Comparative Analysis of Renewable Energy Technologies for Sustainable Power Generation

Thesis Abstract

The global shift towards sustainable energy systems necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of renewable energy technologies to address the escalating demands for environmentally benign power generation options. This study investigates and compares the technical, economic, and environmental performance of solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, hydropower, and biomass energy systems to inform policy and technical decision-making in sustainable energy planning. The primary aim is to identify the most viable renewable energy options in terms of efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact, tailored to specific regional contexts. The specific objectives include (1) assessing the technical efficiencies of the selected renewable energy technologies; (2) evaluating their economic viability through cost-benefit and life cycle cost analyses; (3) analyzing environmental impacts associated with each technology; and (4) developing an integrated framework for comparative performance assessment. The study adopts a descriptive-analytical research design to facilitate a detailed comparison across multiple dimensions. The population encompasses renewable energy plants operational within the country, totaling 150 units, with a stratified random sampling technique employed to select a sample of 60 facilities ensuring proportional representation of each technology type. Data collection instruments comprise structured questionnaires administered to plant managers, secondary data obtained from project reports, technical performance records, and environmental impact assessments. To ensure validity and reliability, the instruments underwent pilot testing and expert validation, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficient exceeding 0.85 for all scales. Quantitative data are analyzed using statistical techniques including descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA to compare means across different technologies, and multiple regression analysis to identify determinants of performance outcomes. Qualitative data derived from semi-structured interviews are subjected to thematic analysis to generate contextual insights. The study anticipates finding significant variations in technical efficiencies, with wind and hydropower potentially demonstrating higher capacity factors compared to solar PV and biomass. Economic analyses are expected to reveal that solar PV and wind technologies have lower initial capital costs and comparable operational expenses, while hydropower and biomass exhibit higher environmental impacts, particularly in terms of land use, water consumption, and emissions. The regression models are expected to identify key factors such as technological maturity, policy incentives, and operational practices influencing performance metrics. This research contributes new empirical evidence to the comparative evaluation of renewable energy technologies, particularly in the context of developing countries, by integrating technical, economic, and environmental criteria within a comprehensive assessment framework. It extends existing literature by providing a multidimensional performance matrix and proposing an optimized selection model aligned with regional resource profiles. The findings ultimately aim to inform policymakers, investors, and technical practitioners in prioritizing energy infrastructure investments that balance sustainability goals with economic feasibility. The study concludes that a hybrid approach integrating multiple renewable sources is recommended to enhance energy security and reduce environmental footprints. It advocates for targeted policy interventions, capacity-building initiatives, and continuous technological innovations to maximize the benefits of renewable energy deployment, alongside suggestions for further research on integrating emerging renewable technologies such as tidal and geothermal systems into the comparative framework.