Renewable Energy in the Sustainable Development of Electrical Power Sector: A Review

The electrical power sector plays an important role in the economic growth and development of every country around the world. Total global demand for electric energy is growing both in developed and developing economies. The commitment to the decarbonization of economies, which would mean replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources (RES) as well as the electrification of transport and heating as a means to tackle global warming and dangerous climate change, would lead to a surge in electricity consumption worldwide. Hence, it appears reasonable that the electric power sector should embed the principles of sustainable development into its functioning and operation. In addition, events such as the recent European gas crisis that have emerged as a result of the massive deployment of renewables need to be studied and prevented. This review aims at assessing the role of the renewable energy in the sustainable development of the electrical power sector, focusing on the energy providers and consumers represented both by businesses and households that are gradually becoming prosumers on the market of electric energy. Furthermore, it also focuses on the impact of renewables on the utility side and their benefits for the grid. In addition, it identifies the major factors of the sustainable development of the electrical power sector.

Automated summary

The electrical power sector is crucial for economic growth and development worldwide. With the increasing global demand for electric energy, there is a need for the sector to embrace sustainable development principles and address issues such as recent crises like the European gas crisis caused by the deployment of renewables. The role and impact of renewable energy in the sector, as well as its benefits for the grid, are important factors for the sustainable development of the electrical power sector.