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Energy and Environmental Economics for a Sustainable Future

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 August 2025 | Viewed by 2354

Special Issue Editors

Institute of Industrial Economics, School of Finance and Economics, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: energy; environmental economics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
School of Management, China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Interests: environmental impacts of energy system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The globe is facing rapidly changing environmental and energy systems, including global warming, regional conflicts, energy shortages, etc., posing threats to ecosystems and human society. It is increasingly important to deepen our understanding of energy and environmental economics to achieve sustainable development goals. Actions have been taken to promote energy transition, environmental protection, and circular economy, while the question of how to build heathier and sustainable energy and environmental economies has yet to be answered globally. Also, the regional heterogeneities in energy and environmental economies remain unrevealed.

This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to the theory, design, and modelling of sustainable energy and environmental economies.

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

  • Theory of energy and environmental economy;
  • Energy and environmental economy for Sustainable Development Goals;
  • Ecosystem impacts of energy systems;
  • Energy–water nexus;
  • Climatic impacts of energy transition.

Dr. Yi Jin
Dr. Cuiyang Feng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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 transition
  • climate change
  • environmental protection

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 1371 KiB  
Article
Economic Analysis of Fossil CO2 Emissions: A European Perspective on Sustainable Development
by Alina Yakymchuk and Małgorzata Agnieszka Rataj
Energies 2025, 18(8), 2106; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18082106 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 520
Abstract
The economic assessment of CO2 emissions from fossil fuels is gaining importance in the context of sustainable development. Climate change, driven by excessive greenhouse gas emissions, poses a significant threat to humanity, requiring an integrated approach that considers both environmental and economic [...] Read more.
The economic assessment of CO2 emissions from fossil fuels is gaining importance in the context of sustainable development. Climate change, driven by excessive greenhouse gas emissions, poses a significant threat to humanity, requiring an integrated approach that considers both environmental and economic factors. The European Union (EU) plays a key role in global efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and promote sustainability. This study explores economic approaches to analyzing CO2 emissions in Europe, focusing on trends in fossil fuel use and their economic drivers. The research highlights the connection between economic activity, energy consumption, and emissions, contributing to a better understanding of climate change mitigation strategies. The findings emphasize the strong influence of demographic factors on carbon emissions, stressing the need for targeted policies to address the environmental impact of population growth. This study presents a literature-based assessment of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel consumption in the context of sustainable development, with a focus on Europe. Recognizing the urgent threat posed by climate change, the paper explores how economic and demographic factors influence emissions trends and energy consumption. Through the synthesis of recent research and statistical data, it examines the relationship between economic activity and CO2 emissions across EU countries. Special attention is given to national policy frameworks, particularly Germany’s “Energiewende”, as a successful example of emission reduction through building-sector reform. The study highlights that while economic growth remains a driver of emissions, strategic investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sectoral transformation can decouple growth from environmental degradation. The findings support the need for country-specific mitigation strategies, emphasizing that uniform approaches may not address the diverse challenges faced by EU member states. This work contributes to the broader understanding of climate policy design by linking empirical evidence with policy implications in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy and Environmental Economics for a Sustainable Future)
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22 pages, 1835 KiB  
Article
Estimating the CO2 Impacts of Wind Energy in the Transition Towards Carbon-Neutral Energy Systems
by Hannele Holttinen, Tomi J. Lindroos, Antti Lehtilä, Tiina Koljonen, Juha Kiviluoma and Magnus Korpås
Energies 2025, 18(6), 1548; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18061548 - 20 Mar 2025
Viewed by 391
Abstract
In this study, the CO2 reduction benefits of wind energy in the transition towards a carbon-neutral energy system are explored. The marginal benefits of wind energy in replacing CO2 emissions in electricity generation are gradually declining as carbon-emission-reduction targets are fulfilled. [...] Read more.
In this study, the CO2 reduction benefits of wind energy in the transition towards a carbon-neutral energy system are explored. The marginal benefits of wind energy in replacing CO2 emissions in electricity generation are gradually declining as carbon-emission-reduction targets are fulfilled. However, there is still the potential to reduce emissions by replacing fossil fuels in other energy sectors via electrification. Using the Finnish TIMES-VTT energy system model, this study simulates the impacts of different wind energy scenarios between 2030 and 2050, analyzing the effects of adding or removing 5 TWh of wind energy on power generation. Our findings indicate that the reduction benefits of wind energy vary over time, stemming initially from the generation of electricity but they are increasingly being driven by electrification through lowered electricity prices, and fuel switching, like the replacement of bioenergy in heating and fuel production. Between the years 2030 and 2050, an average marginal emission reduction of 180–270 gCO2eq/kWh was seen, rising to 250–320 gCO2eq/kWh if the impact on reduced carbon sinks through wood chip use was taken into account. Issues using marginal, substitution impacts from simulations are discussed; however, no straightforward methods for capturing the cumulative benefits of assets over their lifetime exist. In transitioning towards a net-zero-carbon energy system, other issues like costs, land use, and social aspects will become more relevant than emission substitution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy and Environmental Economics for a Sustainable Future)
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11 pages, 1741 KiB  
Article
An Electricity Market Model with Intermittent Power
by Rögnvaldur Hannesson
Energies 2025, 18(6), 1435; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18061435 - 14 Mar 2025
Viewed by 255
Abstract
A competitive electricity market model is used to analyze the effects of replacing conventional base load power with an intermittent power supply. The model is a conceptual one and uses linear demand curves with a triangular probability distribution. In a base reference case, [...] Read more.
A competitive electricity market model is used to analyze the effects of replacing conventional base load power with an intermittent power supply. The model is a conceptual one and uses linear demand curves with a triangular probability distribution. In a base reference case, there are two types of providers of electricity, base load providers and peak load providers, each with a constant marginal cost. Prices are determined by the highest marginal cost of the active providers or by what the market can bear. The production capacity of each type of provider is determined by rents being equal to fixed costs. This reference case is compared to a case where base load providers have been replaced by intermittent solar and wind energy, with peak load providers still active. Despite lower costs, intermittent power is likely to result in higher and more volatile prices of electricity. Lower electricity prices could result if conventional baseload power is sufficiently expensive. The implications of changes in the availability of intermittent power are also analyzed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy and Environmental Economics for a Sustainable Future)
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20 pages, 2131 KiB  
Article
Shale Gas Transition in China: Evidence Based on System Dynamics Model for Production Prediction
by Yingchao Chen and Yang Zhang
Energies 2025, 18(4), 878; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18040878 - 12 Feb 2025
Viewed by 739
Abstract
As a clean energy source, shale gas plays a crucial role in mitigating the supply–demand imbalance of natural gas and in facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy. This study employs a system dynamics model to forecast future production trends in shale gas [...] Read more.
As a clean energy source, shale gas plays a crucial role in mitigating the supply–demand imbalance of natural gas and in facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy. This study employs a system dynamics model to forecast future production trends in shale gas in China, analyze its implications for the natural gas supply–demand structure, and explore pathways for sustainable development. Firstly, by integrating the characteristics of China’s shale gas resources, market dynamics, and policy frameworks, the key factors influencing production are identified, and their interrelationships are systematically analyzed. Subsequently, a causal loop diagram is constructed using the VENSIM software(VENSIM PLE 9.3.5 x64), a set of representative variables is selected, and the logical relationships among these variables are established through a multivariate statistical analysis, culminating in the development of a production forecasting model for China’s shale gas (stock and flow diagram). Finally, based on parameter assumptions, this study predicts the production trends in shale gas in China under multiple scenarios. The forecasting results reveal that China’s shale gas production is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 3.32% to 8.02%, with production under the reference scenario projected to reach 724.22 × 108 m3 by 2040. However, the growth of shale gas production over the next two decades remains limited, accounting for a maximum of 12.07% of the total natural gas consumption, underscoring its transitional role in the low-carbon transformation. To address these challenges, this study proposes four policy recommendations: (1) prioritize the development of shallow, high-quality gas-bearing blocks while gradually transitioning to deeper formations; (2) intensify technological innovation in deep shale gas extraction to enhance recovery rates and mitigate production decline rates; (3) implement flexible production subsidies and moderately increase natural gas sales prices to incentivize production and optimize resource allocation; and (4) strengthen ecological conservation and improve water resource management to ensure the sustainable development of shale gas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy and Environmental Economics for a Sustainable Future)
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