Comparing Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Renewable Energies Implementation at Universities in the World: a Review

Abstract: Universities are the hub for the advancement and distribution of knowledge. Now more than ever before, renewable energies are becoming important as fossil fuels are depleting. Global warming is becoming a huge environmental problem affecting people and ecosystems. This paper analyzes the way universities approach the challenge of teaching, implementing and conducting research about this subject. For this, we have compiled a systematic literature review using Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases and publications from 2005 to 2020. Trends on research and building RE implementation, factors influencing higher degree of involvement in RE, and main issues addressed in publications along the last years were analyzed. A total of 197 documents were used for this analysis, finding that the US is the main country publishing about this subject. Papers with the highest number of citations were about awareness of university students towards RE, and technical and economic analysis of photovoltaics or hybrid systems at the universities. Other subjects, alliances, partnerships, and research trends are also analyzed.