The unfettered
reliance on fossil fuels for centuries has pushed the world to the brink of severe
environmental crises. While individual studies on renewable energy generation capacity
have been conducted, a comprehensive analysis is lacking. This study aims to address
this gap by providing a comparative analysis of three major renewable energy sources—hydro,
solar, and wind— and their current global utilization statistics. Additionally,
it will examine the efficacy of fossil fuels
and their detrimental impact on the environment. Global warming and its associated
health consequences on the ecosystem are rapidly escalating. Without a complete
decarbonization of our energy systems, environmental deterioration is poised to
continue at an alarming rate. Fortunately, a plethora of traditional and renewable
energy resources exist that have minimal or no
environmental impact and have been available for years. However, these resources
remain largely untapped. The full potential of RE resources hinges on the development
of sustainable technologies to harness their energy to their fullest capacity. This
study delves into the current global and regional RE utilization from 2013 to 2022,
based on data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) 2023. The focus
is limited to the three primary renewable energy sources with the highest harnessing
capacity in recent times. Employing appropriate
mathematical analyses, the results reveal exponential growth in renewable
energy, with an average annual generating capacity of 2353550.7 MW over the past
decade. Hydroelectric power, solar power, and wind, among others, have played a
significant role in the global penetration of renewable energy systems. The changing
dynamics have propelled these RE resources into the spotlight in recent years, owing
to their sustainability and environmental friendliness.
References
[1]
Khalili, S. and Breyer, C. (2022) Review on 100% Renewable Energy System Analyses—A Bibliometric Perspective. IEEE Access, 10, 125792-125834.
https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3221155
[2]
Østergaard, P.A., Duic, N., Noorollahi, Y., Mikulcic, H. and Kalogirou, S. (2020) Sustainable Development Using Renewable Energy Technology. Renewable Energy, 146, 2430-2437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.08.094
[3]
Lee, H.C. and Ter Chang, C. (2018) Comparative Analysis of MCDM Methods for Ranking Renewable Energy Sources in Taiwan. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 92, 883-896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.05.007
[4]
Farah, P.D. and Cima, E. (2013) Energy Trade and the WTO: Implications for Renewable Energy and the OPEC Cartel. The Journal of International Economic Law, 16, 707-740. https://doi.org/10.1093/jiel/jgt024
[5]
Akpomie, K.G., et al. (2021) Fly Ash-Based Na-X Zeolite Application in Separation Process of Bovine Serum Albumin from Aqueous Solution in the Presence of Organic Substances with Anionic Character. Environ. Pollution, 14, 115-125.
[6]
Panhwar, A.H., Tuzen, M., Deligonul, N. and Kazi, T.G. (2018) Ultrasonic Assisted Deep Eutectic Solvent Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Using Azadipyrromethene Dye as Complexing Agent for Assessment of Chromium Species in Environmental Samples by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Applied Organometallic Chemistry, 32, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/aoc.4319
[7]
Lofrano, G., Libralato, G. and Brown, J. (2017) Nanotechnologies for Environmental Remediation: Applications and Implications. Springer, Berlin.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53162-5
[8]
Rehmani, M.H., Reisslein, M., Rachedi, A., Erol-Kantarci, M. and Radenkovic, M. (2018) Integrating Renewable Energy Resources into the Smart Grid: Recent Developments in Information and Communication Technologies. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 14, 2814-2825. https://doi.org/10.1109/TII.2018.2819169
[9]
Vainio, A., Varho, V., Tapio, P., Pulkka, A. and Paloniemi, R. (2019) Citizens’ Images of a Sustainable Energy Transition. Energy, 183, 606-616.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.06.134
[10]
Agbo, E.P., Edet, C.O., Magu, T.O., Njok, A.O., Ekpo, C.M. and Louis, H. (2021) Solar Energy: A Panacea for the Electricity Generation Crisis in Nigeria. Heliyon, 7, e07016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07016
[11]
Soltani, M., et al. (2021) Environmental, Economic, and Social Impacts of Geothermal Energy Systems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 140, Article ID: 110750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.110750
[12]
Isiksal, A.Z. (2021) Testing the Effect of Sustainable Energy and Military Expenses on Environmental Degradation: Evidence from the States with the Highest Military Expenses. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28, 20487-20498.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11735-7
[13]
Kelly-Richards, S., Silber-Coats, N., Crootof, A., Tecklin, D. and Bauer, C. (2017) Governing the Transition to Renewable Energy: A Review of Impacts and Policy Issues in the Small Hydropower Boom. Energy Policy, 101, 251-264.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.11.035
[14]
Hernandez, L., et al. (2014) A Survey on Electric Power Demand Forecasting: Future Trends in Smart Grids, Microgrids and Smart Buildings. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 16, 1460-1495.
https://doi.org/10.1109/SURV.2014.032014.00094
[15]
Arshad, A., Ashraf, M., Sundari, R.S., Qamar, H., Wajid, M. and ul Hasan, M. (2020) Vulnerability Assessment of Urban Expansion and Modelling Green Spaces to Build Heat Waves Risk Resiliency in Karachi. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 46, Article ID: 101468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2019.101468
[16]
Sahu, B.K. (2018) Wind Energy Developments and Policies in China: A Short Review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 81, 1393-1405.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.183
[17]
De Castro, M., et al. (2019) Europe, China and the United States: Three Different Approaches to the Development of Offshore Wind Energy. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 109, 55-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.04.025
[18]
Binz, C., Gosens, J., Hansen, T. and Hansen, U.E. (2017) Toward Technology-Sensitive Catching-Up Policies: Insights from Renewable Energy in China. World Development, 96, 418-437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.03.027
[19]
Novaes Menezes, E.J., Araújo, A.M. and Bouchonneau da Silva, N.S. (2018) A Review on Wind Turbine Control and Its Associated Methods. Journal of Cleaner Production, 174, 945-953. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.297
[20]
Cui, Q., He, L., Han, G., Chen, H. and Cao, J. (2020) Review on Climate and Water Resource Implications of Reducing Renewable Power Curtailment in China: A Nexus Perspective. Applied Energy, 267, Article ID: 115114.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115114
[21]
Zhang, H., Yang, J., Ren, X., Wu, Q., Zhou, D. and Elahi, E. (2020) How to Accommodate Curtailed Wind Power: A Comparative Analysis between the US, Germany, India and China. Energy Strategy Reviews, 32, Article ID: 100538.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2020.100538
[22]
Ju, X., Xu, C., Hu, Y., Han, X., Wei, G. and Du, X. (2017) A Review on the Development of Photovoltaic/Concentrated Solar Power (PV-CSP) Hybrid Systems. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 161, 305-327.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2016.12.004
[23]
Rajeshwari, K., Balakrishnan, M., Kansal, A., Lata, K. and Kishore, V.V. (2000) State-of-the-Art of Anaerobic Digestion Technology for Industrial Wastewater Treatment. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 4, 135-156.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1364-0321(99)00014-3
[24]
Peinado Gonzalo, A., Pliego Marugán, A. and García Márquez, F.P. (2020) Survey of Maintenance Management for Photovoltaic Power Systems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 134, Article ID: 110347.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110347
[25]
Jabeen, S., Malik, S., Khan, S., Khan, N., Qureshi, M.I. and Saad, M.S.M. (2021) A Comparative Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis on Sustainability of Renewable Energy Sources. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 11, 270-280. https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.10759
[26]
Bokor, B., et al. (2021) Mitigation of Climate Change and Environmental Hazards in Plants: Potential Role of the Beneficial Metalloid Silicon. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 416, Article ID: 126193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126193
