Impact of Renewable Energy Technologies on Sustainable Development

Abstract

Renewables have moved from the sidelines to the center of policy and investment. Evidence from IEA, IRENA, REN21, and recent studies shows steep cost drops in solar and wind, record capacity growth, and more jobs. Environmental gains (lower GHGs, cleaner air and water, smarter land use) come with economic and social upsides (jobs, energy security, rural access via decentralized systems). But real constraints persist: grid congestion, curtailment, flexibility gaps; high financing costs and regulatory uncertainty in emerging markets; supply chain risks; and community concerns over siting and land rights. The challenge has shifted from tech costs to system integration and governance—durable policies, markets that value flexibility, quicker permitting, and just transition tools. Priorities ahead: operating high VRE under extremes, long-duration storage and sector coupling (hydrogen, heat, industry), critical minerals and circularity, resilience to climate and cyber risks, and effective de-risking in the Global South. Copyright © 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global Scientific Publishing is prohibited. Use of this chapter to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is expressly prohibited. The publisher reserves all rights to license its use for generative AI training and machine learning model development.