A global overview of renewable energy strategies

Abstract

Population expansion and increased industrialization are driving up global energy demand. Similarly, the most populous African country, Nigeria generates and transmits electricity far less than is required to meet her basic residential and industrial demands. Alternative means such as fossil fuel-powered generators to complement these demands are still not sufficient to meet these demands with notice to their limitation such as high lifecycle cost and carbon dioxide emission. Renewable energy resources are suitable substitutes for existing electricity sources to fulfil growing demand. Extensively in this paper, a review on the research progress of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRESs) and Integrated Renewable Energy Systems (IRESs) in the different continents of the world was presented considering methodologies, approaches, and parameters such as technical, economic, and emission limitation in determining the optimal renewable energy system in their present locality. According to the study's findings, about 63% and 22% of the research were conducted in Asia and Africa respectively, from which the research is mostly conducted in rural and remote areas of these continents.