Renewable Energy Post Covid

Renewable energy has been growing rapidly for the last two decades, resulting in its projectable economic feasibility. IEA has predicted that the share of renewable energy grows by 20% in the next five years, reaching 12.4% in 2023. Renewable energy and its related projects have been considered as one of significant prime movers in the economic activities. However, the pandemic COVID-19 seems to flatten the curve, minimally for certain period in the future. The condition of pandemic COVID-19 and its duration are uncertain and difficult-to-predict. In addition, COVID-19 has attacked the global economy in general, leading to rapid devastation in all life sectors. The still running and being planned project have been delayed and/or frozen, without clear decision for continuation and reactivation.

In addition to the reduce of industrial and economic activities, the limited movement and quarantine also have caused the transportation system to be used sparingly. Hence, large reduction of oil consumption and significantly lower greenhouse gases emission have been realized. As the result, a greener environmental has been experienced temporarily. However, this phenomenon has been achieved at the cost of huge economic stagnation, thousands of deaths, and gloomy future.

All the governments are trying to figure out clearly the appropriate responses to this crisis. Everyone agrees that the immediate priority in the current situation is saving the life as many as possible, as well as recovering the health and its system to be under control, as well as building the immune systems for the future. However, the efforts to address both economic and social impacts are also urgently required to decide the required actions following the recovery. The current pandemic has taught us the importance to set up the policy to mutually elaborate social, economic and environmental challenges. The economic fallout impacted by this pandemic is predicted to be far reaching, covering all life sectors, including the energy (especially renewable energy).