journal article
Open Access
Dec 31, 2024
A Comprehensive Review of Green Energy Technologies: Towards Sustainable Clean Energy Transition and Global Net-Zero Carbon Emissions
Abstract
The present paper seeks to showcase the significant potential of alternative energy technologies in driving clean energy transition. Renewable energy sources, including hydro, geothermal, biomass, solar, and wind energy, are developed and marketed as low- or non-carbon alternatives to conventional energy sources. However, the high upfront costs of these energy resources, coupled with their intermittency, are demerits that must be dealt with. Since certain nuclear technologies generate significantly less waste than coal and oil, nuclear energy is occasionally regarded as a green energy source, though the primary source of nuclear energy, namely uranium, is a finite resource. The main goal of developing green energy technologies is to provide energy in a sustainable manner while cutting down on waste and greenhouse gas emissions, thus reducing the overall carbon footprint of energy production.
Topics
No keywords indexed for this article. Browse by subject →
References
99
[1]
IISD (2024, August 23). World Population to Reach 9.9 Billion by 2050. SDG Knowledge Hub. Available online: https://sdg.iisd.org/news/world-population-to-reach-9-9-billion-by-2050/.
[2]
Wang "Technologies and perspectives for achieving carbon neutrality" Innovation (2021)
[3]
IEA, IRENA, UNSD, World Bank, and WHO (2024, August 23). Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report (2021). Available online: https://www.irena.org/publications/2021/Jun/Tracking-SDG-7-2021.
[4]
Weitz "Towards systemic and contextual priority setting for implementing the 2030 Agenda" Sustain. Sci. (2018) 10.1007/s11625-017-0470-0
[5]
IRENA (2024, August 23). Renewable Capacity Statistics 2024. Available online: https://www.irena.org/Publications/2024/Mar/Renewable-capacity-statistics-2024.
[6]
Statista (2024, August 23). Countries with the Lowest Access to Electricity. Available online: https://www.statista.com/statistics/264631/number-of-people-without-access-to-electricity-by-region/.
[7]
Zhang "Towards achieving status of green economy in OECD countries: Articulating the role of nuclear energy, greenfield investment and environmental taxation" Nucl. Eng. Technol. (2024) 10.1016/j.net.2024.06.012
[8]
Ali "A step towards a sustainable environment in top-10 nuclear energy consumer countries: The role of financial globalization and nuclear energy" Nucl. Eng. Technol. (2024) 10.1016/j.net.2024.08.011
[9]
Agrawal, S., and Soni, R. (2024, December 07). Renewable Energy. Available online: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781119741503.ch7.
[10]
Alghamdi "A statistical study for the impact of REMS and nuclear energy on carbon dioxide emissions reductions in G20 countries" J. Radiat. Res. Appl. Sci. (2024)
[11]
Galindo, A. (2024, August 23). What Is Nuclear Energy? The Science of Nuclear Power. IAEA. Available online: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-is-nuclear-energy-the-science-of-nuclear-power.
[12]
Barbarino, M. (2024, August 23). What Is Nuclear Fusion? IAEA, Available online: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-is-nuclear-fusion.
[13]
IAEA (2016). Nuclear Power and Sustainable Development, International Atomic Energy Agency.
[14]
World Nuclear Association (2024, August 23). Economics of Nuclear Powe-World Nuclear Association. Available online: https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/economic-aspects/economics-of-nuclear-power.
[15]
Energy Information Administration (EIA) (2024, December 09). EIA Nuclear Power Plants Generated 68% of France’s Electricity in 2021-U.S, Available online: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=55259.
[16]
WNISR (2024, October 25). The Annual Reports. World Nuclear Industry Status Report., Available online: https://www.worldnuclearreport.org/The-Annual-Reports.
[17]
IAEA (2023). IAEA World Fusion Outlook 2023, International Atomic Energy Agency.
[18]
Claessens, M. (2023). What Is Nuclear Fusion?. ITER: The Giant Fusion Reactor: Bringing a Sun to Earth, Springer International Publishing.
10.1007/978-3-031-37762-4
[19]
Strauss, M. (2024, August 23). EU Declares Nuclear and Gas to Be Green—DW–02/02/2022. dw.com. Available online: https://www.dw.com/en/european-commission-declares-nuclear-and-gas-to-be-green/a-60614990.
[20]
Vohra "Global mortality from outdoor fine particle pollution generated by fossil fuel combustion: Results from GEOS-Chem" Environ. Res. (2021) 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110754
[21]
Clayton "A review of radioactive waste processing and disposal from a life cycle environmental perspective" Clean Technol. Environ. Policy (2024)
[22]
WION News (2024, December 09). Storage of Nuclear Waste a “Global Crisis” as Stockpile Reaches 250,000 Tons: Report. WION. Available online: https://www.wionews.com/world/storage-of-nuclear-waste-a-global-crisis-as-stockpile-reaches-250000-tons-report-194068.
[23]
Jacoby, M. (2024, December 09). As Nuclear Waste Piles up, Scientists Seek the Best Long-Term Storage Solutions. Chemical & Engineering News. Available online: https://cen.acs.org/environment/pollution/nuclear-waste-pilesscientists-seek-best/98/i12.
[24]
Rose "How safe is nuclear power? A statistical study suggests less than expected" Bull. At. Sci. (2016) 10.1080/00963402.2016.1145910
[25]
UNODA (2024, August 23). Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)–UNODA. Available online: https://disarmament.unoda.org/wmd/nuclear/npt/.
[26]
World Nuclear Association (2024, August 23). Radioactive Waste Management-World Nuclear Association. Available online: https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-waste/radioactive-waste-management.
[27]
Office of Nuclear Energy (2024, August 23). Fission and Fusion: What Is the Difference? Energy.gov, Available online: https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/fission-and-fusion-what-difference.
[28]
Zheng "How do nuclear energy and stringent environmental policies contribute to achieving sustainable development targets?" Nucl. Eng. Technol. (2024) 10.1016/j.net.2024.04.046
[29]
Yablokov, A.V., Nesterenko, V.B., Nesterenko, A.V., and Sherman-Nevinger, J.D. (2010). Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment, John Wiley & Sons.
[30]
Jacoby, M. (2024, August 23). Low-Cost Polyurethane Sponge Cleans Oil Spills. Chemical & Engineering News. Available online: https://cen.acs.org/materials/coatings/Low-cost-polyurethane-sponge-cleans/98/i22.
[31]
Soto "Nuclear energy generation’s impact on the CO2 emissions and ecological footprint among European Union countries" Sci. Total Environ. (2024) 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173844
[32]
Akshay, V.R. (2024, August 23). Benefits of Solar Energy in Industries|A Must Read. Republic of Solar. Available online: https://arka360.com/ros/benefits-of-solar-energy-in-industries/.
[33]
Yasmeen "The role of wind energy towards sustainable development in top-16 wind energy consumer countries: Evidence from STIRPAT model" Gondwana Res. (2023) 10.1016/j.gr.2023.02.024
[34]
Nasruddin "Potential of geothermal energy for electricity generation in Indonesia: A review" Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. (2016) 10.1016/j.rser.2015.09.032
[35]
Currie "Green Hydrogen Driven by Wind and Solar—An Australian Case Study" Wind (2024) 10.3390/wind4020006
[36]
Fernandez, L. (2024, October 25). Topic: Global Wind Energy Market-Statistics and Facts. Statista. Available online: https://www.statista.com/topics/4564/global-wind-energy/.
[37]
Korte "Review and assessment of the German tidal energy resource" J. Ocean Eng. Mar. Energy (2024) 10.1007/s40722-023-00309-7
[38]
Palacios "Thermal energy storage technologies for concentrated solar power—A review from a materials perspective" Renew. Energy (2020) 10.1016/j.renene.2019.10.127
[39]
IEA (2024, December 02). NEA Projected Costs of Generating Electricity 2020 Edition. Available online: www.iea.org.
[40]
Benlemlih "Low-carbon movement and stock market uncertainty: Insights from international comparisons between fossil fuel companies" Energy Econ. (2024) 10.1016/j.eneco.2024.107746
[41]
Jia "Development and applications of photovoltaic–thermal systems: A review" Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. (2019) 10.1016/j.rser.2018.12.030
[42]
Prasetyo "The use of a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collector system as a sustainable energy-harvest instrument in urban technology" Heliyon (2023) 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13390
[43]
IRENA (2024, October 25). Renewable Energy and Jobs: Annual Review 2024. Available online: https://www.irena.org/Publications/2024/Oct/Renewable-energy-and-jobs-Annual-review-2024.
[44]
Mubarrat "Research Advancement and Potential Prospects of Thermal Energy Storage in Concentrated Solar Power Application" Int. J. Thermofluids (2023) 10.1016/j.ijft.2023.100431
[45]
Alami "Concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies: Status and analysis" Int. J. Thermofluids (2023) 10.1016/j.ijft.2023.100340
[46]
Schoeneberger "Solar for industrial process heat: A review of technologies, analysis approaches, and potential applications in the United States" Energy (2020) 10.1016/j.energy.2020.118083
[47]
Hassine, I.B., Helmke, A., Hess, S., Krummenacher, P., Muster, B., Schmitt, B., and Schnitzer, H. (2015). Integration Guideline—Solar Process Heat for Production and Advanced Applications. IEA SHC Task, 49.
[48]
Hiris "Preliminary sizing of solar district heating systems with seasonal water thermal storage" Heliyon (2022) 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08932
[49]
Zeman, F. (2012). 19-Solar energy in the built environment: Powering the sustainable city. Metropolitan Sustainability, Woodhead Publishing.
10.1533/9780857096463
[50]
IEA (2024, November 02). Making the Energy Sector More Resilient to Climate Change—Analysis. IEA. Available online: https://www.iea.org/reports/making-the-energy-sector-more-resilient-to-climate-change.
Showing 50 of 99 references
Cited By
37
Thermal flutter and buckling boundaries of PSC structures with surface cracks
Engineering Analysis with Boundary...
Jinjin Yuan, Hulun Guo · 2026
Metrics
37
Citations
99
References
Details
- Published
- Dec 31, 2024
- Vol/Issue
- 13(1)
- Pages
- 69
- License
- View
Authors
Cite This Article
Vinod Kumar Sharma, Giulia Monteleone, Giacobbe Braccio, et al. (2024). A Comprehensive Review of Green Energy Technologies: Towards Sustainable Clean Energy Transition and Global Net-Zero Carbon Emissions. Processes, 13(1), 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13010069
Related
You May Also Like
Alkaline Water Electrolysis Powered by Renewable Energy: A Review
Jörn Brauns, Thomas Turek · 2020
696 citations
Various Approaches for the Detoxification of Toxic Dyes in Wastewater
Abdulmohsen K. D. Alsukaibi · 2022
357 citations
Metal Ions, Metal Chelators and Metal Chelating Assay as Antioxidant Method
İlhami Gulçin, Saleh H. Alwasel · 2022
343 citations