Renewable Energy and Sustainability from the Supply Side: A Critical Review and Analysis

Abstract

This article provides a critical review of the literature on the relationship between renewable energies and sustainability considering the three dimensions of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental. First, a bibliometric tool is used and then a more in-depth analysis of selected literature is performed, focusing on the type of renewable energy analyzed and the level of development of countries, the dimension of sustainability focused on and the country’s development level, and the type of renewable energies focused on and the dimension of sustainability analyzed. It represents a milestone in the topic giving insights on the state of the art of the research on this research area, enhancing empirical evidence on the kind of relationships and developing a discussion on how closely aligned the political and institutional discourses are with the research concerns. We conclude that, while studies on lower-income countries focus on lower-rung energies, studies on higher-income countries focus on the study of more diversified sources. Moreover, wind–solar energy is the most reported in the articles concerned with environmental sustainability. Our main recommendation is to further investigate the implementation of modern renewable energies in developing countries, to help those countries to climb the energy ladder toward cleaner energy supply.

Community Empowerment and Utilization of Renewable Energy: Entrepreneurial Perspective for Community Resilience Based on Sustainable Management of Slum Settlements in Makassar City, Indonesia

“…The results of research that support this study include the following: (1) Study conducted by Garrido, S., et al [75]: the focus of the study examines the relationship between renewable energy and sustainability by considering three dimensions of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental. The study results show that wind and solar energy are the dominant energy potentials that contribute to environmental sustainability toward the use of clean energy.…”

Designing biomass policy: The political economy of renewable energy for net zero

“…It is not enough to deploy a sustainable energy solution; mobilizing support will ensure the longevity of any benefits accrued from the transition. Despite this, Garrido et al (2020) find that while research in developed nations has shifted toward the environmental sustainability of renewable energy options, little analysis has been done on the transition to renewable energy technology concerning social, economic, or political factors. A political economy approach will consider these factors when investigating the societal, political, and economic systems that impact policy in relation to renewable energy deployment.…”

Economic Evaluation, Use of Renewable Energy, and Sustainable Urban Development Mamminasata Metropolitan, Indonesia

“…Thus, energy resources have the potential to become a source of investment, supply industrial raw materials, fulfill the transportation sector's fuel needs, and drive regional economic growth. One of the most effective ways to achieve sustainability targets, toward the use of renewable energy, is to reduce energy consumption [48,49]. The scarcity of non-renewable energy resources and the increasing demand require the use of renewable energy.…”