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Energy Policy and Sustainable Development: Challenges to Economic Development—2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026 | Viewed by 2122

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Szczecin, Mickiewicza 64, 71-101 Szczecin, Poland
Interests: energy and environment; economics and policy; energy poverty; regulation and liberalization in infrastructure sectors; macroeconomic policy and economic growth
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Guest Editor
Faculty of Public Governance and Business, Mykolas Romeris University, LT-08303 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: sustainability; green growth; renewable energy; human resource management; behaviour of generation Z

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the announcement of the European Green Deal, which defines a set of policy initiatives to achieve a 50–55% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and to make Europe climate neutral in 2050, the challenge of energy transition becomes even more critical. The transformation of national energy systems towards "green and energy", the low-carbon economy, and sustainable development is progressing in all European Union countries. The COVID-19 pandemic and rising energy prices have caused rising inflation in the economies of highly developed countries, mainly the European Union countries.

Thus, questions began to arise as to whether the long-term commitments in terms of emission reductions, the promotion of low-emission technologies, and renewable energy sources were not too ambitious. Consequently, coal-fired plants have been relaunched as the more stable and cheaper option. Also, the problem of energy poverty and providing energy at socially acceptable prices has again become topical. A successful energy transition requires well-designed policy instruments and sound economic analyses that ensure the best possible outcome at the lowest possible cost to society. In this context, this Special Issue aims to introduce the challenges currently facing the countries of the European Union, especially those in which the transition is still ongoing.

Prof. Dr. Rafał Nagaj
Prof. Dr. Brigita Zuromskaite
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • energy policy
  • energy economics
  • energy efficiency
  • climate policy
  • sustainable development
  • energy poverty
  • policy instruments
  • regulation policy
  • environmental impact
  • renewable energy
  • economics of energy systems
  • integration of energy markets
  • energy security
  • post-COVID economy

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

32 pages, 1539 KB  
Article
Mechanisms Shaping Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity Through the Integration of Power Generation Availability Indicators and Energy Intensity Measures: Case Study of Poland
by Bożena Gajdzik, Rafał Nagaj, Radosław Wolniak and Wiesław-Wes Grebski
Energies 2026, 19(5), 1378; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19051378 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 553
Abstract
The paper examines the energy transition using Poland as a case study. The model was estimated based on annual data for Poland for the period of 1990–2024 (n = 35). The estimation was carried out using the OLS method with HAC correction, and [...] Read more.
The paper examines the energy transition using Poland as a case study. The model was estimated based on annual data for Poland for the period of 1990–2024 (n = 35). The estimation was carried out using the OLS method with HAC correction, and the statistical significance of parameters was assessed using statistical tests. Based on econometric analysis, the impact was examined throughout the entire research period, with additional analysis of the structural break dummy for 2015. It was verified whether this impact had changed since 2015 compared to the earlier period. The data were used to calculate indicators, arranged in three groups: (1) capacity availability indicators (for the availability of the overall power system and for the renewable energy sources (RES)); (2) indicator of emission intensity (the indicator was defined as the ratio of total greenhouse gases emission to real GDP); (3) indicator of the economy’s energy intensity (the indicator was defined as primary energy consumption per unit of GDP). Annual summaries of these indicators constituted the input data for econometric modelling. The aim of the empirical analysis was to deepen the identification of mechanisms shaping greenhouse gas emission intensity by incorporating into the model indicators of generation capacity availability and measures of the economy’s energy intensity. The data collection based on constructed greenhouse gas emission intensity and energy intensity indicators of the economy enables the analysis of the increase in emission intensity regardless of the scale of the economy, in the system of power availability for the entire energy system, as well as for renewable energy sources. This approach makes it possible to move away from the analysis of absolute volumes toward a structural perspective that better reflects the real production capabilities of the power system as well as the efficiency of energy use in the economy. The results indicate that economic energy intensity is the dominant determinant of greenhouse gas emission intensity in Poland during the research period. The econometric analysis estimates show a positive and statistically significant relationship between energy intensity and emissions intensity, whereas generation capacity availability indicators—both for the total power system and for renewable energy sources—do not exhibit statistically significant effects. However, it was found that this impact was not constant throughout the entire period (β is 0.455 for pre-2015 and 0.325 for post-2015). Sensitivity analysis based on point elasticities reveals that a 1% increase in energy intensity of GDP leads to an increase in greenhouse gas emission intensity (by approximately 1.18% pre-2015 and 0.85% post-2015), whereas analogous changes in total capacity availability and RES availability are associated with substantially smaller effects (0.10% and 0.20%, respectively). These findings suggest that improvements in economy-wide energy efficiency played a more decisive role in reducing emissions intensity than short-term variations in generation capacity availability. Full article
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22 pages, 6504 KB  
Article
Evaluation of the Coupling Coordination Between Energy Low Carbonization and the Socioeconomic System in China Based on a Comprehensive Model
by Xin Li, Yuchen Lu, Jingjing Chen, Lihong Peng and Xiaochou Chen
Energies 2025, 18(11), 2799; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18112799 - 27 May 2025
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Abstract
Reducing carbon emissions while ensuring economic growth has become a realistic demand in China. The ideal scenario would be to realize the coupling and coordination of the economic and energy systems. This research constructs a coupling coordination evaluation system that objectively reflects the [...] Read more.
Reducing carbon emissions while ensuring economic growth has become a realistic demand in China. The ideal scenario would be to realize the coupling and coordination of the economic and energy systems. This research constructs a coupling coordination evaluation system that objectively reflects the low-carbon energy system (LCES) and socioeconomic system of China. The LCES level has increased to varying degrees in all provinces, with significant differences across regions. The coupling degree of the 30 provinces is between 0.5955 and 0.9999, belonging to the running-in stage and high-coupling stage. Moreover, the average coupling coordination degree (CCD) is 0.3–0.4, belonging to moderate incoordination. In terms of sub-provinces, the CCDs in all provinces indicate high coupling with varying degrees of coordination. Only Qinghai falls into the running-in low-incoordination category. Reaching the 2030 carbon intensity reduction target would be challenging under the baseline scenario. However, this target is expected to be achieved under two scenarios in which the policy constraints of each province are realized. Based on these conclusions, this research proposes a regionally differentiated low-carbon synergistic development strategy to provide a targeted regional synergistic path for the realization of carbon emission reduction and dual-carbon goals in China during the stage of high-quality development. Full article
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