Technology and the Future of Energy

Energy plays a key role in realizing sustainable development in both advanced and developing countries alike, and this is particularly true of the oil-rich Gulf states. As a result, there is a need for investment in technological development to be sustained in order to maximize the benefits of currently available energy resources. Still, how that investment should be directed is contentious, and involves numerous issues relating to efficiency, resource availability, cost effectiveness and environmental impact. This book offers an examination of the current and future technological trends in the energy industry, and their consequences for both producers and consumers. It presents an analysis of global energy supply and demand, as well as outlining the potential impact of technological advances in the oil and gas industry, and the viability of alternative energy technologies. Discussing the technological challenges and opportunities in the oil-producing countries of the Gulf, this book is essential reading for researchers of the energy sector and those interested in the political economy of the region.