage, we make the decision matrix between criteria and alternatives by the experts and decision makers. In the second stage, we compute the criteria weights by the average method. In the final stage, we used the Magnitude of the Area for the Ranking of Alternatives (MARA) Method to rank the alternatives. We used 10 criteria, and 15 policies to select the policies in solar wind energy. The results concluded that the proposed method could provide a new method to rank alternatives and select the best policy in solar wind energy. Moreover, the proposed method can introduce simpler and more flexible methods.

Remote areas often lie in difficult-to-reach locations, such as mountainous or rugged terrains, which makes extending electricity infrastructure both costly and challenging. The sparse population and distance from economic hubs further deter investments, as the return on investment is typically low. This research deals with the economic feasibility analysis of two solar and wind energy projects over 20 years, focusing on calculating a set of financial factors such as monthly revenues, operating costs, monthly and cumulative cash flows, and taxes due on revenues and the capital payback period for each project was also calculated in addition to their Net Present Value (NPV) and the monthly cash flows were calculated through the revenues resulting from the sale of energy generated from solar and wind systems, in addition to calculating the operating costs that include maintenance and operation. Revenues and costs were adjusted annually using the inflation factor (3%), which reflects the economic reality and the results of the financial analysis showed that solar energy is the most economically viable option compared to wind energy. Keyword: solar energy - wind energy -Economic feasibility -Isolated areas.

The world’s attention is currently focused on the energy transition to sustainable energy. The drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit global warming, energy security, and the generalization of access to energy have contributed to the adoption of the Moroccan Energy Strategy, with a strong focus on renewable energy (RE). Morocco is notoriously poor in conventional primary fossil energy resources, with energy dependence on the order of 90%. In addition, the energy crisis that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts, compounded with steady increase in demand, has heavily affected the security and stability of the country’s energy situation. The transition to RE by strongly engaging in the implementation of several solar, wind, and hydro energy projects has made the country the leader in RE in Africa. These projects benefit from the country’s excellent solar and wind energy potential. As a consequence, by 2030, the share of RE in the installed capacity is expected to reach 52%. An overview of the current situation of RE (particularly solar energy) in Morocco is provided, including the potentials, obstacles, challenges, and future perspectives. Thanks to its high solar potential, it is predictable that Morocco’s effort will be focused on this field: the Erasmus plus INNOMED project is a virtuous example of international cooperation, aiming at promoting solar energy through capacity building and the creation of solar energy networks, in synergy with EU Partners.

Site suitability for solar and wind energy in developing countries using combination of GIS- AHP; a case study of Pakistan

The chapter presents introductory materials to the decentralized small wind and solar energy applications within roadway infrastructure, which aims to provide a reference for transportation agencies to address the unique issues of roadway wind and solar energy projects, and develop project selection criteria for their jurisdictions. This is done by synthesizing an extensive literature review and providing a project evaluation approach to support decision making. The focus of this chapter is to introduce the use of small wind and solar energy as an alternative power source for signalized intersections. Small wind energy usually refers to small wind turbines with a capacity of less than 100 kW, which are typically used for individual homes and farms. This chapter discusses project siting requirements, energy production estimation, and project costing. A framework of primary project development is presented for integrating small wind and solar energy as an alternative power source at signalized intersections. This framework includes identifying appropriate renewable energy technologies and potential sites through a feasibility study, and evaluating project cost-effectiveness through a benefit-cost analysis. The chapter also introduces some data sources for conducting the physical and economic feasibility studies.

Hydrogen farm concept: A Perspective for Turkey

This study evaluates the economic benefits of implementing green technologies in Ukraine, focusing on their contribution to sustainable development, energy efficiency, and economic growth. The research aims to identify how renewable energy projects and energy-efficient technologies can enhance Ukraine’s energy security, reduce dependency on fossil fuels, and foster innovation-driven economic modernization. A multi-method approach was employed, combining a systematic literature review, statistical data analysis, and a comparative evaluation of solar and wind energy projects. The study draws on secondary data from governmental and international agencies, spanning the period 2014-2023, and utilizes descriptive statistics to assess trends in job creation, investment, and reductions in natural gas imports. The results indicate significant progress in solar and wind energy development, with total installed capacities reaching 7.6 GW and 2.4 GW respectively by 2023. Employment in green sectors exceeded 50.000 jobs, with solar energy accounting for 40% of this workforce. Investments in green technologies totaled approximately €12 billion between 2014 and 2022, stimulating economic growth and reducing Ukraine’s natural gas imports by 15%. Despite these achievements, challenges remain, including financial barriers, regulatory instability, and outdated infrastructure. However, the study highlights opportunities for further progress through policy reforms, infrastructure modernization, and international cooperation. The research concludes that green technologies are essential for Ukraine’s transition to a sustainable economy, offering both environmental preservation and economic growth potential. These findings underscore the need for policy consistency, expanded financing options, and increased public awareness to maximize the economic benefits of green technologies in Ukraine. By leveraging these innovations, Ukraine can enhance its energy independence, competitiveness, and resilience in the global market.

Renewable energy is key for the development of African countries, and knowing the best location for the implementation of solar and wind energy projects is important within this context. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of climate change on solar and wind energy potential over Africa under low end (RCP2.6) and high end (RCP8.5) emission scenarios using a set of new high resolution (25 km) simulations with the Regional Climate Model version 4 (RegCM4) produced as part of the CORDEX-CORE initiative. The projections focus on two periods: (i) the near future (2021–2040) and ii) the mid-century future (2041–2060). The performance of the RegCM4 ensemble mean (Rmean) in simulating relevant present climate variables (1995–2014) is first evaluated with respect to the ERA5 reanalysis and satellite-based data. The Rmean reproduces reasonably well the observed spatial patterns of solar irradiance, air temperature, total cloud cover, wind speed at 100 m above the ground level, photovoltaic power potential (PVP), concentrated solar power output (CSPOUT) and wind power density (WPD) over Africa, though some biases are still evident, especially for cloud-related variables. For the future climate, the sign of the changes is consistent in both scenarios but with more intense magnitude in the middle of the century RCP8.5 scenario. Considering the energy variables, the Rmean projects a general decrease in PVP, which is more pronounced in the mid-century future and under RCP8.5 (up to 2%). Similarly, a general increase in CSPOUT (up to 2%) is projected over the continent under both the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The projection in WPD shows a similar change (predominant increase) in the near and mid-century future slices under both RCPs with a maximum increase of 20%. The present study suggests that the RCP2.6 emission scenario, in general, favours the implementation of renewable energy in Africa compared to the RCP8.5.

Renewable energy development is growing fast and is expected to expand in the next decades in West Africa as a contribution to addressing the power demand and climate change mitigation. However, the future impacts of climate change on solar PV and the wind energy potential in the region are still unclear. This study investigates the expected future impacts of climate change on solar PV and wind energy potential over West Africa using an ensemble of three regional climate models (RCMs). Each RCM is driven by three global climate models (GCMs) from the new coordinated high-resolution output for regional evaluations (CORDEX-CORE) under the RCP8.5 scenario. Two projection periods were used: the near future (2021–2050) and the far future (2071–2100). For the model evaluation, reanalysis data from ERA5 and satellite-based climate data (SARAH-2) were used. The models and their ensemble mean (hereafter Mean) show acceptable performance for the simulations of the solar PV potential, the wind power density, and related variables with some biases. The Mean predicts a general decrease in the solar PV potential over the region of about −2% in the near future and −4% in the far future. The wind power density (WPD) is expected to increase by about 20% in the near future and 40% in the far future. The changes for solar PV potential seem to be consistent, although the intensity differs according to the RCM used. For the WPD, there are some discrepancies among the RCMs in terms of intensity and direction. This study can guide governments and policymakers in decision making for future solar and wind energy projects in the region.

Over the past few years, China has been increasingly active in promoting solar, wind, small hydropower and other clean technologies (from electric vehicles to smart grids) in Central Asia, where demand for a green transformation is high and the potential for clean energy is enormous. Beijing’s involvement in the development of the renewable energy industry in the region is intended to strengthen China’s international image as a responsible great power promoting the green transition, promote the implementation of Chinese rules, norms and standards in the field of clean energy, and expand the export opportunities of Chinese manufacturers of green equipment and technologies (including the so-called “three new products”— photovoltaic products, electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries), open up new opportunities to meet China’s energy needs. The article focuses on cooperation between China and Central Asian countries in such areas as the development of solar and wind energy. The article demonstrates the interest convergence of the parties in the development of clean energy, determines the role, scale and forms of China’s participation in the promotion of solar and wind energy in the region.It is concluded that at the present stage, China’s role in financing solar and wind energy projects in the region is limited (especially in comparison with the scale of financing coming from multilateral development banks and national development and international cooperation agencies of Western countries), while the presence of Chinese companies as contractors and equipment suppliers in the construction of solar and wind power plants in Central Asia is very significant.

Solar and geothermal energy

Renewable energy sources (RES) can be a significant source of profit. However, different RES projects can bring various benefits to their investors, raising the question—Which RES project to select? The objective of this study is to provide answers to two questions: (1) Which factors/criteria should be used in the RES project selection procedure; (2) Which RES project should the investor select out of a group of prospective projects? The study was conducted in a company operating in the energy sector in Serbia. In order to find answers to the above-mentioned questions, the study employed a hybrid methodology integrating the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). First, the Company's management defined the goal and project alternatives. The goal was to select an optimal RES project suitable for the specific circumstances in the Serbian energy sector, and also for the Company's potentials. The alternatives included: a hydro energy project, a solar energy project, a wind energy project (WEP), and a biomass energy project. Then, the decision-making group was formed, consisting of four company's experts (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the decision-makers”), of different professional backgrounds and affiliations. Second, the decision-makers employed SWOT analysis on the RES projects in Serbia to obtain the decision-making criteria. The decision-making procedure has to be based on 20 SWOT factors. However, each criterion is not of equal importance for investors. This shortcoming has been overcome by introducing AHP. Pairwise comparison was performed using the Expert Choice 2000 software. According to the results, the top-ranking project is the WEP.