Significance Of Renewable Energy Sources In Sustainable Development

Sustainable energy development implies an effective use of economic, human, technological, renewable and non-renewable natural resources. The gradual process of natural environment degradation and the inevitable exhaustion of natural fossil fuel deposits force the search for alternatives. A comparison of alternative opportunities to generate energy allows to identify their advantages and drawbacks. The article attempts a systematic review of factors ‘in favour of’ and ‘against’ the use of renewable energy sources (RES) in accordance with the principle of sustainable development. The study applies descriptive methods, including comparisons. CSO and ERO were the sources of data for 1988- 2018. According to sustainable development principles, investments in RE need to be widely promoted and supported by the state, especially in rural areas. The attempt to systematise factors contributing to the use of renewable energy resulted in the identification of: the importance of economic circumstances and the traditional approach to the energy sector; the need to protect the natural environment by the reduction of pollution and mitigation of the greenhouse effect; the need for continuing the education of society on the implementation and fast development of technology and the desire to enhance self-reliance and independence in energy supply with a special consideration of rural areas.