Contribution of renewable energy (hydro, wind, solar and biomass) to decarbonization and transformation of the electricity generation sector for sustainable development
Abstract
Decarbonization of the energy sector to mitigate the consequences of climate change is possible by incorporating a greater share of electricity from renewable sources and thus reducing the share of fossil fuels in the energy mix, improving energy efficiency in general and increasing energy storage capacities. Renewable energies are increasingly permeating energy systems, causing significant shifts in the energy production mix. The success of transforming the electricity mix is dependent on the variability of renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic, wind, biomass, and hydro. The share of renewable sources in Romania’s energy mix was determined based on real data on electricity generation and consumption in 2019. However, the current electricity consumption has significantly surpassed the electricity produced from renewable sources. Specifically, the combined contribution of hydro, solar photovoltaic, wind, and biomass energy accounted for 39.86% of the total electricity consumption.