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Power Up: An Engineer's Adventures into Sustainable Energy
'Highly engaging' MIKE BERNERS-LEE
'Fascinating and insightful' MARK MIODOWNIK
'A stimulating and affable overview of how major feats of engineering can help the world beat the climate crisis' NEW STATESMAN
__________
We rarely think about the energy systems that prop up our existence. With hot water, lighting and digital entertainment all available at the flick of a switch, it's easy to underestimate the vast global network that makes these things possible.
Growing up in Iraq, Yasmin Ali regularly experienced power cuts - ironic for a country rich in oil and sunshine. Now as an engineer working in energy, Yasmin has a deep appreciation for what these resources mean for our lives.
In Power Up she takes us on a journey across the globe to reveal the bigger picture, from solar farms shimmering in the desert to power stations hidden deep in the mountains. We discover where we get energy from, how it is moved and used around the world - and why we need to understand the whole system if we want to transition towards a clean, green future.
Power Up is a definitive picture of the intricate world that humanity has built, and a rallying cry to face the challenges of climate change using the power at our fingertips.
'Fascinating and insightful' MARK MIODOWNIK
'A stimulating and affable overview of how major feats of engineering can help the world beat the climate crisis' NEW STATESMAN
__________
We rarely think about the energy systems that prop up our existence. With hot water, lighting and digital entertainment all available at the flick of a switch, it's easy to underestimate the vast global network that makes these things possible.
Growing up in Iraq, Yasmin Ali regularly experienced power cuts - ironic for a country rich in oil and sunshine. Now as an engineer working in energy, Yasmin has a deep appreciation for what these resources mean for our lives.
In Power Up she takes us on a journey across the globe to reveal the bigger picture, from solar farms shimmering in the desert to power stations hidden deep in the mountains. We discover where we get energy from, how it is moved and used around the world - and why we need to understand the whole system if we want to transition towards a clean, green future.
Power Up is a definitive picture of the intricate world that humanity has built, and a rallying cry to face the challenges of climate change using the power at our fingertips.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 28, 2024
7 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 21, 2024
Fantastic book for anyone who is interested in how we power our everyday lives. The science and technology is explained in a clear and inviting way for science and non-science folk alike and personal stories and anecdotes make for an engaging and inspiring read along the way.
January 11, 2025
This is an easily accessible introduction to a complex topic, engagingly told via real-life stories from across the world.
After the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, the plight of a Tokyo fish market brings home the underlying fragility of electricity distribution in Japan, with all its frequency quirks. An Elizabeth Falconer mural sits above the reversable turbines of the underground Cruachan Power station. The assembly of the Nordstream 1 pipeline is complicated by the 'telescopic' outer profile which follows the pressure gradient. (I highly recommend Will Dean's thriller The Chamber The Chamber for an insight into what it's like to spend a 3 week shift in a pressurised bubble). A prototype cargo vessel in the Marshal Islands will soon be powered by coconuts, sun and wind and a blue plaque in the tiny mechanical room of the Museum of London will one day commemorate the tenacity of the author as engineer.
Even through I worked in the power industry, I learned a great deal from the book. I particularly enjoyed the sections on infrastructure - pipelines and cables, transport and storage - areas often neglected in discussions about renewables.
If you enjoyed the masterful Gaia Vince Adventures in the Anthropocene Adventures in the Anthropocene: A Journey to the Heart of the Planet We Made then you'll be right at home with the easy, charming style.
The only people who can explain complex topics in simple language are those who have really thought about their area of expertise with respect to the broader political and social implications. There are no equations or tables or diagrams and the author is largely open-minded and even-handed, giving the pros and cons for each option discussed.
Yasmin Ali doesn't pretend to have all the answers but she has clearly thought deeply about the subject and provides a starter set of tools for you to do the same.
After the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, the plight of a Tokyo fish market brings home the underlying fragility of electricity distribution in Japan, with all its frequency quirks. An Elizabeth Falconer mural sits above the reversable turbines of the underground Cruachan Power station. The assembly of the Nordstream 1 pipeline is complicated by the 'telescopic' outer profile which follows the pressure gradient. (I highly recommend Will Dean's thriller The Chamber The Chamber for an insight into what it's like to spend a 3 week shift in a pressurised bubble). A prototype cargo vessel in the Marshal Islands will soon be powered by coconuts, sun and wind and a blue plaque in the tiny mechanical room of the Museum of London will one day commemorate the tenacity of the author as engineer.
Even through I worked in the power industry, I learned a great deal from the book. I particularly enjoyed the sections on infrastructure - pipelines and cables, transport and storage - areas often neglected in discussions about renewables.
If you enjoyed the masterful Gaia Vince Adventures in the Anthropocene Adventures in the Anthropocene: A Journey to the Heart of the Planet We Made then you'll be right at home with the easy, charming style.
The only people who can explain complex topics in simple language are those who have really thought about their area of expertise with respect to the broader political and social implications. There are no equations or tables or diagrams and the author is largely open-minded and even-handed, giving the pros and cons for each option discussed.
Yasmin Ali doesn't pretend to have all the answers but she has clearly thought deeply about the subject and provides a starter set of tools for you to do the same.
March 6, 2025
I picked up Power Up thinking I knew a decent amount about energy. Renewables, fossil fuels, the transition we’re all talking about—I figured I had a good handle on it. Turns out, I was a classic case of the Dunning-Kruger effect. My knowledge was surface-level at best, and Yasmin Ali’s book was exactly what I needed to fill in the gaps.
What I loved most about this book is how approachable it is. Yasmin has a knack for making complex topics feel digestible, like you’re having a conversation with a really knowledgeable friend rather than reading a textbook. There's no throwing facts at you, she instead tells beautifully crafted stories, shares personal experiences from her time in the industry, and presents a balanced, honest look at the challenges we face in the energy sector.
The book covers everything from how different energy sources work to how sustainable they actually are with her own stories and experiences leading the chapters allowing them to be a blend of engaging, fun and clear all without feeling overwhelming. It’s clear, engaging, and refreshingly free of bias. Instead of pushing a single solution, Yasmin lays out the realities of our energy landscape—the good, the bad, and the complicated.
By the time I finished, I felt like I had gained a much deeper understanding of the energy world. More importantly, I felt inspired to keep learning. If you have even the slightest interest in how our world is powered, I can’t recommend this book enough.
What I loved most about this book is how approachable it is. Yasmin has a knack for making complex topics feel digestible, like you’re having a conversation with a really knowledgeable friend rather than reading a textbook. There's no throwing facts at you, she instead tells beautifully crafted stories, shares personal experiences from her time in the industry, and presents a balanced, honest look at the challenges we face in the energy sector.
The book covers everything from how different energy sources work to how sustainable they actually are with her own stories and experiences leading the chapters allowing them to be a blend of engaging, fun and clear all without feeling overwhelming. It’s clear, engaging, and refreshingly free of bias. Instead of pushing a single solution, Yasmin lays out the realities of our energy landscape—the good, the bad, and the complicated.
By the time I finished, I felt like I had gained a much deeper understanding of the energy world. More importantly, I felt inspired to keep learning. If you have even the slightest interest in how our world is powered, I can’t recommend this book enough.
November 27, 2025
Brilliant book, especially for someone non-technical. I was engaged right from the beginning and loved how Yasmin shared the energy journey through stories, it brought technical process and detail to life and I was left feeling both inspired and informed. I also enjoyed hearing the personal transformation Yasmin has been through and the thoughtful way she explored the inevitable trade offs of transitioning to a low carbon economy.
April 21, 2025
interesting and informative.
May 12, 2025
I used to think engineering was boring — until Yasmin Ali proved me wrong. Her enthusiasm for seemingly mundane things like pipes, wind farms, and concrete was infectious. Through her numerous personal stories — and she has had quite the adventures! — she captured my attention and subtly introduced scientific concepts that I absorbed without even realizing I was learning. I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in energy, but even more so to those who think they couldn't care less.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews