**1. Introduction**

Renewable energy is going to be an important source for power generation in the near future, because we can use these resources again and again to produce useful energy. The energy resources are normally classified as fossil resources, renewable, and nuclear energy resources. Different renewable energy resources, like hydropower, wind, solar, biomass, ocean energy, biofuel, geothermal, etc., provide 15–20% of the total world's energy. The world is going to turn into a global village due to more requirement of energy due to fast growing population, which leads to

the use the fossil fuels like coal, gas, and oil to fulfill the energy requirement, which creates unsustainable situations and many problems like depletion of fossil fuels, environmental and geographical conflicts, greenhouse effect, global warming, and fluctuation in fuel prices. Due to environment-friendly and less emission of gases from renewable energy, it is considered as sustainable energy; also supported for the society from each dimensions like economic, social and environmental. "Approximately 1.6 billion people have no access to electricity and about 1.1 billion are without water supply" [1]. Renewable energy resources have an ability to complete the world's energy demand, protect the environment, and provide energy security. Along with the outstanding advantages of these resources, some shortcomings also exist like the variation of output due to seasonal change, which is the common thing for wind and hydroelectric power plant; hence, special design and consideration are required, which are fulfilled by the hardware and software due to the improvement in computer technology. The main renewable energy sources with their usage in different form are classified in **Table 1**, and it is expected that renewable energy will be one of the important sources for the future; the world's renewable energy sources scenario by 2040 is estimated as given in **Table 2**.


#### **Table 1.**

*Main renewable energy sources with their usage form [2].*


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**Figure 1.**

*Energy overview of Pakistan [22].*

*Social, Economic, and Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Resources*

The economy of Pakistan has been variable and unstable for a long time, but it started to grow somehow since 1990s. Energy demand also increased, as the economy of the country increased. To fulfill the energy demand, oil, natural gas, and coal are used, but due to limited resources, Pakistan is forced to import oil and gases from U.A.E and Saudi Arabia. The location of Pakistan is very good for getting benefit from the sun to generate power, and there are also some places suitable for wind power generation in Pakistan. However, the main problem to generate power is the funding. The energy overview of Pakistan is given in **Figure 1**. Ref. [4] addressed the impacts of renewable energy projects (REP) on the community in Australia. The study focused on four major factors impacting REP: social, political, economic, and environmental. According to one prediction, the world's energy demand will be increased up to 5 times from that of current demand. Currently, three-fourths of that demand is fulfilled by the fossil fuels. On the other hand, the more usage of these resources causes environment pollution and results in more greenhouse effect [5]. For the protection of environment, social development and economics benefits can be get by using renewable energy sources, because there is no requirement of fuel [6]. These resources avoid the fluctuations in prices and importing of fossil fuel. Wind energy has some effects like bird strike and noise etc., which can be mitigated by proper placement of installation. The hydroelectric power may develop slowly with respect to other resources, because a number of people have to leave their homes. But, this may be beneficial for the companies to improve flood control [7]. The increasing global warming effect can easily be prevented with the proper access of renewable energy and by improving the renewable energy technologies [8]. In developing countries like Pakistan, our main focus is to create jobs and the financial development, than focusing on the environment impacts; with the shift of consumers' attention toward renewable energy, society will be more effective and efficient

Renewable energy source will be the best option for minimizing pollution, increasing economy, energy security, and job opportunities; also, poverty will be reduced because mostly poor people rely on the natural resources [10]. It is believed that after 2050, 50% of global energy supply will be generated using renewable energy resources; the magnitude of renewable energy sources is 140 times the worldwide annual energy consumption. Renewable energy resources as "job motor for Germany," 55% increase in total number of jobs since 2004, reported in a publication from Environmental Ministry (BMU) [11]. Pakistan has

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89494*

and enhancement in smart gird system [9].

**2. Background**

#### **Table 2.**

*Global renewable energy scenario by 2040 [3].*

*Social, Economic, and Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Resources DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89494*
