Analysis of Renewable Energy Sustainability in a Developing Country

This report delves into the critical topic of renewable energy sustainability within developing countries, focusing on sources like geothermal, solar, biomass, wind, and hydroelectric energy. It examines how these energy sources can contribute to economic growth and sustainable development. The report highlights the benefits, such as reduced reliance on fossil fuels, stable energy prices, and positive health impacts due to decreased pollution. It uses examples like Costa Rica and China to illustrate the successful implementation of renewable energy. Challenges, such as the unreliability due to atmospheric changes and high upfront investment costs, are also discussed. The report emphasizes the importance of government support, careful planning, and maintenance to ensure the long-term sustainability of renewable energy projects, ultimately contributing to a healthier environment and improved living standards in developing nations.

Running head: RENEWABLE ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 1
Renewable energy sustainability in a developing country
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RENEWABLE ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 2
Renewable energy sustainability in a developing country
Renewable energy commonly used in the developing countries include geothermal,
solar, biomass, wind power as well as hydroelectric energy (Rybár et al., 2015). I believe the
use of this kind of energy by the developing countries could be beneficial to their
developments and it could be possible to sustain it to achieve economic growth (Quaschning,
2016). Renewable energy sustainability in a developing country is a critical topic of
discussion which should be evaluated keenly. Development is great achievement the
countries can have for their economic growth. It is important, therefore, that the country
chooses developments that it can easily sustain. Developing countries that use renewable
energy include Costa Rica, China, India, Thailand as well as Argentina.
Sustainable developments are the developments that ensure the current wants of the
populations are met but does not at one point compromise the ability of the generations to
meet their needs. This means that developments should be made without destroying the
environment. Currently, in the developing countries, an approximate population of around
40% in most cases the low and middle-income earners have challenges accessing the modern
energy thus rely on the traditional energy sources (Callaway et al., 2015). The major problem
when dealing with renewable energy sustainability is the reduced energy generation together
with increased consumption of energy. This is because in cases of climate changes the
impacts are felt by the whole population hence important to creating a sustainable energy use.
Thus renewable energy consumption in these developing countries could be sustainable if
measures are well taken.
Renewable energy has a steady supply that is sustainable as it is not affected by as
many factors that affect fossil fuels. As the name suggests the energy source is renewable
hence it is a sustainable source of energy. This means that the resource cannot be depleted
over its lifetime at whatever usage rate. In Costa Rica, an energy source is not a problem thus

RENEWABLE ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 3
the cost incurred will be fixed (Ellabban et al., 2014). It is helpful for the country as they
reduce their reliance on fossil fuels because of the steady supply the renewable source
provides to the country (Carley & Christie, 2017). This is evident as a 99% of the power used
in the country comes from the renewable sources. Furthermore, citizens in this country have
fully embraced the ideal idea of using bio-energy, solar panels and the wind turbines. More to
this the country expects a fossil-free system power before the year 2015 which means that the
renewable source will be sustainable to push the country through the economic activities.
Unlike the fossil fuels source of energy renewable energy source faces little disputes due to
trade, wars, instabilities in politics as well as increases in the energy prices. Interruption with
the renewable energy source does not affect a wide geographical location which ensures that
in other parts economic activities continue normally. On the other hand, renewable energy
could be unreliable due to changes in the atmospheric conditions. Occurrences of the changes
will affect the generation of renewable energy which is a challenge.
Renewable energy provision is capable to provide power to houses, businesses as well
as vehicles without having to use the fossil fuels produced as major energy sources. For
instance, China is the current fastest developing countries and which has become the biggest
producer of renewable energy in the world. The consumption of fossil fuels in the country has
reduced. For this reason, the renewable energy is in a position to effectively reduce emissions
of gases produced in the process of producing the non-renewable energy in the country
(Inglesi-Lotz, 2016). This is because in the case of solar and wind electricity provide a means
through which electricity can still be distributed in the traditional manner thus there is zero
emission. Furthermore, the waste obtained from producing the fossil fuels is dumped in the
landfills which the environment cannot sustain. There is declined fertility of the lands that are
close to the landfills hence reducing the productivity of the lands in return. This kind of
energy seems to contribute highly to the unsustainable environment as compared to the

RENEWABLE ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 4
renewable energy use. They play a great role in causing the rate of global warming to
increase whose effects are felt through climate changes as well as the degradation of the
quality of air.
Furthermore, production of renewable energy does not have the carbon emission
which is friendly to the environment. Countries with carbon emissions are obligated to buy
carbon credits from other countries so that they can deposit their waste in that country.
Therefore, countries such as Argentina agricultural productivity as there are able to reduce
the use of fossil fuels which in turn will reduce both land and air pollution to the environment
(Larcher & Tarascon, 2015). Purchasing of carbon credits for those producing fossils fuel is
expensive thus they end up realizing the waste to the surrounding environment. Thus, it is
more sustainable to the environment when using the renewable energy sources.
The use of renewable energy in the economy has ensured positive health impacts on
the population. In the rural and remote areas of India, women use the traditional means such
as cow dung, wood to cook and heat their house. Due to the embracement of the renewable
energy consumption the rate of carbon monoxide intake has reduced. Thus, it ensures the
health status of the country is well maintained. In comparison to the use of non-clean
technologies, renewable energy source do not cause pollution to the environment. Although
some of the renewable sources such as the biofuels and the geothermal emit some gasses its
emission is lower compared to the emissions from the natural gas plants. A research
conducted by clean energy and climate change office in the United States showed that a large
population of the American spend an estimated $362 to $887 every year in health due to the
emission related to the fossil fuels (Pearce, 2014).
Furthermore, it is more sustainable in reducing poverty in developing countries such
as India as it is more labour intensive. The country requires that the rate of unemployment is
at its lowest to ensure developments and increased production. Provision of energy ensures

RENEWABLE ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 5
the creation of businesses and thus employment. Furthermore, renewable provides energy
used in cooking, lighting up rooms and heat. Fossil fuel technologies, on the other hand, are
capital intensified meaning the rate of unemployment is still high thus the production may be
a little lower. For instance, solar panel installation requires labour to ensure its effective
functioning creating an employment opportunity for every unit of electricity required in the
country. Furthermore, it has supported a high population in the United States wherein 2016 a
total of more than 100,000 individual were fully employed in the wind energy industry
(Darmani et al., 2014). In addition, a total of 500 factories have been started as suppliers and
manufacturers of equipment needed for energy sourcing.
Installation of the accessories the cost of maintenance is as minimal as zero charges.
Thus the consumer will reap benefits from it while the service of electricity transmission is
cheap to the population (Twidell & Weir, 2015). India is considering shifting to the use of
solar energy as a way to counter increased demands of power (Huenteler et al., 2016). As a
developing country, the demand cannot be met with the poor infrastructure of the country and
high use of fossil fuels. This shows the continuity and full support of the industry which
makes it sustainable. Furthermore, wind energy sourcing does not cause any emission to
pollute the air as well as water which could pose a risk to the health of the people use and
living close to the wind turbines. However, due to the manufacturing of the accessories used
in the energy production the sustainability of the environment could be affected in one way.
Consequently due to the low-efficiency level of the renewable energy generation investors in
the industry may fear that they may lack profits in time (Luthra et al., 2015). It could cause
the renewable energy to be unsustainable.
Renewable energy offers an affordable electricity across the country which will in the
future foresee stabilization of the energy prices. The prices will remain stable for as long as
the production of the renewable energy is been done. However, for this to happen it is

RENEWABLE ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 6
necessary for the facilities in charge for the production to have an upfront investment which
allows them to operate at a very low cost which is then transferred to the affordability aspect
(Doppelt, 2017). Furthermore, the environment is not facing any struggles as the production
of the energy continues. This is because as the cost of technologies is declining thus the
pressure on the natural resources is not as high as it is expected when the cost could be high.
For instance, the cost of installing a solar panel declined with a more than 70 percent in the
year 2010-2017. A similar decline in the cost of wind energy generation happened with a
66% drop in the years 2009-2016 (Diouf & Pode, 2015). The maturity of the markets is
obtained and the manufacturing companies enjoy the economies of scale in production. It is
an indication that the demand and supply of the energy resource are at an equilibrium level.
Thus a sustainable renewable energy use in the developing countries. However, it a challenge
to generate enough power using the renewable resources which means countries will in a way
still depend on the fossil fuels (Zamfir et al., 2016).
Sustainability of the renewable energy is more advantageous presently and more
especially the future. The fact that this kind of energy is clean then the environment is not at
risk of pollution and thus the sustainability level of the environment will keep it safe (Goosen
et al., 2016). The supply of energy is predictable thus making it easy for them to deliver the
service to the final consumer. It is because of this that stability in the energy prices is
obtained. The cost of the renewable energy is dependent on the installation prices paid by the
consumer. However, the fossil fuels prices are volatile depending on the inflation level in the
country and the resources available for its production. Inflation levels more especially in the
United States are increasing and declining to maintain stability in the economic growth. Thus
the sustainability of the renewable energy by the consumer is high as compared to the
sustainability of the fossil fuels in the country.

RENEWABLE ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 7
Renewable energy is sustainable if the government in the developing countries took
upon itself to finance the construction of the renewable energy facilities. The population of
the country would in return be very healthy. It reduces the budget expenditure the
government would spend on medication. Diseases such as cancer, heart diseases due to the
gas emissions that take place. For this reason, therefore, renewable energy is more sustainable
in a developing country to enhance the productivity of the population (Pueyo, 2018).
Furthermore, remote areas in a developing country are common making it conducive for the
generation of the energy in those parts. Thus the sharing of the energy generated will be equal
among the local towns hence motivating provision of power to those places that are socially
and economically struggling. Provision of power to this areas will help create increased
opportunities which will increase the development of the country. This is because the country
will be in a position to utilize the available resources to ensure optimal productivity.
However, for the government to completely install the facilities it requires a large amount of
capital (Bocken, 2015). This requires a careful maintenance, planning as well as
implementation.
In conclusion, sustainability of renewable energy in a developing country is more
likely to occur if it is well managed. Renewable energy in the country will ensure that it
assists in the developmental growth of the economy which is the main objective of the
country. It is, therefore, clear that renewable energy can be sustainable but not without some
challenges that come along with it. The cost involved in the construction of the facilities is
very high which could discourage the government from investing in many renewable energy
facilities around the country. Furthermore, the energy is not fully reliable as the source is not
guaranteed to be present at all times. Even with the disadvantages, I believe that renewable
energy in a developing country can be sustainable to bring developments.

RENEWABLE ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 8
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