Bibliometric analysis of renewable energy resources in the context of extreme weather event: Case megadroughts

Introduction:

The global energy transition towards renewable sources is a critical challenge to mitigate the effects of climate change. With an energy system highly dependent on hydropower, Chile faces a unique challenge due to the megadrought that limits water resource availability. This situation drives the need to diversify the energy matrix with non-conventional renewable sources, such as solar and wind energy, to reduce vulnerability to extreme weather events.

Methodology:

This study conducts a bibliometric analysis to identify the main research lines on using renewable energy resources in megadrought. The search was carried out in the Scopus database using critical terms related to renewable energies, drought, and the optimization of photovoltaic and wind plants. Data were analyzed using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer, generating co-authorship, keyword, and publication networks. After applying exclusion filters, 82 documents were selected, and a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the results was conducted.

Main Results:

The bibliometric analysis showed an exponential increase in the scientific production of renewable energies over the last six years. The most studied areas include solar energy (26.83%), climate change (29.27%), and renewable energies in general (25.61%). The most relevant keywords were "renewable energy," "solar energy," and "wind energy," reflecting the focus on energy diversification and the search for solutions to water scarcity. China and the United States lead scientific output, with Stanford University and Nanjing University being among the top institutions.

Main Conclusions:

This study highlights the importance of non-conventional renewable energies in Chile’s energy matrix, especially in prolonged droughts. The integration of solar and wind technologies offers high potential to mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure the country’s energy security. Further research on optimizing these energy sources and policies that promote the energy transition and reduce dependence on vulnerable water resources is needed.