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| Proceedings of the conference on Public innovation, develoPment and sustainability
energy sources. IEA (2021) states that fossil fuels are the dominant contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which play a significant role in exacerbating climate change and creating detrimental environmental and health effects globally (IEA 2021). Thus, the transition to renewable energy systems such as solar, wind, and hydropower is crucial in lowering carbon emissions and aligning with international climate objectives, particularly those outlined in the Paris Agreement (UNFCCC 2015). The shift from fossil fuels to RET further presents countries with an opportunity to lower their carbon footprint, thus contributing to global efforts in mitigating climate change. As highlighted in the IRENA (2021a) report, RET not only reduces GHG emission, it further reduces a host of other environmental impacts linked to fossil fuel consumption, including air and water pollution, land degradation, and the destruction of natural habitats. As aforementioned, solar and wind energy systems have a much smaller environmental footprint compared to traditional fossil fuel power plants, which consume vast amounts of water and land while emitting harmful pollutants into the atmosphere and water bodies. Furthermore, technologies like hydropower and biomass can be implemented with minimal environmental disruption by employing sustainable water management practices and avoiding practices like deforestation or significant land-use changes (IRENA 2021b). This comprehensive environmental benefit reinforces the importance of RET as a viable alternative for sustainable development.
In addition to environmental advantages, the adoption and implementation of RET is a powerful catalyst for economic activity, driving job creation, fostering innovation, and stimulating economic growth. According to IRENA (2021a) the renewable energy sector is among the fastest-growing industries worldwide, providing significant employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in both developed and developing countries. According to the IRENA, more than 11 million jobs were supported globally by the renewable energy sector in 2019, with substantial growth in key areas such as solar photovoltaics, wind power, and hydropower (IRENA 2020). In addition, the advancement and widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies have spurred the development of new industries related to the manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of these systems, alongside growth in research and development sectors. While countries globally focus on rebuilding their economies in the post-COVID-19 era, RET stands as a key driver for sustainable economic growth, offering both environmental protection and economic resilience.
relevant peer-reviewed articles, reports, and case studies published between 2010 and 2024. The search was guided by predefined keywords such as ‘renewable energy technology’, ‘innovation for development’, ‘coronavirus pandemic’, ‘community involvement’, ‘energy transition’, ‘climate change mitigation’, and ‘socio-economic development’. Boolean operators (AND, OR) were used to refine the search results, ensuring that all relevant studies were captured. Moreover, reference lists from key articles were manually searched to identify additional studies that were not retrieved through the initial search process.
Inclusion criteria for this review were established to ensure that selected studies were both relevant and credible. Studies were included if they: (1) discussed the implementation or impact of RET in the context of innovation and sustainable development in the post- COVID-19 era; (2) focused on the application of the I4D framework or related innovative approaches to RET; (3) addressed community involvement or socio-economic impacts of RET; and (4) were published in peer-reviewed journals or reputable reports. Studies that focused on RET exclusively in pre-pandemic contexts or that did not provide empirical evidence on innovation or community engagement post-COVID-19 were excluded. Furthermore, only studies published in English were considered, to maintain consistency in language analysis. Titles and abstracts were initially screened to remove irrelevant studies, followed by a full-text review of potentially eligible articles.
A standardised data extraction form was used to capture essential information from the included studies, including study objectives, methodologies, key findings, and conclusions. The data extracted facilitated a comparative analysis of how innovation frameworks, such as I4D, have been applied to RET initiatives in the post-COVID-19 era. There was an emphasis on case studies that demonstrated community involvement and sustainable approaches in RET implementation. The quality of the studies was assessed using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklists (Frain, 2025) focusing on methodological rigour, validity, and relevance. The findings from the selected studies were synthesised into thematic areas such as technological innovation, community engagement, and policy support, providing a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing the successful adoption and sustainability of RET in the context of innovation and sustainable development in the post-pandemic world.
results
Regional case studies: RET in action
In order to understand the potential of RET in promoting sustainable development, this section presents regional case studies illustrating the successful implementation
Systematic review method
A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including Web of Science, UKZN Library, Google Scholar, and PubMed, to identify