Introduction and Review of Papers
The increasing preference for renewable energies globally has been a significant part of development of societies and the improvement of technology is enhancing the viability of technologies. The motivation behind this research was to improve the capabilities of sustainable energies and understand their contribution to societies and the positive impacts that arise from their use. In this respect, the underlying guide in this study is the use of renewable energy technologies and their development in enhancing societal welfare and being. However, the impact may vary from one society to another, despite the impact being uniform across the globe. In this respect, this study examines developments and knowledge and the literature in this respect over the past ten years, between 2013 and 2023.
The selection of the articles for the study was conducted by searching through major databases that provided insight into the studies that would be incorporated. This involved first selecting 5 main databases including; Web of science, Scopus, Science Direct, ProQuest and GeoRef. These provided significant primary and secondary sources and credible research that would contribute to the study. In finding then studies, it involved using the keywords, mainly; renewable, welfare and technology. However, more clearer results were established when the phrases, renewable energy technology and societal welfare were used. The search yielded over 150 article and studies within the selected 10-year time frame. However, an elimination criterion that involved removing articles that did not show a relationship between the two phrases or link one to another was used, with only about 30 articles remaining. However, not all were used in the study. The results set the guide for the study and provided the sources that underlie this study. This was necessary in order for this study to capture the full extent of developments and any literature that was made during this period. The study provides a path for future studies to follow.
Some of the major papers that contribute the most to this study include:
- A Systematic Literature Review of the Interplay between Renewable Energy Systems and Occupant Practices Of 2017 by Malatesta et al. The study provides a framework for this review by examining the relationship that exists between renewable energy systems and the practices of occupants of specific geographical areas. In this respect, it discusses critical aspects in respect to technology consumer policies, social norms and also institutional readings.
- In a 2018 study by Laurette et. Al. to examine the social and economic effects of renewable energy technologies, the study found that there are significant economic and social benefits arising from the use of renewable energy and the development of this technology. Advancements have enabled the technology to become efficient and cheaper.
- Finally, a study by Sharma et al., 2022 , titled transitioning green finance from theory to practice for renewable energy development tries to show how green finance has been Instrumental in finding green energy sources. It cites the extent to which financing has grown to push for renewable energy technology developments and platforms aimed to enhance their applicability.
Summary and Discussion
Renewable energies have increasingly gained attention globally while pursuing cleaner and sustainably cleaner energies. The implementation of renewable energy systems presents a prospective resolution to the issue of residential energy consumption. An investigation conducted by Malatesta, Morrison, Breadsell, and Econ (2023) examined the interaction that exists between occupant practices and renewable energy systems. The relationship between occupant practices, residential energy demand, and energy systems was investigated through a systematic literature review of 123 periodicals. This study identified significant research gaps and drew essential conclusions from previous studies regarding the integration challenges of renewable energy systems into daily life. The implementation of renewable systems is hindered by many personal and social obstacles that impede behavior modification (Malesta et al., 2023). This study illustrated how social and technological advances may be used to address household energy demand in a multidisciplinary manner (Malesta et al., 2023). The research pointed out both strategies’ shortcomings in sustaining behavioral changes. Residential spaces are increasingly seeing the development of automation systems and renewable energy sources; nevertheless, these advances should consider the results of this research, which highlight the significance of the social aspect of resource use. According to the study, interventions must go beyond technical developments and include social and behavioral components and technological breakthroughs to utilize renewable energy technology fully. It promotes an all-encompassing strategy that actively engages with occupant practices and acknowledges the importance of societal acceptability. As a result, the study’s research fits the issue by highlighting the complex interactions between renewable energy sources and societal well-being, offering insightful information for a more prosperous and long-lasting switch to cleaner energy sources.
Laureta, Rogges, and Constantiello (2018) further explored the economic and social effects of renewable energy technologies. This study examines the sociopolitical dimensions of the energy sector in OECD countries over twenty-five years. The dependent variable in the processed data panel is unemployment, while the independent variables are energy and economic factors. According to the research, the rise in unemployment is predominantly influenced by economic factors such as GDP. The OLS model demonstrates significant relevance across all energy variables. Notably, it deduces a reversal of the relationship between unemployment and solar energy, supported by a p-value of 0.0014. The relationship between GDP and unemployment is insignificant, as GDP fluctuations have predominantly affected sectors that require substantial capital. However, changes in investment have a positive effect on unemployment. The researchers concluded that renewable energy derived from solar and biomass generates indirect and induced benefits for the economies of OECD nations, including reduced unemployment. The study’s focus on the induced and indirect effects of renewable energy, particularly from solar and biomass sources, aligns with the more significant idea that renewable energies benefit OECD countries’ economies. The report also offers proof of the financial advantages of adopting renewable energy, notably concerning lower unemployment. This relates to the issue because it shows how renewable energy technology may benefit social welfare through economic channels. This has significant ramifications for stakeholders and politicians who support sustainable economic growth.
Moreover, Petrakopoulou (2017) argues that a route toward sustainable development and regional energy independence may be found in using renewable energy sources. Specifically, energy autonomy based on renewables is feasible in remote places. An overview of the utilization of renewable energy in an energy autonomy plan for a Mediterranean island is presented in this study. Personal discussions with local officials and citizens were also a part of the study. The findings indicate a generally favorable view on applications of renewable energy. Most responders favor small-scale, renewable energy projects that fit local energy autonomy situations.
Furthermore, they firmly believe that reducing the environmental effects of conventional fuels may be achieved by expanding the usage of renewable technology (Petrakopoulou, 2017). While most people detest nuclear and coal power plants, they are typically more receptive to developing solar, wind, and geothermal energy systems. Petrakopoulou’s (2017) study, which emphasizes the potential for sustainable development and regional energy autonomy through renewables, substantially adds to examining renewable energy technologies and their influence on societal welfare. The research provides a practical viewpoint on the decentralization of energy production, which focuses on the viability of obtaining energy autonomy based on renewable sources, especially in isolated locations. The favorable reception of renewable projects and the desire for ecologically friendly alternatives demonstrate the study’s applicability to the larger subject of renewable energy’s influence on societal well-being.
Bhuiyan et al. (2022) further investigated the relationship between renewable energy consumption and economic growth. The researchers claim that economic progress requires the effective use of energy. More nations are attempting to utilize more energy from renewable sources as they produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions. More nations are attempting to utilize more energy from renewable sources as they produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, all developed or emerging countries must continue to expand economically. This article compiles peer-reviewed, SCI/SSCI-indexed journal publications and systematically evaluates the relationship between renewable energy use and economic growth. From 2010 to 2021, 46 articles were examined per PRISMA principles. Thus, the research findings depict that using renewable energy has no negative impact on economic growth in developed or developing countries (Bhuiyan et al., 2022). However, in developed nations, using renewable energy at a threshold level has minimal effect on economic growth. The study by Bhuiyan et al. (2022) illuminates the complex dynamics between energy usage and economic advancement. It makes a significant contribution to the examination of the link between renewable energy consumption and economic growth. The researchers’ claim that efficient energy use is essential for economic growth lays the groundwork for comprehending the vital role that renewable energy plays in this situation. The study’s focus on the worldwide movement toward using more renewable energy sources is consistent with sustainable and cleaner energy practices. The fact that both rich and developing nations are taken into account illustrates how universal the problem of striking a balance between environmental sustainability and economic growth is.
Moreover, the concept of a synergy between social services and state-of-the-art renewable energy technology was also examined by Gagnon (2013). This aims to provide the general people with “free” services. If ‘dense’ renewable energy generating technologies allowed the physical buildings containing social services to sell megawatts of power, these ‘free’ services might occur. This is the source of funding required to maintain the specific social service. The procedure can avoid paying the public treasury. Establishing a framework enabling the market to promote the expansion of “free” social services and the spread of renewable energy technology may remove governments from the nanny-state vs. neoliberal arguments (Gagnon, 2013). Private investors may benefit from financial gains through the revenue produced by renewable energy technologies. Private investment would encourage more social services to be provided. Synergies between social services and modern renewable energy technologies, by Gagnon (2013), is an innovative lens towards understanding how society benefits from applying renewable energy technologies. The innovative idea is to integrate renewably based densely concentrated generation and build social infrastructure to provide “free services .”This research suggests that this financing mechanism for social services should be independent of money extracted from the public treasury. It is a new way of making ends meet by supporting society from other sources besides governments’ budgets.
In the “post-Fukushima era,” Park (2021) investigated people’s opinions of renewable energy technology in more detail. The study looks at how South Korea’s public perceives renewable energy technology. Using data gathered in 2016, the researcher confirmed the structural relationships and found that the public’s desire to adopt these technologies was primarily determined by factors such as trust, benefits, risks, and attitude; in particular, the public’s attitude was found to be the most critical factor in determining this desire. Limitations and consequences are discussed in light of the findings. The study discovered that people were starting to learn about renewable energy technologies and recognize some of their advantages and disadvantages. The current study’s results offer noteworthy evidence that the Fukushima nuclear accident, which happened in a nation close to South Korea, has consistently and continuously influenced the public’s perceptions of specific energy technologies, even though the accident was not directly related to renewable energy technologies (Park, 2021). Park’s (2021) study on public perceptions of renewable energy technology, especially in light of the “post-Fukushima era,” has significant ramifications for the subject of renewable energy’s influence on the well-being of society as a whole. The study’s focus on public opinion in South Korea offers insightful information on the forces influencing society’s views toward renewable technology. Several crucial aspects, including trust, advantages, dangers, and attitude, influence the public’s propensity to adopt renewable energy. This shows the complex nature of social adoption. Policymakers and other stakeholders actively encouraging renewable energy use must understand these elements because they highlight the need to address not only technical but also social and perceptual concerns.
Analysis
The concept of green finance has gained prominence as a comprehensive approach that extends beyond tools for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change to encompass a more comprehensive array of environmental issues, such as waste management, ecological protection, industrial pollution control, and sanitation and hygiene (Sharma et al., 2022). Utilizing a bibliometric and subjective review of sample studies, the study utilizes an integrative methodology to comprehend knowledge in green finance and its evolution from theory to practice. This indicates the current state of research and its evolutionary tendencies. The study examines publications emphasizing green finance’s diverse dynamics through bibliometric analysis. A sample of 222 pertinent papers was obtained from the Scopus databases and Web of Science (Sharma et al., 2022). Therefore, the research supports the implementation of renewable energy via green financing, underscoring its capacity to tackle a broader range of environmental issues and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The investigation of green finance by Sharma et al. (2022) adds an important viewpoint to the more comprehensive study of the influence of renewable energy on societal well-being. The report highlights green financing as a holistic strategy covering various environmental challenges, from waste management to ecological conservation and sanitation and combating climate change. This inclusive approach highlights the connections between different ecological challenges and aligns with the growing awareness of environmental sustainability.
Contribution to Knowledge
The findings in this study have made significant contributions to the academic literature of environmental studies. There is an increasing global academic consensus on the demand for renewable energy sources technologies, and significant efforts are being geared towards pushing for the adoption of sustainable energies and recognizing their critical role in developing communities. The knowledge contained in this study has significantly shown the concept of renewable energy and its significance in developing communities and improvement. The study has clearly defined the concept, bringing it to unanimous agreement on what is defined as renewable energy and the challenges faced in its development worldwide. The study places value on exploring the entire scope of renewable energy sources and issues that are likely to influence the perception of renewable energy practices globally. The outcomes of this study provide critical insight and numerous aspects that are of practical value and have policy implications in the energy sector. They are critical insights to policymakers and decision-makers globally, driving energy application and use and also directing the future of technological innovation. With the input of public participation and their recognition as the beneficiaries of these systems continue to be a significant contributors to sustainability and policy development.
Limitations and further research
The contributing studies in this review have extensively explored the numerous limitations through the literature and sources applied in this study. A major problem in this study is that the study has been significantly shaped by Western literature and aspects. This has made the views of Western researchers have been taken to be representative of the entire world, portraying the entire globe and its renewable energy state as an industrialized, rich, and democratic society. This significantly ignores the efforts and commitments of Asian and African economies that have made significant improvements and developments in renewable energy and have been significant contributors to the move towards shifting societies in this direction. Additionally, the majority of the publications used in this study were mainly academic sources from academic databases. This meant that there is a potential that there are influential and prominent articles or publications from nonacademic databases, including the UN and country-specific sources, that are omitted from the study.
Additionally, it cannot be avoided that in every study, there is always some potential for the researchers’ own bias to influence the study in some direction. This argument specifically applies to this study in the selection of the themes applied. There is a significant bias towards selecting only positive themes or aspects of renewable energies without considering the potential costs or long-term implications that might be negative. These have been significantly reflected in the outcomes that the study proposes.
Recommendations
Consequently, this study has provided a review of the potential for renewable energy technologies and their development. It has also shown their potential social impact and massive contribution to society. However, there is still room for improvement and significant contribution to the field, including that as most scientific literature focuses on technical aspects of renewable energy, the social and environmental aspects have taken a back seat, with less focus being put on examining the true social benefit of these technologies. Aspects such as promoting better work conditions, stimulating the creation of technology, and seeking innovative capabilities while promoting inclusion in communities and fair working conditions. Additionally, with the shift from fossil fuels, there has been significant growth in interest in fuels of non-fossil origin. However, it is prudent that this be studied more broadly and closely to determine exactly the potential technical and economic impacts associated with them and also assess their sustainability capabilities and potential contribution to economies. The results of this study have significantly changed the potential capabilities that renewable energies introduced to society, and this is crucial for policymakers and stakeholders to assist their strategies in order to improve their decision-making and in his the chances of using these technologies for good.
References
Bhuiyan, M. A., Zhang, Q., Khare, V., Mikhaylov, A., Pinter, G., & Huang, X. (2022). Renewable Energy Consumption and Economic Growth Nexus—A Systematic Literature Review. Frontiers in Environmental Science, p. 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.878394
Gagnon, J. P. (2013). Development by synergizing renewable energy with social services. International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 7(4), 356. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijisd.2013.057039
Juszczyk, O., Juszczyk, J., Juszczyk, S., & Takala, J. (2022). Barriers for Renewable Energy Technologies Diffusion: Empirical Evidence from Finland and Poland. Energies, 15(2), 527. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15020527
Laureti, L., Rogges, M. G. L., & Costantiello, A. (2018). Evaluation of economic, social effects of renewable energy technologies. Journal of Environmental Protection, 9(11), 1143-1154.
Malatesta, T., Morrison, G. M., Breadsell, J. K., & Eon, C. (2023). A Systematic Literature Review of the Interplay between Renewable Energy Systems and Occupant Practices. Sustainability, 15(12), 9172. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129172
Park, E. (2021). Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy Technologies in the Post-Fukushima Era. Frontiers in Psychology, p. 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.612090
Petrakopoulou, F. (2017). The Social Perspective on the Renewable Energy Autonomy of Geographically Isolated Communities: Evidence from a Mediterranean Island. Sustainability, 9(3), 327. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9030327
Sharma, G. D., Verma, M., Shahbaz, M., Gupta, M., & Chopra, R. (2022). Transitioning green finance from theory to practice for renewable energy development. Renewable Energy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2022.06.041
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