Research Trends in Renewable Energy Sources in Academic Infrastructure: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

A growing interest in renewable energy sources has been observed for over a decade. This stems from the need to reduce the use of fossil fuels, the processing of which leads to significant environmental pollution. Implementing unconventional energy technologies is not only crucial but also their proper management and optimization. This is particularly crucial in hybrid systems based on multiple energy sources. With this in mind, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature was conducted, relating to research on these systems implemented in academic facilities between 2009 and 2025. The focus was on these facilities because universities, and particularly their research laboratories, increasingly play a key role in the creation, research, development, and implementation of hybrid energy systems. The study utilized professional software: Bibliometrix and VOSviewer. The bibliographic database was created using the most popular international scientific platforms, Web of Science and Scopus. Evolution of research trends and intensive development of research on the management and optimization of hybrid energy systems implemented in academic infrastructure were observed. Analysis of the results showed that, since 2009, there has been a transition from basic research on the efficiency and optimization of renewable energy sources, through the integration of various technologies and the development of management methods, to contemporary issues related to digitalization, energy storage, and economic analysis.