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Sustainable Energy Management for a Circular Economy

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 8236

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Business Technologies and Entrepreneurship, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, 10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: economic growth; investments; innovations; sustainable development; sector development; energy security; energy effciency
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The consumption of energy from primary sources is not lowering on Earth, despite numerous policies and awareness campaigns. Renewables and hydroelectricity comprise a minor share of overall energy consumption; the main energy sources used are still fossil fuels, specifically, oil, natural gas, and coal. Carbon dioxide emissions remain high due to the non-ideal combination of energy types currently being consumed.

A transition towards renewables remains the primary strategy for preventing the deterioration of our planet. However, this approach is not simple, as it requires a change in behavioural attitudes towards energy consumption, which would need to be brought about by increasing the levels of social responsibility among consumers and industries.

Special attention must be paid to the intersection of the circular economy and the transition towards renewables. This means that the development of renewable energy requires significant amounts of additional resources, specifically, land and sea area, financial resources for building and servicing infrastructure (e.g., grids), and rare-earth elements (which are needed for energy storage in batteries).

A solution for recycling all the equipment needed for the growth of renewable energy, such as obsolete solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries, still needs to be developed. The transition towards renewable energy is necessary; this process must be thoroughly thought through and implemented through sustainable resource management for a circular economy.

Further research should tackle a wide range of issues related to the transition towards renewable energy, focussing on the challenge of sustainable resource management for a circular economy.

Additionally, please ensure that the summary aligns with the aims and scope of Energies: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies/about

  • Energy and environment, sustainable transition;
  • Sustainability analysis metrics: theory and applications;
  • Distributed energy systems;
  • Carbon emission and utilization;
  • Clean energy;
  • Energy and climate change.

Prof. Dr. Manuela Tvaronavičienė
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • primary resource consumption
  • barriers to renewable energy expansion
  • management of energy industry supply
  • costs of transition towards renewable energy
  • recycling of solar panels, energy turbines, mills, and batteries
  • rising demand for rare-earth elements
  • managerial solutions allowing the use of untapped resources contained in used batteries
  • transfer of knowledge and intersectional clusters for novel solutions

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Editorial

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9 pages, 2636 KiB  
Editorial
The Transition towards Renewable Energy: The Challenge of Sustainable Resource Management for a Circular Economy
by Manuela Tvaronavičienė
Energies 2024, 17(17), 4242; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17174242 - 25 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1672
Abstract
The transition towards renewable energy is not as impressive as expected when considering the wide array of efforts undertaken. Energy-abundant countries do not have sufficient stimuli to curb the use of fossil fuels; some of them even work on increasing international supply. Greenhouse [...] Read more.
The transition towards renewable energy is not as impressive as expected when considering the wide array of efforts undertaken. Energy-abundant countries do not have sufficient stimuli to curb the use of fossil fuels; some of them even work on increasing international supply. Greenhouse gas emissions remain high. As the world population grows, more attention must be devoted to the transition towards renewables. This transition requires additional resources and leaves behind waste that must be recycled. Without a circular economy, the transition towards renewable energy will require extra power, resulting in a spiral that is very detrimental to the environment of our planet. This paper provides a picture of the current situation, discusses tendencies, and systemizes issues that must be tackled. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Management for a Circular Economy)
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Research

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23 pages, 506 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Renewable Energy Development on Economic Growth
by Virgilijus Dirma, Laima Okunevičiūtė Neverauskienė, Manuela Tvaronavičienė, Irena Danilevičienė and Rima Tamošiūnienė
Energies 2024, 17(24), 6328; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17246328 - 16 Dec 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3294
Abstract
The development of renewable energy resources significantly impacts economic growth, various aspects of which can be assessed. First, the sector contributes to job creation, as new technologies and projects require specialists in various fields, from engineering to installation. Second, investments in renewable energy [...] Read more.
The development of renewable energy resources significantly impacts economic growth, various aspects of which can be assessed. First, the sector contributes to job creation, as new technologies and projects require specialists in various fields, from engineering to installation. Second, investments in renewable energy drive economic growth as the private and public sectors increasingly invest in innovation and infrastructure. In addition, developing renewable energy sources can lower energy prices for consumers, increase market competition, and reduce dependence on imported resources. However, there are also challenges related to initial investment costs, technological barriers and required political support. To ensure the successful development of renewable energy sources, it is necessary to create a favorable legal and regulatory environment, as well as to promote education and training in this area. In conclusion, the development of renewable energy resources can become an important driver of economic growth but requires a balanced approach and strategic planning. This work aims to evaluate the impact of the use of renewable resources on the economy after examining theories of economic growth. The following methods are used: analysis of theoretical and practical statements, comparative analysis, and panel data analysis. The research rejects hypotheses which suggest that transitioning to renewable energy sources slows economic growth. The development and adoption of renewable energy resources are essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and ensuring sustainable development in the European Union. Despite initial costs and the hypothesis that transitioning to renewable energy slows economic growth, research shows that renewable energy sources (RES) do not hinder growth in the long term. Instead, they drive economic growth through technological advancements, job creation, and attracting significant investments, ultimately contributing to environmental protection and energy stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Management for a Circular Economy)
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17 pages, 1895 KiB  
Article
Implementation of the Deposit System in Poland as a Tool for Implementing the Circular Economy
by Andrzej Zarębski, Joanna Zarębska and Konrad Marosek
Energies 2024, 17(21), 5489; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17215489 - 2 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1455
Abstract
The circular economy (CE) poses major challenges to the citizens of European countries. Proper waste management is a priority here. Poland is one of the countries that has been trying for many years to meet the requirements to achieve an appropriate level of [...] Read more.
The circular economy (CE) poses major challenges to the citizens of European countries. Proper waste management is a priority here. Poland is one of the countries that has been trying for many years to meet the requirements to achieve an appropriate level of recovery as well as the recycling of municipal and packaging waste. In order to achieve appropriate levels of packaging waste recycling, it was planned to implement an otherwise refundable deposit system starting in January 2023. Currently, work is still underway to implement this system starting in January 2025. The aim of the study is to describe the current work of the ministry, entrepreneurs and recovery organizations in this area and, on this basis, to indicate the barriers and uncertainties encountered in the implementation of this system. The authors want to answer the question of what barriers and benefits can be expected after the implementation of the deposit system. The implementation of the system has been postponed many times (for several years). The current involvement of various organizations (large cities, chain stores and recovery organizations) indicates that the system will be implemented on 1 January 2025. Based on the example of other EU countries, what estimated benefits can be expected after implementing the system in Poland? An extensive literature review and survey research indicate that Polish society views the deposit system favorably and Poland is ready to implement it. Specific regulations from the Minister of Climate and Environment need to be implemented as well as special machine need to be put in stores to start the deposit system. Examples of ongoing efforts to create appropriate infrastructure also show that Poland is on track to join the deposit system from January 2025. The deposit system will be continuously improved and expanded with more packages. Currently, it is planned to be introduced only for selected packages. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Management for a Circular Economy)
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Review

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29 pages, 836 KiB  
Review
The Role of Lightweight AI Models in Supporting a Sustainable Transition to Renewable Energy: A Systematic Review
by Tymoteusz Miller, Irmina Durlik, Ewelina Kostecka, Polina Kozlovska, Marek Staude and Sylwia Sokołowska
Energies 2025, 18(5), 1192; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18051192 - 28 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1588
Abstract
The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy (RE) sources is an essential step in mitigating climate change and ensuring environmental sustainability. However, large-scale deployment of renewables is accompanied by new challenges, including the growing demand for rare-earth elements, the need for recycling [...] Read more.
The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy (RE) sources is an essential step in mitigating climate change and ensuring environmental sustainability. However, large-scale deployment of renewables is accompanied by new challenges, including the growing demand for rare-earth elements, the need for recycling end-of-life equipment, and the rising energy footprint of digital tools—particularly artificial intelligence (AI) models. This systematic review, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, explores how lightweight, distilled AI models can alleviate computational burdens while supporting critical applications in renewable energy systems. We examined empirical and conceptual studies published between 2010 and 2024 that address the deployment of AI in renewable energy, the circular economy paradigm, and model distillation and low-energy AI techniques. Our findings indicate that adopting distilled AI models can significantly reduce energy consumption in data processing, enhance grid optimization, and support sustainable resource management across the lifecycle of renewable energy infrastructures. This review concludes by highlighting the opportunities and challenges for policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders aiming to integrate circular economy principles into RE strategies, emphasizing the urgent need for collaborative solutions and incentivized policies that encourage low-footprint AI innovation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Management for a Circular Economy)
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