2.3 Renewable Energy: Growth, Investment, Benefits and Deployment
RES integration is picking up ground. For the most part of renewable energy innovations, capacity and yield proceed to develop at a higher rate and their share in control division will be more than other routine advances, as outlined in Figure 2.23. Since 1990, RES has developed at a normal yearly rate of 2.2%. The development has been particularly tall for sun‐based photovoltaic and wind control, which developed at normal yearly rates of 46.2 and 24.3% separately. Sun‐oriented warmth developed with 11.7%, fluid biofuels developed with 10.4% and hydropower developed with 2.5% per year. Renewables worldwide add up to instated capacity and will proceed in its increment as shown by the 2040 projections in Figure 2.24. Renewables account for a rising share of the world's add up to power supply, the entire era from renewable assets increments by 2.9%/year, as the renewable share of world power era develops from 22% in 2012 to 29% in 2040, as outlined in Figure 2.25. Era from non‐hydropower renewables is the overwhelming source of the increment, rising by a norm of 5.7%/year, [56] Renewable energy can give a parcel of benefits to society, as outlined in Figure 2.26. In expansion to the lessening of carbon dioxide (CO2) outflows, governments have ordered renewable vitality (RE) arrangements to meet a number of goals including creation of neighborhood natural and wellbeing benefits; assistance of vitality get to, especially for country regions; headway of vitality security objectives by broadening the portfolio of vitality advances and assets; and progressing social and financial improvement through potential work openings. The combined financial, natural, wellbeing and climate benefits give a solid case for approach intercession to quicken speculation in RE around the world. Expanding the share of renewables can influence the world's economy through speculation, exchange and power costs, The RES industry remains one of the foremost dynamics, fast‐changing, and transformative divisions of the worldwide economy. Technology advancements, cost drops, and the catalytic effect of new financing structures, have transformed the sector into a driver of economic growth globally.
Figure 2.24 Predicted world total installed renewable generating capacity, 2011–2040, Adapted from [56].
Figure 2.25 Predicted world renewable electricity generation and their global share, 2011–2040, Adapted from [56].
Figure 2.26 Potential features of renewable energy sources integration.
World‐wide investment in renewables exclusive of hydro decreased by 23% to $241.6 billion, the lowest total since 2013, yet, a record integration of renewable energy capacity worldwide in 2016. Wind, solar, biomass and waste‐to‐energy, geothermal, small hydro and marine sources among them contributed to an increase amounting to 138.5 GW, up from 127.5 GW in the previous year. This 2016‐Gigawatt figure was almost 55% of all the producing capacity included globally, the greatest number to date. Installations increased in spite of the fact that the money invested declined because of the drastic drop in capital costs for solar PV, onshore and offshore wind. Figure 2.27 shows the trend of global new investment since 2004 in renewable energy. Moreover, the R&D investment levels for renewables in recent years are rising from private and governmental sectors as illustrated in Figure 2.28, [57, 58].
RES is attracting greater investments than fossil fuels. This suggests that green power is getting a large share of world capacity and generation, and could also be because the price of the project to produce energy from wind, solar, geothermal and small hydro is upfront. Fossil fuel plants cost less money to construct but have higher running costs, as the fuel has to be bought on a regular basis. Trade in renewable energy equipment and other investment goods and services will rise due to the scaled‐up employment in power and end‐use sectors. At the same time, this will decrease trade in other energy sources, particularly fossil fuels, which then can last longer for the earth. Therefore, due to the continuous employment in power and end‐use industries, trade in clean energy equipment and other investment products and service would rise. In comparison, the trade in alternative energy sources, particularly fossil oil, would decrease, which will be continued for a long time.
Figure 2.27 Financial investments in renewable energy by technology, 2004–2019, Adapted from [57].
Figure 2.28 Research and development costs on renewable energy, 2004–2019, Adapted from [57].
The benefits of integrating RES are enormous especially in social and environmental levels. The environmental advantages include Greenhouse gas emission reduction and pollution decrease. The number of jobs created from RE integration significantly rose over the last few years. The PV sector has the lion’s share by 3.6 created jobs as shown in Figure 2.29 followed by wind power by 1.16 million jobs. China is the largest RES manufacturer in the world with ever‐growing twin of energy supply and demand which made it a leader in this alternative transition. The employment rate will be extended from 9.2 to 24.4 million in 2030 [59].
Figure 2.30 shows a diagram of a renewable energy market development. Technological influence plays a vital role in the dynamics of renewable energy advancement; hence, efficiency and effectiveness of investments are determined, mainly the cost and maturity of a certain technology. Moreover, through time and the utilization of a technology rises, costs will be decreased. During this development process, the government is helpful in many ways, for instance, in supporting capacity expansions, setting regulations, and adopting worldwide implementation of renewable energy. Furthermore, market and consumers' satisfaction influence the producers of renewable energy in competing with conventional energy producers. Yet, financially, requirements are met with respect to profitability levels, estimated prices, demand, and costs. The market development process must also consider capacity expansion and short‐ to long‐term production planning. Lastly, the equipment utilized in renewable resources and its lifetime must be taken into account during this process [9].