Geopolitical perspective on global renewable energy development considering China's technological and Belt & Road scenarios

In light of the prevailing environmental challenges and the global adverse consequences of fossil fuels, the transition to renewable energy sources has become the paramount strategy to achieve worldwide sustainability. This research explores China's position as a global leader in developing renewable energy technologies, focusing on geopolitics, international relations, local changes, geographical location, regional infrastructure, and economic power. A system dynamics-based approach has been developed to address possible complications over time and the participation of numerous factors concurrently. Two scenarios have been designed relying on technological power and developing the Belt and Road Initiative (B&R). The results obtained highlight the significance of the second scenario with more than 42 % and 7 % increases in renewable energy technology production and economic power measurements respectively. The combinations of scenarios and policies underscore the priority of the second policy over the first regarding the first scenario and the integration of both policies in the second scenario. Different examinations have been conducted using tests of dimensional consistency, limit conditions, behavior reproducibility, and integration error. It implies that technological knowledge export should be a priority if the country wants to rely on its technological strength, while boosting access to renewable energy is suggested otherwise.