Assessment of the role of renewable energy in achieving sustainable development goals

Worried by poverty, environmental degradation, inequality, and other unpleasant situations pervading the world, the United Nations initiated the sustainable development goals (SDGs) to end poverty, transform the world, ensure planet protection, and guarantee lasting peace and prosperity. The review provides updated information on how the adoption of renewable energy (RE) technologies can catalyze the attainment of SDGs. The deployment of RE technologies such as solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, and biofuels provides clean, affordable, accessible, and environmentally benign energy for diverse applications. The study establishes the contribution and correlation of RE technologies in various sectors provide clean and affordable energy, reduce poverty, promote clean water and sanitation, preserve natural habitats, and stimulate industrialization and sustainable economic growth. The article recommends practical solutions to the financial, institutional, technical, manpower, policy, and sociocultural challenges facing the RE sector. Governments should formulate appropriate legal, policy, and institutional frameworks to support innovative expertise and stimulate technical and financial investments in RE projects. More collaborative studies, funding, and aggressive manpower development are required in the RE sector to turn the challenges associated with the application of RE to opportunities for innovation and collaboration to build resilient systems supporting SDG achievement.