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Green Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Towards the New Normal...
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Green Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Towards the New Normal Framework

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "C: Energy Economics and Policy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 4881

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jean Vasile Andrei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Economic Sciences, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, B-dul Bucuresti, No. 39, 100680 Ploiesti, Romania
Interests: energy economics; economics and environment; sustainable development; open economy macroeconomics; resource productivity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alina Zaharia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Agrifood and Environmental Economics, The Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010371 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: agri-food and environmental economics; energy policy; resource economics; agricultural economics and policy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore the role of the green energy transition and sustainable development within the evolving New Normal paradigm under the COVID-19 pandemic and global sustainability challenges. In this context, the green energy transition has emerged as an actual topic in achieving long-term sustainable development goals. It encompasses the large-scale deployment of renewable energy sources, the phasing out of fossil fuels, improvements in energy efficiency, and the adoption of circular economy principles.

The Special Issue welcomes empirical studies, theoretical analyses, case studies, and policy reviews that address topics such as renewable energy adoption, decarbonization strategies, sustainable urban development, circular economy models, social innovation, and the governance of transitions. We are particularly interested in papers that highlight the interplay between technological innovation, policy responses, and societal change in advancing sustainability goals in the post-pandemic context.

The goal of this Special Issue is to develop insights that can inform policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers working toward a just and sustainable future in the New Normal era.

The topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Renewable energy integration and smart infrastructure;
  • Circular economy and resource efficiency;
  • Decarbonization strategies and policies;
  • Digitalization in energy systems and decarbonization;
  • Energy justice and inclusive transitions;
  • Global South perspectives on the green transition;
  • Green energy technologies and innovations;
  • Post-pandemic recovery policies and energy governance;
  • Role of international cooperation and finance in clean energy development;
  • Socioeconomic impacts of the green transition;
  • Sustainable economic models in the green transition;
  • Technological innovation and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Prof. Dr. Jean Vasile Andrei
Dr. Alina Zaharia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate resilience
  • digitalization and smart energy systems
  • energy justice and social inclusion
  • energy policy
  • green energy transition
  • inclusive transition
  • post-pandemic recovery
  • renewable energy
  • sustainable development
  • smart energy systems

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 2005 KB  
Article
Policy Pathways for a Green Transition: Assessing the Interplay of Energy Diversification and Economic Complexity on the OECD’s Load Capacity Curve
by Rafia Afroz and Masahina Sarabdeen
Energies 2026, 19(4), 923; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19040923 - 10 Feb 2026
Viewed by 729
Abstract
This study investigates policy-relevant pathways for achieving a green transition by examining the impact of energy diversification (ED) and economic complexity (EC) on load capacity factors (LCFs) across the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries from 1999 to 2021. To capture [...] Read more.
This study investigates policy-relevant pathways for achieving a green transition by examining the impact of energy diversification (ED) and economic complexity (EC) on load capacity factors (LCFs) across the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries from 1999 to 2021. To capture structural heterogeneity in environmental performance, this study develops a novel Energy Mix Concentration Index (EMCI), based on the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index, and employs Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR), allowing for distribution-specific analysis beyond conventional mean-based estimators. The empirical framework integrates three distinct dimensions of ECI trade-based (ECI-Trade), technology-based (ECI-Technology), and research-based (ECI-Research) alongside GDP per capita and its squared term to test the validity of the load capacity curve (LCC) hypothesis. The findings of MMQR confirm the validity of the LCC hypothesis in OECD countries. ED is found to exert a statistically significant downward pressure on LCFs across all quantiles, with particularly strong adverse effects in environmentally constrained economies, highlighting the relevance of Jevons’ paradox when diversification is not explicitly oriented toward low-carbon energy sources. Regarding EC, research-driven complexity positively affects LCFs, especially in lower LCF quantiles, by facilitating structural shifts toward cleaner, knowledge-intensive activities. In contrast, trade- and technology-based ECI reduce LCFs due to scale effects, supply-chain emissions, and rising energy demand, except in high-performing economies where strong institutions, stringent environmental regulations, and advanced renewable systems enable complexity-induced eco-innovation. These results underscore that innovation and diversification are not environmentally neutral and must be strategically directed. Overall, this study demonstrates that a successful green transition requires more than ED and economic upgrading alone. Effective policy pathways must combine targeted low-carbon energy strategies, mission-oriented research and development, and demand-side regulatory frameworks to ensure that EC reinforces, rather than undermines, environmental sustainability. The findings offer nuanced guidance for OECD policymakers seeking to align post-pandemic recovery strategies with long-term ecological resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Towards the New Normal Framework)
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33 pages, 8732 KB  
Article
An Empirical Assessment of the Green Energy Transition, Sustainable Development, and Socioeconomic Impacts Under the New Normal Framework in the European Union
by Jean Vasile Andrei, Violeta Sima, Ileana Georgiana Gheorghe, Mihaela Oprea and Marius George Popa
Energies 2026, 19(3), 807; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19030807 - 3 Feb 2026
Viewed by 609
Abstract
The transition toward climate neutrality and sustainable energy systems is reshaping economic structures, labor markets, and social well-being across the European Union, reconfiguring production patterns, altering sectoral competitiveness, and redefining labor market dynamics. This study analyzes the socioeconomic impact of the green transition [...] Read more.
The transition toward climate neutrality and sustainable energy systems is reshaping economic structures, labor markets, and social well-being across the European Union, reconfiguring production patterns, altering sectoral competitiveness, and redefining labor market dynamics. This study analyzes the socioeconomic impact of the green transition in the EU member states during the 2013–2022 period. Hierarchical clustering is applied to group countries based on nine indicators reflecting energy transition and environmental performance, and six indicators capturing socioeconomic outcomes, while controlling for economic prosperity through GDP per capita. The analysis assesses whether convergence in the intensity of green transition adoption translates into a convergence in socioeconomic outcomes. Empirical results highlight that the transmission of green transition dynamics into socioeconomic effects is neither uniform nor linear, and uniform policy frameworks are insufficient, supporting the adoption of differentiated strategies that simultaneously advance environmental objectives and safeguard social and economic cohesion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Towards the New Normal Framework)
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27 pages, 2531 KB  
Article
The Effects of Renewable Energy, Economic Growth, and Trade on CO2 Emissions in the EU-15
by Nemanja Lojanica, Danijela Pantović, Miloš Dimitrijević, Saša Obradović and Dumitru Nancu
Energies 2025, 18(16), 4363; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18164363 - 15 Aug 2025
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2846
Abstract
This study examines the impact of renewable energy, economic growth, and trade openness on CO2 emissions in the EU-15 countries over the period 1980–2022, employing the ARDL modeling framework. In addition, a panel PMG-ARDL model is employed as a robustness check. The [...] Read more.
This study examines the impact of renewable energy, economic growth, and trade openness on CO2 emissions in the EU-15 countries over the period 1980–2022, employing the ARDL modeling framework. In addition, a panel PMG-ARDL model is employed as a robustness check. The analysis identifies cointegration among the variables in 11 out of the 15 countries studied. Economic growth is found to increase CO2 emissions, highlighting the ongoing challenge of aligning economic expansion with environmental objectives. The estimated coefficients for economic growth range from 0.43 to 5.70, depending on the country. Renewable energy significantly reduces emissions, highlighting its critical role in achieving sustainability (the corresponding coefficient moves in the range −0.13 to −0.96). Trade openness generally shows a neutral impact on emissions across most cases. Overall, renewable energy contributes to reducing CO2 emissions, whereas the effects of economic growth and trade openness remain mixed and country-specific. These findings highlight the need to promote cleaner technologies, enhance energy efficiency, and ensure broader access to environmentally friendly energy sources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Towards the New Normal Framework)
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