Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy and Social Equity

Adelynn Reeves, C. J. Mc Lin International Center for Water Resources Management, Central State University

Dr. Ramanitharan Kandiah, Professor and Associate Director, C. J. Mc Lin International Center for Water Resources Management, Central State University

Abstract.

While potential mitigation of the climate crisis is encouraging renewable energy technologies to  evolve rapidly, the global society has a responsibility to make sure that equity prevails in accessing these technologies.

There are a significant number of research publications regarding individual renewable energy technologies and relevant solid waste management strategies. However, there is only limited research on the social equity effects of renewable energy and generally this research covers social equity related to energy at a national scale and not a regional scale.

Some relevant individual renewable energy technologies include solar energy, geothermal energy wind energy, biomass, and hydropower. The rapid evolution of renewable energy technologies requires a comprehensive analysis of new solid waste management strategies to mitigate waste from end of life and damaged products as well as defective products from the manufacturing process.

Energy-related social equity can be broken down into many indicators, some of which are related to renewable energy implementation. These social equity indictors include accessibility, affordability, participation, health, environment, energy poverty, and employment. These indicators require a comprehensive review to analyze the numerous factors related to social equity and energy.

Thus, this paper intends to review these two issues, environmental impacts and social equity related to renewable energy technologies.

A comprehensive review of the environmental impacts of renewable energy and social equity related to renewable energy technologies can help to identify needs in environmental management strategies and gaps in the social equity plane. It can help researchers, engineers, and policymakers to have a holistic approach in developing renewable energy technologies.   

Keywords: Renewable Energy, Solid Waste Management, Social Equity, Environmental Impact