Sustainable development is now more important than ever because of the escalating energy crisis and rising global temperatures. Renewable energy, sustainable energy sources, and a focus on low carbon emissions in the power system all help to promote sustainable development, but for these ideas to be effective over the long term, they must be integrated. In the process of integrating renewable energy sources into the current grid structure, these obstacles provide a new set of difficulties, including intermittency, system usage efficiency, and other issues. The remainder of this chapter discusses the many choices for switching power generation from conventional fossil fuel-powered sources to renewable energy and deals with the issue of sustainable development. The capacity and energy efficiency of the grid is increased by using renewable energy. The chapter's conclusion discusses the connections between energy, the environment, and climate change, as well as an example of how renewable energy may have a significant influence on conflict.
Top1. Introduction
The interlinked systems that make up the energy sector are undergoing a radical transformation, shifting away from an antiquated model dependent on fossil fuels to a more modern, clean, and intelligent infrastructure. Three technologies sit at the heart of this energy transition: renewable power generation, electric mobility ecosystems, and automated power system management. Implementing these technologies is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with global climate goals, improving energy access and security, and catalyzing economic growth through innovation.
However, the scale and complexity of transitions in a sector as enormous as energy present obstacles at systemic, regulatory, and social levels. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind remain more expensive than legacy assets in many contexts due to technological limitations and market barriers. The mass adoption of electric vehicles faces challenges in consumer acceptance, charging infrastructure availability, and grid integration. Modernizing power grids requires upgrading aging distribution infrastructure and overcoming cybersecurity threats and interoperability issues. Addressing these challenges is integral to unlocking the full potential of the renewable energy and mobility revolution.
Government policies are very supportive of renewable energy production, which is the primary factor in the decarbonization of the electricity sector. However, there are flaws in the way policies are designed, such as a lack of continuity across time, a lack of coordination between policies, and local protectionism. The development of policy instrument options for renewable power production as well as the underlying influencing variables must be understood by policymakers (Chai et al., 2023).
Many people believe that converting to electric drive systems in the transportation industry is the best method to reduce GHG emissions and meet climate change objectives. While the decreased use of fossil fuels reduces emissions in wealthier nations, there are unevenly distributed detrimental social and ecological side consequences, particularly in the Global South. Even while political and economic players are becoming more conscious of this unfair situation, lasting remedies are still lacking (Lehmann, 2021).
There has been a significant shift in recent decades away from the centralized structure and inherited physical components of power grids towards a decentralized structure and consumer interest in the democratization of energy, mostly based on a prosumer model (Mohammadi & Saif, 2023).
This paper analyzes the most promising renewable power generation technologies, electric vehicle ecosystem components, and power grid automation solutions. It assesses implementation challenges and recommends policies to accelerate sector-wide decarbonization while optimizing the reliability, resilience, and cost-efficiency of integrated energy systems. With the right strategies, the transition to clean energy can drive economic growth, enhance national security, and put emissions reductions within reach – delivering environmental sustainability alongside shared prosperity.