Renewable Energy Innovation Research Articles

Can clean energy and technology address environmental sustainability in G7 under the pre-set of human development?

Climate change presents challenges for both industrialized and developing nations, primarily due to insufficient pollution control. Increased fossil fuel usage escalates pollution levels, emphasizing the need to integrate more renewable energy into the energy mix, particularly to reduce carbon emissions. Consequently, public investment in renewable energy becomes pivotal to enhance the necessary technology for green energy production. Human development and technological progress play a crucial role in advancing green energy and ensuring environmental sustainability. This study addresses whether clean energy and technology can foster ecological sustainability in the G7 while considering human development. Findings emphasize the significance of public investments in renewable energy projects, technical innovation, and human development. Such investments are essential for augmenting renewable energy shares and lowering carbon emissions in the long run. The study proposes relevant policies to help G7 nations achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals related to green energy transition (SDG-7), environmental sustainability (SDG-13), and innovation (SDG-9). In essence, prioritizing renewable energy investment and innovation is imperative for sustainable development.

The innovation consumption mode of distributed renewable energy under resource bricolage: A case study of China

Developing distributed renewable energy is an inevitable choice for China to deal with environmental pollution and energy security. At present, the consumption of distributed renewable energy in China mainly depends on the power grid, but the amount of absorption is not ideal. Therefore, it is necessary to study the consumption mode of distributed renewable energy. This paper first analyzes the necessity of implementing the innovative consumption of distributed renewable energy power in China, discusses the consumption path of distributed renewable energy innovation based on resource bricolage, and analyzes the users in the innovation consumption path of distributed renewable energy power under the resource patchwork. It then proposes the innovation consumption mode of distributed renewable energy power under the resource patchwork: with distributed energy points as the center, the consumption model of "distributed renewable energy power + decentralized economy” is established. On this basis, the consumption mode of "distributed renewable energy power + distributed economy" is established. Finally, the dilemma of implementing the consumption model of distributed renewable energy under resource patchwork is discussed, and some suggestions are put forward for implementing the consumption model of distributed renewable energy under resource patchwork in China. The innovations in this paper include: (1) Analyzing the consumption of distributed renewable energy from the perspective of resource patchwork. (2) Pointing out the innovation absorption path of distributed renewable energy from the perspective of resource patchwork. (3) Proposing two modes of innovation consumption of distributed renewable energy power under the resource patchwork, namely "distributed renewable energy power + decentralized economy" consumption mode and "distributed renewable energy power + distributed economy" consumption mode.

Sparking stakeholder support: Creating personas for renewable energy innovation adoption based on qualitative data analysis

The success of innovations hinges on the relevant stakeholders' perceptions. While the success of some innovations—for example, those related to consumer products—often depends on only one stakeholder, the buyer, the success of other innovations, such as renewable energy sources, depends on multiple stakeholders. The traditional trend of focusing on only one stakeholder, the buyer, bears the risk of failing innovation adoption simply because it ignores other relevant stakeholders. We show the potential value of personas for the adoption and acceptance by multiple stakeholders of innovations related to renewable energy. We introduce personas as a qualitative research method because they offer clear and memorable access to relevant stakeholders' needs, goals, and frustrations regarding an innovation. We provide a valuable blueprint of a persona development process based on an acknowledged qualitative research method–thematic analysis. We also offer guidelines on developing personas and showcase how rigorous qualitative research can address existing critiques of persona development methods. Our study includes a case example of persona development based on 27 semi-structured interviews with different stakeholders of our case of agrivoltaics. Agrivoltaics is a dual land-use approach in which crop and energy production are combined in a complementary beneficial relationship. Based on this case, we demonstrate how personas offer a valuable qualitative research method to achieve better innovation development and adoption based on the perceptions of critical stakeholders toward innovations in society.

Do renewable energy, environmental regulations and green innovation matter for China's zero carbon transition: Evidence from green total factor productivity

Rapid developments in environmental infrastructure have contributed to significant improvements in green total factor productivity, but further investigation is required to provide a detailed assessment to understand the policy mechanisms involved. This paper analyzes environmental progress in China through MMQR, CCEMG, and AMG as empirical strategies for 30 provinces in China. Our empirical results reveal that energy optimization through renewable energy is the most effective channel to improve green total factor productivity, though it is not the only available option. Since environmental regulations, infrastructure development, and green technology innovation also directly impact energy efficiency, adopting these within policy channels will positively impact environmental sustainability. Our empirical approach helps suggest novel environmental policy suggestions. In particular, policymakers must introduce structural changes within energy developments to foster renewable energy. Furthermore, China must increase environmental spending to upgrade its energy infrastructure further and solve ecological issues. These insights offer valuable policy guidance for decision-makers in China and globally, aiming to foster economic and environmental sustainability and achieve zero-carbon transition goals.

The impact of environmental policy on renewable energy innovation: A systematic literature review and research directions

AbstractRenewable energy innovations are imperative to tackle the climate change crisis. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the effectiveness of environmental policies in promoting renewable energy innovations. To bridge this gap, we have adopted a systematic literature review process covering the period from 2005 to 2023. We identified and analysed 29 articles in our final sample. Further, we employ two levels of analysis (individual‐policy and policy‐mix levels) for analysing the extant research. Our findings show that fiscal incentives and emissions trading policies such as the European Union (EU) Emissions Trading System (ETS) consistently promote renewable energy innovations. In contrast, the effectiveness of feed‐in tariffs and quotas in supporting renewable energy innovations varies, reflecting diverse impacts across distinct regions and renewable energy technologies. Our analysis also suggests that combinations of various policy types can enhance innovation more effectively than individual policies. We contribute to the extant literature by developing a classificatory analysis of the effect of environmental policies on renewable energy innovations. Our review also provides research directions for future scholarship.

Environmental sustainability and green logistics: Evidence from BRICS and Gulf countries by cross‐sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS‐ARDL) approach

AbstractThe logistics sector plays a crucial role in supporting various aspects of the economy, making it an essential part of a nation's development. However, this sector also contributes to environmental pollution through various emissions. The adoption of environmentally friendly logistics practices presents a promising solution to mitigate adverse environmental impacts. This study aims to investigate the influence of economic growth, green innovation, foreign direct investment, transport emissions, renewable energy, and trade openness on green logistics in both Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) and Gulf countries from 1992 to 2020. This study used an advanced panel approach to obtain robust results, considering cross‐sectional dependency and slope heterogeneity. The cross‐sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag method was employed to analyze long and short‐run estimations. Our findings reveal that in Gulf countries, both transport emissions and foreign direct investment have a negative impact on green logistics. In the BRICS countries, economic growth, transport emissions, trade openness, renewable energy, and green innovation have a positive impact on green logistics. The study proposes several recommendations to improve logistics development in both groups of nations and promote sustainability. To achieve carbon neutrality, it is important to adopt green logistics, promote green investments, and support renewable energy, innovation, and sustainable growth.

Driving Green Technology Innovation in Renewable Energy: Does Venture Capital Matter?

Driving Green Technology Innovation in Renewable Energy: Does Venture Capital Matter?

Nexus between energy efficiency, green investment, urbanization and environmental quality: Evidence from MENA region.

Environmental protection holds a paramount position in the pursuit of sustainable development. The existing body of literature has extensively examined various driving forces for environmental enhancement, including renewable energy sources, innovation, and governmental interventions. This study aims to assess the impact of green investment, energy efficiency, and urbanization on achieving environmental sustainability in the MENA region during the period 2004-2019. A comprehensive set of econometric tools has been employed to achieve this goal, including the CADF and CIPS panel unit root tests, error correction-based panel cointegration analysis, Cross-sectional ARDL, and asymmetric ARDL models. The key findings of this research are as follows: Cross-sectional dependency and homogeneity tests demonstrated that the research units shared common dynamics and heterogeneity properties. The stationarity tests based on CIPS and CADF indicated that all variables became stationary after the first differencing. The panel cointegration analysis established a long-term relationship between green investment (GI), energy efficiency (EE), urbanization (UR), and environmental sustainability (ES) in MENA nations. Empirical model estimations using Cross-sectional ARDL revealed significant contributions of GI, EE, and UR to ES in the long and short run. The asymmetry assessment uncovered a nonlinear relationship between the explanatory and dependent variables, both in the long and short run. Specifically, the asymmetric coefficients of GI, EE, and UR displayed negative statistical significance at the 1% level, highlighting their significant roles in promoting environmental sustainability. In light of these findings, this study provides valuable insights for policymakers to formulate strategies to further environmental sustainability in the MENA region.

Emerging trends of carbon emissions and foreign direct investment: accounting for ecological footprints, renewable energy, globalization, and technological innovations in BRICS

This paper investigates the intricate interplay between carbon emissions and foreign direct investment within the context of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) for the period spanning 2000 to 2022. In our comprehensive analysis, we incorporate ecological footprint, renewable energy, globalization, and technological innovations as exogenous variables. Employing a system of simultaneous equations across the BRICS panel, we aim to fully elucidate the proposed relationships. Our empirical findings underscore the following key insights: foreign direct investment, technological innovations, and the adoption of renewable energy sources significantly contribute to the mitigation of carbon emissions in these selected nations. However, it is essential to note that ecological footprints exhibit a positive association with carbon emissions, raising concerns on two fronts: escalating environmental degradation and increased land pressure, both of which contribute to rising ecological footprints in BRICS countries. Additionally, our analysis reveals that foreign direct investment is influenced by its capacity to reduce carbon emissions and bolster renewable energy adoption, while globalization amplifies investment trends within the BRICS nations. To address the environmental repercussions of mining activities, it is imperative to implement stringent control and regulation measures, given their potential adverse impacts, including soil pollution, acid mine drainage, erosion, biodiversity loss, excessive water resource consumption, and wastewater disposal challenges. Nevertheless, proactive steps such as recycling mining waste, adopting environmentally friendly mining equipment, combatting illegal mining, and enhancing overall mining sustainability offer promising avenues to mitigate the environmental footprint of mining operations.

How does digital economy development affect renewable energy innovation?

The digital economy has been remarkably fueling the sustainability of renewable energy worldwide. However, how it accelerates renewable energy development, particularly renewable energy innovation, remains unknown. Using a panel of 65 countries from 2002 to 2019, this research applies a dynamic panel model to explore the relationship between the digital economy and renewable energy innovation and analyze their impact mechanisms. The heterogeneous effects of the digital economy on innovation are further investigated. The main empirical findings suggest that the digital economy has a significant positive impact on renewable energy innovation. Such an effect is also observed in solar, wind, and biomass energy but geothermal energy. Furthermore, the role of human capital, renewable energy investment, and market potential can contribute to this positive effect. Countries with high incomes, high policy intensity, and strong manufacturing fundamentals are found to have a more significant positive impact. It is therefore recommended that governments develop digital infrastructure and applications, integrate the digital economy with renewable energy, and improve renewable energy innovation.

Renewable energy in Morocco: Assessing resource curse risks

Renewable energy development and export creates an opportunity for low- and middle-income countries to foster green economic growth while supporting global decarbonisation. However, without careful assessment of risks, a renewable energy boom could create a resource curse which paradoxically slows growth and development. Here, the likelihood of a resource curse driven by renewable energy development in Morocco is evaluated. Specifically, 14 potential negative impacts of the resource curse (i.e. “symptoms”) relevant to renewable energy are studied. Through surveys with 21 Moroccan energy experts, the highest-risk (i.e. most likely and highest-impact) symptoms are found to be: (1) increased economic dependence on other countries and international organisations, (2) increased dependence on other countries for technology and expertise, and (3) damage to local flora, fauna, and landscape. The risks associated with these symptoms, while serious, are preventable via policy strengthening or intervention. Through 10 follow-up semi-structured interviews and subsequent complex systems analysis, the following policy interventions are identified to mitigate resource curse risks: careful negotiation of robust co-funding arrangements to safeguard Moroccan autonomy; the development of local renewable energy innovation capability, including technology manufacturing and test-bedding; and continuation and enhancement of environmental protection mandates.

Moving toward environmental mitigation in Algeria: Asymmetric impact of fossil fuel energy, renewable energy and technological innovation on CO2 emissions

Algeria's recent economic shifts have caused its macroeconomic data to exhibit an abnormal distribution, requiring a nonlinear approach to examine the asymmetric impact of technological innovation (TI), fossil fuel energy (FFE), and renewable energy (RE) on CO2 emissions. This study employs the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model to analyze the asymmetric impact of these factors on CO2 emissions. Furthermore, Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag (QARDL) and Quantile Granger Causality (QGC) approaches are employed for robustness checks. The NARDL results indicate that positive shocks in TI decrease CO2 emissions, whereas negative shocks increase CO2 emissions. Positive shocks in RE also decrease CO2 emissions, while negative shocks have no effect. In contrast, positive shocks in FFE increase CO2 emissions, but negative shocks have an even stronger effect, resulting in almost double CO2 emissions over time. These findings confirm the presence of asymmetry, as positive and negative shocks in regressors clearly influence CO2 emissions in Algeria. Moreover, the results from the asymmetric causality analysis indicate that TI, RE, and FFE have a causal effect on CO2 emissions in Algeria. These results are consistent with the findings from the QARDL and QGC approaches. Therefore, it is crucial for Algeria to prioritize investment in sustainable technology and implement carbon-neutral energy policies to reduce its reliance on fossil fuel and encourage the use of cleaner energy sources. The shift towards a green energy sector requires policymakers to ensure that innovation aligns with development objectives.

Green growth in the global south: How does metallic minerals affect GTFP enhancement?

Metallic mineral mining plays a pivotal role in the economic development of countries located in the Global South, necessitating a comprehensive assessment of its compatibility with environmentally sustainable progress. This study is grounded in an extensive analysis of panel datasets encompassing 134 nations in the Global South, spanning the years 2000–2019. We explore the impact of metallic mineral mining on GTFP by employing the system-generalized method of moments (SYS-GMM) approach. In addition, this study further conducts robustness and heterogeneity tests, and analyze the mediating and moderating effects. The principal findings are as follows: (1) The practice of metallic mineral mining exercises a dampening effect on the augmentation of GTFP, posing a significant challenge to the pursuit of environmentally sustainable economic progress; (2) Metallic mineral mining has the most severe adverse impact on GTFP in Latin America region; (3) Metallic mineral mining indirectly reduces GTFP by affecting the reduction of human capital levels; (4) The development of renewable energy and technological innovation have become potential antidotes to offset the adverse effects of metallic mineral mining on GTFP. Our research results offer practical and effective references for promoting sustainable green development in the Global South.

Nexus of green energy innovation, governance quality, and CO2 emissions in natural resource sector: The role of sustainable human development

Majority of the literature suggest that the determination of natural resources as either a curse or a blessing cannot be solely based on their impact on economic and social development. This study investigates the relationship between sustainable human development, governance quality, green energy innovation, and CO2 emissions in oil and gas sector of China. The data from 2002 to 2022 was taken for the analysis. This study employed the novel dynamic autoregressive distributed lag (D-ARDL) method to examine long-term and short-term relationships. Our results of short-term analysis demonstrated that all the variables – institutional governance, sustainable human development renewable energy innovation, government stability and renewable energy consumption–have an influential role in reduce carbon emissions. The results of long run analysis reiterate findings of short run, highlighting the inverse relationship of the variables with carbon emissions. The t-statistic shows of such relationships are statistically significant in the long run. The findings of the study offer valuable insights and empirical evidence to reduce emissions using governance quality, sustainable human development, green energy innovation and renewable energy consumption in oil and gas sector of China. Our findings demonstrate that implementation of these strategies require long-term commitment and concerted efforts.

Green innovation and environmental quality in OECD countries: the mediating role of renewable energy and carbon taxes

The exceptional rise in overall economic activities has deteriorated environmental sustainability around the world. However, countries around the globe are implementing strategies for reaching the global climate objective. For this purpose, OECD countries committed many efforts, although their pledges and results are not parallel to the level of the Paris Agreement’s ambition. This study examines the impact of eco-innovation, environmental taxes, and renewable energy consumption on the environmental performance of selected OECD countries over the period of 2006 to 2020. This study uses the generalized method of moments (GMM) and instrumental variables 2 stage least square (2SLS) methods. For robustness checks, this study uses a quantile regression approach. We conclude that an increase in the adoption of renewable energy and green innovation has a statistically significant impact on controlling CO2 emissions. Moreover, the empirical model is expanded by incorporating environmental taxes as an explanatory variable. The expanded model showed that the imposition of environmental taxes has a detrimental impact on the reduction of CO2 emissions. Moreover, on the contrary, an increase in economic activities, measured by GDP, is responsible for rising CO2 emissions in OECD countries. In light of the results we obtained, policy recommendations are provided.

Assessing the Potential of Artificial Intelligence in Advancing Clean Energy Technologies in Europe: A Systematic Review

This systematic review investigates the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing clean energy technologies within Europe, based on a literature survey from 2006 to 2023. The assessment reveals that AI, particularly through deep learning and neural networks, enhances the efficiency, optimization, and management of clean energy systems. Noteworthy is AI’s capacity to improve short-term energy forecasts, essential for smart cities and IoT applications. Our findings indicate that AI drives innovation in renewable energy, contributing to the development of smart grids and enabling collaborative energy-sharing models. While the research underscores AI’s substantial influence in Europe’s energy sector, it also identifies gaps, such as varied AI algorithm applications in different renewable energy sectors. The study emphasizes the need for integrating AI with emerging clean energy innovations, advocating for interdisciplinary research to navigate the socio-economic, environmental, and policy dimensions. This approach is crucial for guiding a sustainable and balanced advancement in the clean energy landscape, signifying AI’s pivotal role in Europe’s energy transition.

Convergence in renewable energy innovation and factors influencing convergence club formation

Innovation and adaptation of renewable energy technologies significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and increase energy efficiency. Understanding the convergence patterns in renewable energy innovation will enable policymakers to design policies to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy consumption and reduce CO2 emissions. This paper applies the convergence algorithm proposed by Philips and Sul to assess the convergence in renewable energy innovation for 90 countries covering the period between 1993 and 2018. This paper also examines the determinants/factors driving the convergence clubs of the countries using Probit and Logit regression. The convergence analyses suggest that there is no global convergence in renewable energy innovation. Findings highlight two convergence clubs: i) a club comprising more innovative countries and ii) another club that includes less innovative countries. We find that countries with higher income per capita, CO2 emissions per capita, research and development (R&D) investment, better environmental regulations and stronger institutional settings are more likely to be part of the innovative club. Countries should increase their R&D investment and environmental regulations and improve their institutional quality to increase their likelihood of belonging to a more innovative club. Furthermore, less innovative countries could promote policies to transfer renewable energy technologies from innovative countries.

Do technological innovations and clean energies ensure CO2 reduction in China? A novel nonparametric causality-in-quantiles

Sustainable manufacturing and green growth are prominent concerns for both advanced and emerging countries to reach the sustainable development goals. Most emerging economies rely heavily on fossil fuels to meet their energy needs, which increases greenhouse gas emissions and degrades environmental quality. This study accessed the role of renewable energy, trade globalization, and technological innovations in predicting environmental quality in China using quarterly data from 2001 to 2019. The study employed a novel nonparametric causality-in-quantiles approach, because causality may not exist in the mean, but a higher-order relationship may be observed in the variance. The outcomes revealed that renewable energy, globalization and technology, all have significant and asymmetric power to predict carbon emissions and ecological footprint in China. The main finding of the study is that technology seems to be the most significant predictor of carbon emissions, while the ecological footprint is highly driven by renewable energy. Based on these results, the Chinese government should reduce ecological degradation by increasing investments in technological progress and renewable energy to achieve sustainable development.

Towards a Sustainable Future: Green Recovery Initiatives in Germany, France, and Italy Post-Pandemic

This essay explores the concept of a "green recovery" in the post-pandemic context, focusing on the efforts of Germany, France, and Italy to integrate sustainability and environmental concerns into their economic and policy initiatives. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in these countries' economic structures, emphasizing the need for both economic recovery and climate action. The idea of a green recovery, which seeks to harmonize economic growth and environmental sustainability, is at the heart of their strategies. Germany, known for its commitment to renewable energy and environmental protection, has invested significantly in renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, public transportation, and research and innovation. France, in alignment with its climate goals under the Paris Agreement, has encouraged green investments, a circular economy, sustainable agriculture, and biodiversity conservation. Italy has focused on green infrastructure, sustainable tourism, renewable energy transition, and green job creation. The implications of these green recovery projects extend beyond their borders, potentially inspiring a global movement toward eco-friendly economic systems and climate mitigation efforts. These initiatives offer opportunities for green job creation, economic growth, and climate resilience, though they also require careful policy coordination and consideration of social equity. Germany, France, and Italy serve as examples of how sustainability can be integrated into post-pandemic recovery strategies, fostering a more inclusive, climate-friendly future.

On the resilience of innovation systems

ABSTRACT Mission-oriented innovation policies address urgent societal challenges, often through rapid technological upscaling. However, upscaling may endanger the resilience of an innovation system by limiting variety. A resilient innovation system is ambitious in scaling up while intelligently fostering variety. To assess resilience, a country’s technology portfolio needs to be contextualised against global trends. We introduce contextualised variety to uncover threats, windows of opportunity and poorly allocated resources and evaluate the maturing Dutch offshore renewable energy innovation system based on 236 R&D projects 12,000 industry contracts and 34 interviews. Our results indicate that the Netherlands invests in variety for its installation sector, bolstering resilience, while it neglects its foundations sector, indicating a threat. The Netherlands further supports a non-existent traditional wind turbine sector, suggesting poor resource allocation. However, it backs disruptive wind turbines, a window of opportunity contingent on upon concerted innovation policy. This framework demonstrates how to evaluate the resilience of any innovation system.