Government-led energy initiatives: a systematic literature review on strategies for sustainability and transition

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Chinese explanation / 中文解读

中文解读待补充：本站会优先为光伏效率、钙钛矿太阳能电池、储能技术、太阳能热利用、BIPV、并网技术等高价值论文补充中文说明。

Original abstract

Introduction The accelerated growth of energy demand across multiple economic sectors compels strategic responsiveness from national energy departments to achieve reliable energy provisions. Nevertheless, aligning national energy strategies with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains a challenge for governments whose economies are heavily dependent on fossil fuel. As a result, governments struggle with uneven implementation of energy sustainability initiatives, with successful cases concentrated in developed countries while countries in the sub-Saharan Africa lag with small scale implementations. Objectives The aim of this qualitative study is to assess government-driven energy sustainability initiatives across diverse regional contexts, with particular attention to successful implementations and the constraints that hinder their rapid deployment. Methods The systematic literature review method was employed, guided by the PRISMA framework. A comprehensive Boolean search was conducted across Scopus and Science Direct databases yielding the initial pool of identified articles. Following the full-text review, 40 articles were retained for this study. Findings The findings suggest that governments need to explore innovative financing opportunities to support energy sustainability initiatives, modernise the legacy infrastructure to enable seamless integrations with renewable energy sources and emerging technologies, accompanied by strengthened policy frameworks that align with net zero commitments. Ultimately, governments must consider inclusive coal phase out measures to protect communities that are heavily dependent on fossil fuel. Conclusion The analysis revealed that renewable energy integration, circular economy practices and just transition frameworks are a cornerstone to achieving energy sustainability targets. Pilot scale and community projects must not be overlooked as these gradually expand renewable energy access and extend electricity access. Conversely, the findings outlined persistent barriers: financing constraints, inadequate policy frameworks, technical skill gaps and limited compatibility between current infrastructure and emerging technologies. Importantly, the success of energy sustainability transitions depends not only on technological innovation, but also on strong institutional support, inclusive policy design, stakeholder participation, and continuous investment in human capital and infrastructure.

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