About the lecture
In this lecture, Prof. Sovacool explores the technical, social, political, and economic dimensions of four Asian energy megaprojects: a regional natural gas pipeline network in Southeast Asia, a series of hydroelectric dams on the island of Borneo, an oil pipeline linking Europe with the Caspian Sea, and a very large solar energy array in the Gobi desert.
His research investigates whether energy megaprojects fail to deliver their promised benefits, while offering a comprehensive assessment of the complicated dynamics driving - and constraining – megaprojects, many of these having been initiated in the rapid scramble for energy resources and as efforts to improve energy security.
Prof. Sovacool approaches the assessment of megaprojects from a socio-technical angle, emphasizing broad issues of political leadership, regulation, financing, interest group opposition and environmental impact, as well as conventional technological factors such as engineering design and project management. His lecture will provide insights into energy policy and energy security, as well as recommendations for the practical management and implementation of large-scale energy projects anywhere in the world.
About the speaker
Dr. Benjamin K. Sovacool is Professor of Energy Policy at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex Business School, UK. He is also the Director of the Sussex Energy Group.
Prof. Sovacool works as a researcher and consultant on issues pertaining to energy policy, energy justice, energy security, climate change mitigation, and climate change adaptation. More specifically, his research focuses on renewable energy and energy efficiency, the politics of large-scale energy infrastructure, the ethics and morality of energy decisions, designing public policy to improve energy security and access to electricity, and building adaptive capacity to the consequences of climate change.
He is a lead author of the inter-governmental panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), due to be published in 2022, and an Advisor on Energy to the European Commission’s Directorate General for Research and Innovation in Brussels, Belgium.
About the University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is a leading research-intensive university set bordering a National Park on the South coast of the United Kingdom. Founded in 1961 and designed to be different, the University of Sussex has a distinguished tradition of disruptive and experimental interventions that help understand and solve some of the grand issues of our time, such as climate change, sustainability and consciousness. Together with its partner, the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), the University of Sussex has been consistently ranked number one in the world for development studies – a reflection of the leading expertise of its Business School and School of Global Studies. International in outlook, the University boasts over 300 active partnerships across the globe and its staff and students come from more than 150 countries.
About the British Council 'Knowledge is GREAT' Lecture Series
The British Council 'Knowledge is GREAT' Lecture Series showcases UK's knowledge, creativity and innovation through leading UK specialists in areas of topical debate and discussion. Throughout the year, the British Council in Singapore organises and hosts a variety of lectures on diverse topics such as arts, environment, sciences and more, aimed at academics, practitioners, students and the general public.