Renewable Energy Technologies: Engineering Developments, Applications and Challenges
Keywords:
Renewable Energy, Solar Photovoltaic, Renewable Energy Technologies, Wind Energy, Energy Storage, Grid IntegrationAbstract
Renewable energy technologies have emerged as essential alternatives to fossil-fuel-based energy systems because of increasing energy demand, climate change and environmental concerns. This review examines recent engineering developments, applications and major challenges associated with renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, hydropower, biomass and geothermal energy. Recent advancements in photovoltaic materials, wind turbine design, energy conversion systems, energy storage and hybrid renewable systems have improved efficiency, reliability and flexibility. Renewable technologies are increasingly applied in utility-scale electricity generation, distributed and off-grid systems, hybrid energy systems and flexible power networks. However, intermittency, energy-storage limitations, grid-integration requirements, high initial investment, material constraints, environmental impacts and operation and maintenance requirements remain important barriers. The review highlights the need for continued technological innovation, improved grid infrastructure, sustainable materials, advanced storage and supportive policies to achieve reliable and sustainable renewable-energy deployment.
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