Author(s)

Jusu Momoh Ngobeh^1*, Mustapha Sannoh², Joseph Thullah³

¹Parul Institute of Engineering and Technology, Parul University, Vadodara, India.
²Ministry of Energy, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
³Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, China.

The unfettered reliance on fossil fuels for centuries has pushed the world to the brink of severe environmental crises. While individual studies on renewable energy generation capacity have been conducted, a comprehensive analysis is lacking. This study aims to address this gap by providing a comparative analysis of three major renewable energy sources—hydro, solar, and wind— and their current global utilization statistics. Additionally, it will examine the efficacy of fossil fuels and their detrimental impact on the environment. Global warming and its associated health consequences on the ecosystem are rapidly escalating. Without a complete decarbonization of our energy systems, environmental deterioration is poised to continue at an alarming rate. Fortunately, a plethora of traditional and renewable energy resources exist that have minimal or no environmental impact and have been available for years. However, these resources remain largely untapped. The full potential of RE resources hinges on the development of sustainable technologies to harness their energy to their fullest capacity. This study delves into the current global and regional RE utilization from 2013 to 2022, based on data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) 2023. The focus is limited to the three primary renewable energy sources with the highest harnessing capacity in recent times. Employing appropriate mathematical analyses, the results reveal exponential growth in renewable energy, with an average annual generating capacity of 2353550.7 MW over the past decade. Hydroelectric power, solar power, and wind, among others, have played a significant role in the global penetration of renewable energy systems. The changing dynamics have propelled these RE resources into the spotlight in recent years, owing to their sustainability and environmental friendliness.

Renewable Energy, Sustainable, Environment, Technology, Optimization

Ngobeh, J. , Sannoh, M. and Thullah, J. (2023) A Comparative Analysis of the Sustainable Growth of Global Hydro, Solar, and Wind Power Systems (Renewable Energy Systems). Open Journal of Energy Efficiency, 12, 49-61. doi: 10.4236/ojee.2023.123005.