The impact of COVID-19 on the global renewable energy sector. An integrative review exploring the challenges and emerging opportunities

Abstract

The shift from traditional fossil fuel energy to cleaner, renewable energy has the potential to help achieve long-term sustainability goals. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the renewable energy sector. This study aims to provide an integrative review of the global impacts and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on the renewable energy sector and highlight the energy-related lessons and emerging opportunities by capturing the main trends in the field. First, the integrative review identifies five themes. Second, the study identifies the aspects of renewable energy that are influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Third, the study proposes a conceptual framework highlighting the impacts and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on renewable energy demand and consumption patterns, and these results are further supported by the aggregate dimensions identified through inductive analysis. The three main energy challenges are: the healthcare sector primarily dealing with disease control; associated environmental impacts with challenges relating to fluctuating and uncertain energy demand and consumption, structural and pattern changes, greenhouse gas emissions, local air quality, energy transmission infrastructure, and oil production and transmission network; associated economic impact dealing with industrial activities including households, agriculture, public and commercial sector, energy import/ export, sales revenue and expenditure, social sector factors, funding schemes, and subsidies, technology R&D, and overall economic welfare. The study also makes theoretical and practical propositions for researchers and policymakers.