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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2026 | Viewed by 14345

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Prof. Dr. Florian Marcel Nuta

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Faculty of Economic Sciences and Business Administration, Danubius University of Galati, Galati, Bvd. 3, 800654 Galati, Romania
Interests: environmental accounting; climate change economics; energy economics; urban environmental accounting; carbon accounting; green taxation; public policy
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Energy and environmental goods have always been considered anthropocentrically for the utility they hold for humans. Numerous studies have explored the interactions between economic activities, energy, and the environment, describing various and meaningful scenarios in the search for economic growth, energy efficiency, and environmental welfare. Yet, amidst this luxurious debate context, there is still no consensus regarding the best pathway towards sustainability. This can only be achieved by addressing economic output creation with increased energy efficiency and without neglecting the ecological integrity. Both national economies and individual companies are responsible for incorporating environmental protection policies into their development strategies and exiting the growth paradigm. In this sense, we look forward to selecting fresh scholarly perspectives and case studies to create a premise for tightening the gap between utilitarian economic approaches and environmental sustainability.

The topics will focus on, but are not limited to, the following:

Carbon emissions mitigation;
Energy economics;
Climate change resilience policies;
Incorporating ESGs into company strategy;
Resources-based growth strategies;
Climate justice and energy transition.

Prof. Dr. Florian Marcel Nuta
Guest Editor

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 economic
energy
economic crisis
energy transition
innovation
climate change
carbon emissions

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 512 KB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Transition in the BRICS: A Comparative Assessment of the Determinants of Renewable Energy Consumption

by Marcelo Santana Silva, Luís Oscar Silva Martins, Fábio Matos Fernandes, Lucas da Silva Almeida, Maria Cândida Arraes de Miranda Mousinho, Rilton Gonçalo Bonfim Primo and Ednildo Andrade Torres

Energies 2026, 19(3), 811; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19030811 - 4 Feb 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 872

Abstract

This study examines the determinants of renewable energy consumption among BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia) between 2000 and 2022. Using static (Fixed and Random Effects) and dynamic (First-Difference GMM) panel data models, the research investigates how economic, institutional, and social factors influence renewable energy transition. The results reveal structural heterogeneity within the bloc. Among the founding members, renewable energy consumption is positively associated with governance quality and trade openness, while GDP per capita exhibits a negative relationship, consistent with the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis. In contrast, the new members show strong energy dependence and limited institutional capacity, with dynamic models confirming high persistence in energy consumption and weak responsiveness to economic and policy changes. Variables such as education and life expectancy were omitted in the dynamic specification due to limited temporal variation, without compromising model consistency. Diagnostic tests (Hansen, Sargan, and AR(2)) confirm the robustness of the estimates. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of strengthening institutional governance, technological innovation, and intra-bloc cooperation to advance energy transition and achieve sustainable development across the BRICS economies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches to Energy and Environment Economics)

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35 pages, 2019 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Environmental Changes in the Context of Renewable Energy Development in EU Countries

by Jolanta Latosińska, Michał Kopacz, Piotr Olczak and Dorota Miłek

Energies 2026, 19(3), 657; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19030657 - 27 Jan 2026

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 458

Abstract

Human activity impacts the natural environment. One example of such an impact is energy production, including energy from renewable sources. The aim of this study was to analyse and assess changes in the state of the environment in 2008, 2015 and 2023, resulting from the development and structure of renewable energy sources in EU countries. Three research questions were formulated: Question 1 (Q1). Is the state of the environment in most EU countries characterised by variability in terms of the level of renewable energy development? Question 2 (Q2). Has the composition of the group of EU countries with the highest environmental status changed? Question 3 (Q3). Is the group of EU countries with the highest environmental status characterised by a diverse structure of renewable energy sources used? The study covers three key periods: 2008, 2015 and 2023. This approach allows for the identification of the impact of crisis factors on the relationship between the energy transition and environmental status. The evaluation applied the TOPSIS, EDAS and Ward’s methods. Based on a substantive and formal analysis, diagnostic variables were selected: 18 describing the structure and level of RES development, 7 economic indicators and 11 reflecting the environmental status of EU countries. The selection criterion was data availability, with sources drawn from the EUROSTAT, IRENA and World Bank Group databases. The results show that the main leaders were Italy, Sweden, France and Germany, with Austria and Denmark maintaining high positions only in 2008. Italy took the lead in 2015 and retained it in 2023 thanks to extensive emission reductions, while Finland joined the top group. Poland and Lithuania ranked last in 2015 and 2023. A growing gap was also observed between the leaders and the lowest-performing countries. Among the highest-ranked countries, hydropower was the dominant RES, while in Germany and Denmark, wind energy and biofuels also played a key role. Cluster analysis using Ward’s method confirmed the diversity of environmental and energy profiles, as well as Belgium’s distinct position. The study confirms the instability of most EU countries’ positions, the persistence of a small group of leaders and widening disparities in sustainable environmental development within the EU. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches to Energy and Environment Economics)

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42 pages, 3290 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hydroprocessed Ester and Fatty Acids to Jet: Are We Heading in the Right Direction for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production?

by Mathieu Pominville-Racette, Ralph Overend, Inès Esma Achouri and Nicolas Abatzoglou

Energies 2025, 18(15), 4156; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154156 - 5 Aug 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4945

Abstract

Hydrotreated ester and fatty acids to jet (HEFA-tJ) is presently the most developed and economically attractive pathway to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). An ongoing systematic study of the critical variables of different pathways to SAF has revealed significantly lower greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential for the HEFA-tJ pathway compared to competing markets using the same resources for road diesel production. Moderate yield variations between air and road pathways lead to several hundred thousand tons less GHG reduction per project, which is generally not evaluated thoroughly in standard environmental assessments. This work demonstrates that, although the HEFA-tJ market seems to have more attractive features than biodiesel/renewable diesel, considerable viability risks might manifest as HEFA-tJ fuel market integration rises. The need for more transparent data and effort in this regard, before envisaging making decisions regarding the volume of HEFA-tJ production, is emphasized. Overall, reducing the carbon intensity of road diesel appears to be less capital-intensive, less risky, and several times more efficient in reducing GHG emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches to Energy and Environment Economics)

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13 pages, 262 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Economic Impact of Green Energy Investments: Evidence from India, USA, Germany, and Denmark

by Sathish Kumar Murugan, Prity Kumari, Teena Lakshmi Baskaran, Levente Dimen and Alina Cristina Nuta

Energies 2025, 18(14), 3626; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18143626 - 9 Jul 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2325

Abstract

Renewable energy has become an imperative global focus in the battle against climate change, addressing energy security and the development of a sustainable energy economy. This study examines the economic effects of green energy investments in four distinct countries: India, the USA, Germany, and Denmark, using time-series data on employment generation, energy efficiency, and GDP growth for the period from 1996 to 2023. The study employed regression analysis, and the research isolates important differences in outcomes for these regions that are generated by renewable energy policies and investments. The findings suggest that labor-intensive renewable energy projects benefit emerging markets, such as India. Due to market saturation, the projects become counterproductive for mature markets like Germany. For large-scale project development in a stable policy environment, the USA scores highly, while Denmark excels in innovation and sustainability in wind energy. The study highlights the value of targeted policy interventions in maximizing the economic benefits from renewable energy. In addition, it emphasizes the need to tackle country-specific issues, encourage innovation, and ensure a fair pathway to a green energy system. The results of this research will be beneficial for policymakers and stakeholders in evaluating decisions regarding renewable energy investments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches to Energy and Environment Economics)

17 pages, 2677 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Role of Poverty and Gender in Shaping Households’ Energy Consumption Patterns in Selected European Countries

by Florian Marcel Nuță, Alina Gabriela Mărcuță, Levente Dimen, Liviu Mărcuță, Lucian Gaban, Nargiz Hajiyeva and Alina Cristina Nuta

Energies 2025, 18(5), 1266; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18051266 - 5 Mar 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1910

Abstract

In the context of Sustainable Development Goals, declining poverty (Goal 1), achieving gender equality (Goal 5), and ensuring access to clean and affordable energy (SDG7) are still behind track, and the gaps are not yet ready to be rapidly fulfilled. As part of Goal 7, energy consumption-related targets still lack the potential to be targeted. Considering these elements, this study aims to determine the impact of poverty and gender equality on the energy consumption of households in several European countries. Using data from 2010 to 2022 and the moments’ quantile regression method combined with a pooled OLS based on Driskoll-Kraay estimators, we found statistically significant results regarding the impact of poverty and gender on household energy consumption. These findings’ significance will direct policy design towards those meaningful tools that will increase energy efficiency, address energy poverty, and ensure energy just transition, leaving no one behind. Based on the main findings, the policymakers can understand that a mix of policies is significantly more efficient. In such circumstances, social and economic inequalities will not successfully address development issues without including key environmental priorities, such as emissions mitigation and energy consumption patterns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches to Energy and Environment Economics)

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25 pages, 2858 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Sustainability of Agricultural Bioenergy Potential in the European Union

by Gabriela Ignat, Lilia Șargu, Ioan Prigoreanu, Nicu Șargu, Andrian Ulinici and Gabriela Daniela Bordeianu

Energies 2024, 17(19), 4879; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17194879 - 28 Sep 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2395

Abstract

The present study aims to assess the sustainability of bioenergy potential from agriculture in the European Union in the period 2012–2021, with a particular focus on material flow and emissions management, bioenergy and recycling impacts, while assessing the potential of bioenergy from agriculture and analyzing the degree of self-sufficiency and import dependency in the biomass economy. While biomass has significant potential in the EU energy transition, its use is accompanied by challenges related to sustainability, carbon neutrality, efficiency and economic viability. Using a quantitative approach based on official statistical data, this research tracked the evolution of biomass imports, exports, domestic extraction and consumption, providing a comprehensive picture of the stability and adaptability of the biomass economy in the European Union. The results indicate a steady increase in domestic extraction and a stability in consumption, reflecting a high capacity of the European Union to manage biomass resources; thus, the degree of self-sufficiency has been high throughout the period, with a moderate dependence on imports, showing an adaptable economy. The conclusions suggest that in order to maintain this stability, the European Union must continue to develop balanced economic and environmental policies that support the sustainable use of biomass and contribute to the energy transition and environmental objectives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches to Energy and Environment Economics)

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