The Concept of Multiple Impacts of Renewable Energy Sources: A Critical Review

Michaela Makešová and Michaela Valentová
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Michaela Makešová: Department of Economics, Management, and Humanities, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University, 166 27 Prague, Czech Republic
Michaela Valentová: Department of Economics, Management, and Humanities, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University, 166 27 Prague, Czech Republic

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: Reaching climate neutrality by 2050 is one of the main long-term objectives of the European Union climate and energy policy, and renewable energy sources (RES) are integral parts of this transition. RES development results in many effects, direct and indirect, linked to each other, societal, local and individual, i.e., “multiple impacts of RES” (MI RES). These effects need to be carefully assessed and evaluated to obtain the full picture of energy field transformation and its context, and enable further development of RES. Nevertheless, the MI RES concept is often presented misleadingly and its scope varies throughout the literature. This paper provides a literature overview of the methodologies of this concept and presents a new concept of MI RES, respecting the difference between effects resulting from the implementation of RES and ultimate multiple impacts. We have summarized the effects into four groups: economic, social, environmental, and technical, which all lead to group of ultimate multiple impacts. Finally, we provide the complex overview of all MI RES and present the framework, which is used to analyze the multiple impacts and effects of RES and to show how the RES development leads and contributes to these impacts and effects. The concept is recommended to be considered in designing a robust energy policy by decision-makers.

Keywords: multiple impacts of RES; energy policy; co-benefits; employment; air pollution; GDP; energy poverty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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