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Challenges and Solutions in Energy Market: Energy Policy and Environmental Perspectives

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 September 2026 | Viewed by 1806

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Lab of Mining Engineering and Environmental Engineering, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), 15772 Athens, Greece
Interests: socio-economic dimensions of energy; energy poverty; energy policy; energy management and issues regarding the environment and development of mountainous areas

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Guest Editor
Lab of Mining Engineering and Environmental Engineering, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), 15772 Athens, Greece
Interests: environmental economics; energy economics; mineral economics; financial and cost‒benefit analysis; environmental management; sustainable development
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global energy market has experienced great instability over the last decade, with various geopolitical pressures and environmental challenges. The new European directions for decarbonization and climate neutrality by 2050 have led to a gradual transformation of traditional energy models by minimizing fossil fuels and integrating more Renewable Energy Sources (RES) technologies. At the same time, the stochastic nature of RES, along with the current restrictions of large-scale energy storage technologies, introduces uncertainty and raises significant concerns about the system’s stability and long-term planning.

In this context and in line with the constant increase in energy demand, governments and industries face new challenges in ensuring not only innovative technologies but also reliable and affordable energy. In light of these developments, research at the intersection of market structures, energy policy, and environmental frameworks is more current than ever.

This Special Issue aims to investigate the current challenges of the energy sector within the context of new policy and environmental perspectives and to explore innovative tools, models, and policies capable of shaping resilient energy markets.

Potential topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Environmental and economic impacts of decarbonization strategies;
  • Expansion of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) technologies towards climate-neutrality;
  • Restrictions of large-scale energy storage technologies;
  • Role of fossil fuels in energy schemes: realistic future perspectives;
  • Influence of geopolitical tensions on energy markets;
  • Energy dependence and markets’ stability under the new policy perspectives;
  • The role of subsidies and incentives in accelerating clean energy transitions;
  • Εmissions trading schemes: benefits and challenges towards energy transition;
  • Case studies of beneficial—or not—energy policy interventions;
  • Development of decentralized systems: opportunities and uncertainties;
  • Lifecycle environmental impacts of different energy sources;
  • Challenges and suggestions on current energy market schemes and policies towards a fair and inclusive transition;
  • Role of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in future markets;
  • Policy frameworks for fostering innovation in clean technologies;
  • Green finance and carbon-neutral investment strategies;
  • Challenges in the security of supply.

Dr. Lefki Papada
Prof. Dr. Dimitris Damigos
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

  • energy market
  • energy design
  • energy transition
  • energy storage
  • energy security
  • sustainable energy
  • energy policy
  • renewable energy sources
  • fossil fuels
  • climate change
  • climate goals
  • market design

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 3140 KB  
Article
Towards a Sustainable Future: Assessing the Adaptation of Madrid’s Markets to New Energy Regulations
by Miguel Baquero-Arenal, Cristina González-Gaya, Eduardo R. Conde-López, José Luis Parada Rodríguez, María Antonia Fernández Nieto and Jorge Gallego Sánchez-Torija
Energies 2026, 19(10), 2411; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19102411 - 17 May 2026
Viewed by 365
Abstract
Food markets represent a public good essential for urban supply and as intergenerational spaces supporting the small-scale economy, yet they face growing challenges in adapting to sustainability regulations and circular economy requirements. This study examines the current state of sustainability in Madrid’s municipal [...] Read more.
Food markets represent a public good essential for urban supply and as intergenerational spaces supporting the small-scale economy, yet they face growing challenges in adapting to sustainability regulations and circular economy requirements. This study examines the current state of sustainability in Madrid’s municipal markets through interviews and questionnaires administered to market managers, analyzing building characteristics, renewable energy systems, passive savings strategies, and energy costs across different market typologies. Results reveal that in December 2025, only 9% of markets had solar thermal installations, while merely 11% were planning photovoltaic solar panel projects—figures insufficient to meet current EU energy efficiency mandates. The findings demonstrate a significant gap between existing infrastructure and the requirements of the Directive (EU) 2023/1791, which supersedes previous directives. These results indicate an urgent need for accelerated implementation of renewable energy systems in market buildings to achieve sustainability targets. The study contributes baseline data for developing intervention strategies that can reduce energy consumption and align Madrid’s market network with European decarbonization goals for 2030 and 2050. Full article
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32 pages, 2499 KB  
Article
Mid-Term Electricity Demand Forecasting Using Seasonal Weather Forecasts: An Application in Greece
by Stefanos Pappa, Sevastianos Mirasgedis, Konstantinos V. Varotsos and Christos Giannakopoulos
Energies 2026, 19(8), 1940; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19081940 - 17 Apr 2026
Viewed by 341
Abstract
This study presents a structured methodology for mid-term electricity demand forecasting in the Greek interconnected power system, incorporating climate-sensitive and socio-economic variables. A set of linear regression models was developed to produce forecasts at both monthly and daily resolutions, aiming to balance accuracy [...] Read more.
This study presents a structured methodology for mid-term electricity demand forecasting in the Greek interconnected power system, incorporating climate-sensitive and socio-economic variables. A set of linear regression models was developed to produce forecasts at both monthly and daily resolutions, aiming to balance accuracy with transparency and computational efficiency. Monthly demand was modeled using macro-trend variables such as GDP, population, and energy prices, while daily demand was approached through a disaggregated modeling structure, assigning a distinct regression model to each day of the week. Temperature effects were introduced at both levels using cooling and heating degree days, estimated based on seasonal weather forecasts provided by 51 meteorological models. The modeling approach developed shows a high predictive value. The monthly electricity demand forecast over a six-month horizon exhibits a mean absolute percentage error and a maximum error of approximately 1.4% and 3.9%, respectively, when actual meteorological data are employed, and 3.7% and 8.5%, respectively, when seasonal meteorological forecasts are used for the entire year 2022, in which it has been tested. Adjusting the model for projecting, the monthly peak load in the same time horizon, presents less accurate yet satisfactory results, with a mean and maximum error of 2.9% and 9.6%, respectively, when actual meteorological data are used, and 5.3% and 12.9%, respectively, when seasonal meteorological forecasts are employed. Full article
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24 pages, 4629 KB  
Article
Between Decarbonization and Dependency: Evidence from Greece
by Lefkothea Papada
Energies 2026, 19(7), 1674; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19071674 - 29 Mar 2026
Viewed by 557
Abstract
Historically, the electricity sector in Greece was based on local lignite, which provided a stable and affordable base for electricity production. However, current European policy directions, including decarbonization and climate neutrality by 2050, have accelerated the transformation of traditional energy models, resulting in [...] Read more.
Historically, the electricity sector in Greece was based on local lignite, which provided a stable and affordable base for electricity production. However, current European policy directions, including decarbonization and climate neutrality by 2050, have accelerated the transformation of traditional energy models, resulting in a gradual phasing-out of fossil fuels and an increasing integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES). In line with EU policy priorities and in light of the new dynamics shaped by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), lignite gradually became unprofitable for the national economy, leading the Greek government to announce an accelerated lignite phase-out plan. However, the phase-out of domestic lignite, although consistent with climate objectives, rapidly increased the country’s energy dependency on natural gas and its exposure to natural gas price volatility. At the same time, increased investment in solar and wind technologies has reshaped the electricity mix; yet market design, limited system flexibility and inadequate infrastructure and storage capacity have not allowed the full utilization of RES benefits. This structural gap, in turn, raises critical questions about resilience and affordability. The paper provides evidence on these issues and offers a critical evaluation of the decarbonization pathway that has reshaped the country’s energy dependency. Full article
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