Impact of COVID‐19 on the Renewable Energy Sector and Mitigation Strategies

This review explores the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the renewable energy (RE) sector, especially in countries with the highest RE capacities, e.g., the USA, China, India, and the EU. It highlights stimulus packages put in place by governments worldwide and their sustainability to cushion the RE sector. Commissioning of RE projects has stalled due to lack of funding allocation and interruptions in the supply of equipment and components due to lockdown measures. Despite the need to fund COVID‐19 vaccination programs and other related health services, the world must not neglect other sectors of the economy, creating more problems, such as worsening the climate change situation in the long run. This review aims to present the information needed to sustain future energy during the COVID‐19 global pandemic. This review discusses the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the renewable energy (RE) sector, which has suffered from diversion of funds to health care, absence of manpower due to lockdown and quarantine measures, and a shortage of critical components. Stimulus packages intended to cushion the RE sector are highlighted, and the information needed to sustain RE during the pandemic is given.