The German government is aiming to increase the share of renewable energies in the electricity supply to 80% in 2050. To date, however, neither the technical requirements nor the market requirements to implement this aim are provided: Germany is struggling to establish the technical requirements and the market requirements to meet this goal. As an important incentive mechanism, the German government has used and continues to use support measures, such as guaranteed feed-in tariffs, and continuously adapts these to market developments and requirements of the European Union. The purpose of the study is to outline a concept for the implementation of regional flexibility markets in Europe based on a thorough review of technical solutions. The method of a comprehensive review of research in regional flexibility markets of electricity, distribution, and pricing from the study is applied to summarize and discuss the opportunities, risks, and future potentials of grid distribution technology.... [more]

Analysis of the change of overall energy efficiency performance of an energy system is a fundamental work for the energy-saving policymaking. However, previous studies seldom focus on energy stages from useful energy to final service, while most attention are paid on stages from energy source to useful energy. In this paper, we develop a high-resolution the Societal Exergy Analysis and Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (SEA-LMDI) method to analysis changes and driving factors of the aggregate exergy efficiency, in which the boundary of the SEA is extended to passive systems and final services, and a LMDI decomposition method is developed to quantify contributions of efficiency factors and structure factors of all six stages on the aggregate exergy efficiency. A case study of China during 2005−2015 reveals that: (a) the aggregate exergy efficiency from energy source to final service is only from 3.7% to 4.8% during 2005−2015, showing a huge theoretical potential of efficiency improvement.... [more]

The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a concept of a policy instrument particularly pushed by policy circles to contribute to a circular economy. The preliminary design of the DPP is supposed to have product-related information compiled mainly by manufactures and, thus, to provide the basis for more circular products. Given the lack of scientific debate on the DPP, this study seeks to work out design options of the DPP and how these options might benefit stakeholders in a product’s value chain. In so doing, we introduce the concept of the DPP and, then, describe the existing regime of regulated and voluntary product information tools focusing on the role of stakeholders. These initial results are reflected in an actor-centered analysis on potential advantages gained through the DPP. Data is generated through desk research and a stakeholder workshop. In particular, by having explored the role the DPP for different actors, we find substantial demand for further research on a variety of i... [more]

Energy communities (EC) are among the new actors in the energy market, playing an important role in the uptake of photovoltaics (PV) in European markets. This paper estimates their aggregate contribution to the low-carbon energy transition in terms of installed capacities for PV and evaluates their economic performance comparing with market prices. We compiled a database of PV facilities with 3672 entries for Germany and 64 entries for Italy. Our statistical analysis does not support an economic under-performance of EC. The aggregate contribution of EC currently amounts to 600−838 MWp installed capacity in Germany and 10.6 MWp installed capacity in Italy, which makes 1.2−1.7% and 0.07% of all PV installations in Germany and Italy, respectively.

(1) Background: This article aims to answer the question of whether the Republic of Poland, by stipulating in the Constitution of 1997 the principle of sustainable development and ecological security, has created favourable conditions for the development of renewable energy. (2) Methods: The research is conducted using descriptive methods and—due to the legal nature of the publication and the crucial role played by the dogmatic method—it consists of the interpretation of legal acts and court decisions. (3) Results: Over the last few years, state authorities have introduced a number of regulatory and legal mechanisms to increase the stability of the operation of renewable energy sources, including the development of biomass or geothermal energy, as well as the development of energy clusters and cooperatives. This article characterises specific solutions and assesses their effectiveness. (4) Conclusions: The state authorities should take further specific actions aimed at achieving the su... [more]

In alignment with the European Union’s legislation, Greece submitted its final 10-year National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) in December 2019, setting more ambitious energy and climate targets than those originally proposed in the draft version of the document. Apart from higher penetration of renewable energy sources (RES), the final NECP projects also zero carbon use in power generation till 2030. Although decarbonization has long been regarded beneficial for economies that base their energy production on coal, as it is the case with Greece, the macroeconomic and societal ramifications of faster transitions to carbon-free economies remain highly unexplored. Under this context, in this paper, we soft-link energy models, namely Times-Greece and Primes, with a macroeconomic model, namely Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP), to measure the effects of the final and draft NECPs on the Greek economy and evaluate the impact of higher decarbonization speeds. We find that the faster transit... [more]

The aim of the research is to analyse the energy transition in the Visegrad Group countries, because they depend on the production of energy from the burning of fossil fuels, and transition is a huge challenge for them. The diversity of the energy transformation in the V4 countries was examined by using two qualitative methods, including literature analysis and comparative analysis. The timeframe of the study was set for the period from 2020 to 2030, as these years are crucial for the implementation of the European Green Deal Programme. Four diagnostic features were taken into account in the analysis: the share of RES in final energy consumption, reduction of CO2 emissions in the non-Emissions Trading System (ETS) sector, date of withdrawal of coal from the economy, and energy efficiency. The analysis shows that the V4 countries have different approaches and levels of energy transformation in their economies. Poland is in the most difficult situation, being the most dependent on the pr... [more]

One of the key challenges for climate policies is the identification of strategies that will effectively support the implementation of environmental goals. Environmental policies are connected with other development policies carried out by governments. In order to comprehensively shape environmental policy, it is important to understand the interactions between sustainable development goals (SDGs) as well as their impact on environmental goals. Employing econometric modeling based on the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) method and full-factorial analysis, the authors identify a number of statistically significant relationships between the implementation of sustainable development goals and the environmental variable represented by greenhouse gas emissions. Analysis reveals that implementation of particular sustainable development goals, namely SDG4 (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities) and SDG17 (Strengthen... [more]

Solar PV capacity growth in Japan has been facilitated by a number of government schemes that have been implemented since 1994. Publicly available capacity data are provided by a number of agencies and organisations at various resolutions and at different stages within these schemes. This study provides a comprehensive review of solar PV data sources in Japan between 1994 and 2019, as well as an introduction to the subsidy schemes and organisations involved in scheme management and data collection in Japan. As a result, the authors produced their own dataset of installed capacities and generation across time for the various regions. Lastly, this study provides insights and recommendations to policy makers regarding opportunities for improving the accessibility and quality of data from a user perspective and to enhance Japan’s presence in international research.

The current approaches to estimating the level of energy security are based on applying a comprehensive approach to selecting the factors that affect energy security and the dynamics of processes in this domain. This article reveals the application of the model of energy security estimation and strategizing based on the systemic description of energy security as an object of management: the integral system, elements and connections, functions, processes, and the system’s material. At the same time, this model is able to take into account the dynamics of technological, political, economic, and other factors operating in the country and on the global arena. The energy security estimation model developed uses a modern methodology of integrated estimation: a multiplicative form of the integrated index, a formalized definition of the safe existence limits in order to provide scientific substantiation of the threshold vector, a modified rationing method, the principal components method, and... [more]

It is still possible to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement to maintain a global temperature ‘well below +2.0 °C’ above pre-industrial levels. We present two global non-overshoot pathways (+2.0 °C and +1.5 °C) with regional decarbonization targets for the four primary energy sectors—power, heating, transportation, and industry—in 5-year steps to 2050. We use normative scenarios to illustrate the effects of efficiency measures and renewable energy use, describe the roles of increased electrification of the final energy demand and synthetic fuels, and quantify the resulting electricity load increases for 72 sub-regions. Non-energy scenarios include a phase-out of net emissions from agriculture, forestry, and other land uses, reductions in non-carbon greenhouse gases, and land restoration to scale up atmospheric CO2 removal, estimated at −377 Gt CO2 to 2100. An estimate of the COVID-19 effects on the global energy demand is included and a sensitivity analysis describes the impacts if... [more]

A micro cogeneration unit based on a three-cylinder internal combustion engine, Skoda MPI 1.0 L compressed natural gas (CNG), with an output of 25 kW at 3000 RPM is proposed in this paper. It is a relatively simple engine, which is already adopted by the manufacturer to operate on CNG. The engine life and design correspond to the original purpose of use in the vehicle. A detailed dynamic model was created in the GT-SUITE environment and implemented into an energy balance model that includes its internal combustion engine, heat exchangers, generator, battery storage, and water storage tank. The 1D internal combustion engine model provides us with information on engine start-up time, actual effective power, friction power, and the amount of heat going to the cooling system and exhaust pipe. The catalytic converter was removed from the exhaust pipe, and the engine was always operating at full load; thus, engine power control is not considered. An energy storage system for an island operat... [more]

Currently, the literature lacks comprehensive studies on the impact of hydropower plants (HPs) on the environment, including studies focused on the physicochemical parameters of water. The aim of the article is to verify the current state of knowledge on the impact of run-of-river HPs on 17 physicochemical parameters of water. The article is in line with the recommendations of the European Union that the member states, under the common energy policy, should increase the share of renewable energy sources in the energy and perform environmental impact assessments of such facilities. As a result of the analysis carried out on three HPs (Sadowice, Skałka and Marszowice) located on the Bystrzyca River (a tributary of the Odra River in Poland), it was found that HPs affect the selected physicochemical parameters of the water, i.e., (p < 0.05): electrolytic conductivity (EC; Skałka, Marszowice HPs), pH (Skałka, Marszowice HPs); nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N; Marszowice HP), dissolved oxygen (DO; Ma... [more]

The topic of the article considers the functioning of the renewable energy (RE) sector in Poland. This is really important in the context of the energy transition of the national economy because it influences the creation of modern technologies and increases the competitiveness and innovation of the country. Poland is in a process of energy transition where the RE sector has been developing for two decades. The authors aimed to research the RE sector improvement possibilities in Poland, including the influence of this sector on chosen social and economic aspects. Because of this research’s aim a critical situation assessment of RE in Poland was conducted and a survey of a group of experts in this field was also involved. Legal, physical and mental determinants and their influence on RE sector were looked into. In the legal determinant context a necessity to simplify relevant legislation acts in Poland was found. Undoubtedly there is a need to improve several legal acts, including the D... [more]

In the article, the authors present the specificity of the Polish retail electricity market, shaped to a considerable extent by the provisions of European Union law. The main feature of this market is granting special legal protection to individual final customers (referred to by the legislator as “household customers”) who have obtained the status of consumers in the Polish legal system. The essence of the study is not only to analyze the subjective and quantitative aspects of this market, but, above all, to analyze the civil law measures protecting these electricity consumers. These aspects constitute a unique legal structure, which is a continuation of the administrative proceedings before the President of the Energy Regulatory Office (regulatory entity). The Court of Competition and Consumer Protection (hereinafter referred to as the Court of Protection) is a specialized civil court that hears appeals against decisions of the regulatory entity, the subjects of which are actions or... [more]

In this paper, the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2019 are analyzed by the spatial measure model and the threshold regression model. The results show that the air quality level is positively correlated with green finance, but there is no spatial effect. The spatial effect of the three influencing factors, including the degree of openness, the level of infrastructure, and the level of education, is the crowding-out effect. At the same time, variables such as human resource level, air quality, and infrastructure construction level all have threshold effects in the relationship between green finance and economic development. The research conclusions suggested that local governments at all levels should formulate policies according to the actual situation to promote the development of provinces’ intensive, intelligent, and green development, and build a regionally-linked green finance development model, thereby promoting the improvement of green finance.

Hubbert suggests that oil extraction rates will have an exponentially increasing course until they reach their highest level and then they will suddenly decline. This best describes the well-acclaimed Peak Oil Theory or Peak Oil. We research whether the theory is validated in seven US plays after the shale revolution. We do so by applying two well-established methodologies for asset bubble detection in capital markets on productivity rates per day (bbl/d). Our hypothesis is that if there is a past or an ongoing oil extraction rate peak then Hubbert’s model is verified. If there are multiple episodes of productivity peaks, then it is rejected. We find that the Peak Theory is not confirmed and that shale production mainly responds to demand signals. Therefore, the oil production curve is flattened prolonging oil dependency and energy transition. Since the US production is free of geological constraints, then maximum productivity may not ever be reached due to lower demand levels. Past ma... [more]

The topic of this Special Issue, “Energy Security and the Transition toward Green Energy Production”, acquired an uncomfortable timeliness while it was still in progress [...]

Non-technical losses (NTLs) are one of the main problems that electricity distribution utilities face in developing regions such as Latin America, the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. Particularly in Brazil, based on the socioeconomic and market variables concerning all the distribution utilities, the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) has formulated several specifications of econometric models for panel data with random effects, all aimed at determining an index that reflects the difficulty of combating NTLs according to the intrinsic characteristics of each distribution area. Nevertheless, given the exhaustive search for combinations of explanatory variables and the complexity inherent to defining regulatory NTL targets, this process still requires the evaluation of many models through hypothesis and goodness-of-fit tests. In this regard, this article proposes an automatic model-selection technique for panel data regressions to better assist the Agency in establish... [more]

The availability and accessibility of renewable energy in locations worldwide make it play a leading role in the decarbonization process of the energy sector [...]

The article presents the conceptual features of energy security management under a radically changed context, increasing crisis phenomena, and threats of various natures. The authors substantiate the claim that energy security is a complex category, which expresses the ability of the fuel and energy complex of the region to supply the required amount and range of energy resources to the domestic market at stable and reasonable prices; to promptly mitigate unexpected fluctuations in demand for fuel and energy resources; and to ensure uninterrupted energy supply and energy carrier parameters in real time. Based on an analysis of scientific publications and practical energy security models, the authors developed theoretical provisions, methodological principles, and management tools for energy security that meet modern requirements. In particular, the authors developed the terminological apparatus and identified the types and forms of modern energy threats and risks. The authors analyzed... [more]

The development of microgeneration plays an important part in the strategy of the decarbonization of the world economy. However, its diffusion faces different barriers, including the information and technical barriers on the side of the end-user. This paper contributes to the literature by providing a comparative cross-country analysis of the role of the corporate sector in providing the installation and technical servicing of PV solar panels and small wind turbines in the Republic of Armenia, India, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates. Business proposals from the microgeneration equipment market were analyzed by studying the official websites of companies offering autonomous and backup power supply solutions, followed by interviews with company representatives using the “mystery shopper” method. The study reveals that, of the four surveyed countries, the Republic of Armenia has the highest level of representation of service companies on the Internet (4.71 companies per million popula... [more]

The European Union (EU) is a global leader in renewable energy, and it is working to maintain this position through setting high standards for itself as well as for its member states in this field. Among the goals set for 2030 in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and changes published on 14 July 2021 is a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (compared to 20% in 2020). The targets for individual countries vary and depend on the current level of development of renewable energy. This article focuses on evaluation of these targets in the Visegrad Group (V4) countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia). These are post-Communist countries that have undergone systemic transformations but still face challenges related to sustainable development in renewable energy. This article analyzes the 2030 goals and the prospects of their implementation. Evaluated criteria include greenhouse gas emissions, the share of renewable energy in energy consumption, energy consumption, energy effi... [more]

This study examines the impact of green process innovation (GPI), green entrepreneurial orientation (GPO), and proactive sustainable strategy (PSS) on environmental performance (EP). Data were collected from 294 Indian agriculture technology firms. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data using Lisrel 8.80. This study aimed to analyze how green entrepreneurial orientation, sustainability strategies, and green process innovation improve the environmental performance of agricultural technology firms. The results show that green process innovation, sustainability strategy, and entrepreneurial orientation play a significant role in enhancing agricultural technology firms’ environmental performance. Agricultural technology firms achieve high environmental performance primarily through strategy or sustainability. In every green process, innovation is crucial and essential. This research offers several practical implications that can be utilized by managers of agricultu... [more]

This Special Issue on “Energy Transition and Environmental Sustainability” includes thirteen papers on policies including: the challenges of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals regarding energy transition and legal reforms in Taiwan and Japan [...]