Renewable Energy Systems as Catalysts for Green Energy Transition: a comprehensive review of existing literature

Abstract

This systematic review, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, investigates renewable energy systems as a critical strategy for advancing United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7)—ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy, particularly within the context of global climate change and energy poverty, with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Using the PRISMA framework, a thorough literature search was performed across Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, and Emerald. This process identified 32 peer-reviewed studies utilising keywords such as “Sustainable Development Goals,” “Renewable Energy Systems,” and “Green Energy Transition.” Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed publications that address energy transition pathways, barriers, and policy frameworks, while non-peer-reviewed sources were excluded. Data extraction involved a thematic synthesis of sector-specific dynamics, investment requirements, technological innovations, and governance challenges. Findings postulate that globally, renewable energy sources now account for over 40% of electricity production, primarily driven by technological advancements in solar photovoltaic, wind, and hydrogen electrolysis. In SSA, approximately 600 million people lack access to electricity, necessitating estimated investments of around USD 200 billion annually, equivalent to about 4% of regional GDP to expand capacity and upgrade existing grids. Achieving a renewable share of at least 32.63% is essential for sustainable productivity growth. Major barriers include high capital expenditure, governance issues, grid intermittency, and policy delays, whereas opportunities exist in regional hydropower integration, mini-grid deployment, and digitalisation initiatives. Theoretical implications affirm that, building upon the Multi-Level Perspective, the study introduces concepts such as “regime fragility thresholds” and polycentric transition models to elucidate systemic inertia despite technological advancements, incorporating frameworks of energy justice and planetary boundaries. Furthermore, the practical implications suggest policy recommendations encompass blended financial instruments, just transition funds, GIS-based site selection, regulatory simplification through one-stop shops, and AI-driven smart grid technologies. These measures aim to enable SSA to achieve 60–80% renewable energy penetration by 2030, fostering equitable and resilient decarbonization pathways.