Emerging renewable energy generation technologies: Investigating the impact of these technologies on the convergence of CAP and actual generation in Iran on a global scale

The scarcity of traditional fuel sources and its consequences have constrained global economic growth and social advancements, worsened environmental impacts, and hindered human empowerment. Therefore, the use of renewable energies is imperative to mitigate CO2 emissions and prevent global temperature rise and climate change. This article presents the latest technologies and advancements in renewable hydro, wind, solar, bio, geothermal, and marine energy applications. The deployment of renewable energies typically necessitates higher initial investment costs compared to non-renewable counterparts; however, with increased research and scientific development, these costs are diminishing. As renewable energy is integrated into the power grid expands, electricity prices decrease significantly throughout the day, sometimes reaching negative values. Subsequently, the percentage of electricity generated and the capacity factor (CAP) for electricity production using each renewable energy source are compared against total electricity generation and total CAP (renewable and non-renewable energies) in Iran, Asia, and globally during the 2015-2024 period. The results indicate that Iran possesses a high potential in renewable energy resources; however, their contribution to electricity generation is remarkably low compared with other Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Iran ranks fourth in the Middle East in terms of solar and wind energy use. Finally, the factors influencing the increased exploitation of renewable energies in Iran are discussed, and corresponding solutions are proposed.