Lilly Blakeley

Abstract: The usage of renewable energy resources, specifically wind and solar, is making a large impact on today’s society. Research has been conducted on this topic to prove that the economic outcomes of these resources are benefiting developed areas. However, a gap in research has been found when attempting to determine if these resources will be economically beneficial in underdeveloped areas of the world. This study focuses on whether renewable energy resources will economically develop the town of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A cost-benefit analysis was conducted to determine if economic costs will outweigh the benefits or vice-versa. Two experimental towns’ economics were analyzed: Roatan, Honduras using solar energy, and Sonzapote, Nicaragua using wind energy. These were then compared back to Lubumbashi to end up determining that both wind and solar energy would be economically beneficial if implemented in that town, and would leave them with more disposable income for their society. 

Keywords:Lubumbashi, Roatan, Sonzapote, Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Fossil Fuels, Economics