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Energy Security and Energy Transition: Towards Sustainable Energy Systems—Second Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2026 | Viewed by 6934

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ričardas Krikštolaitis

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Guest Editor

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Informatics, Vytautas Magnus University, Universiteto g. 10, Kaunas District, LT-53361 Akademija, Lithuania
Interests: data analytics; energy security; risk and reliability analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Linas Martišauskas

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Guest Editor

1. Laboratory of Nuclear Installation Safety, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Breslaujos g. 3, LT-44403 Kaunas, Lithuania
2. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Informatics, Vytautas Magnus University, Universiteto g. 10, Kaunas District, LT-53361 Akademija, Lithuania
Interests: data analytics; energy security analysis; energy system mathematical modeling; energy resilience analysis; sustainable energy; reliability and risk analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the global energy landscape continues to evolve in response to climate challenges, geopolitical shifts, and growing sustainability imperatives, the balance between energy security and the transition to sustainable energy systems remains a critical issue.

This Special Issue invites original research and reviews that examine how energy security can be maintained or even strengthened while accelerating the shift towards cleaner, more resilient, and equitable energy systems. We aim to bring together diverse perspectives, methodologies, and case studies that illuminate the pathways to a secure and sustainable energy future.

We welcome contributions addressing (but not limited to) the following topics:

Strategies and policies to enhance energy security during the energy transition;
Integration of renewable energy sources into existing infrastructure;
Energy access and equity in the context of sustainability and security;
Energy efficiency as a tool for strengthening energy resilience;
Technological innovations, including smart grids, storage, and digital solutions;
Governance, regulation, and institutional frameworks supporting secure transitions;
Interlinkages between energy transition, security, and climate mitigation;
Real-world examples and best practices demonstrating effective approaches.

We look forward to your contributions in relation to this impactful discussion.

Prof. Dr. Ričardas Krikštolaitis
Dr. Linas Martišauskas
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 security
energy transition
sustainable energy
energy planning
energy system modeling
energy resilience

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Energy Security and Energy Transition: Towards Sustainable Energy Systems in Energies (6 articles)

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 11301 KB

Open AccessArticle

Real-Time Sedimentation and Operational Technology Integration to Enhance Hydropower Operational Reliability: Case Study of the Chivor Hydropower Plant in Colombia

by Aldemar Leguizamon-Perilla, Johann A. Caballero, Leonardo Rojas, Francisco E. López-Cely, Nhora Cecilia Parra-Rodriguez, Laidi Morales-Cruz, César Nieto-Londoño, Wilber Silva-López and Rafael E. Vásquez

Energies 2026, 19(10), 2481; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19102481 - 21 May 2026

Abstract

This study addresses the critical challenge of sediment-driven degradation in aging hydropower infrastructure by implementing a novel Digital Operational Technology modernization framework at the AES Chivor Hydropower Plant in Colombia. While conventional sediment monitoring relies on sporadic manual campaigns, this research introduces a continuous, real-time sensing architecture that integrates hybrid acoustic–optical sensors, covering a range of 10 to 6000 mg/L, directly into the plant’s SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system. The novelty of this approach lies in the seamless coupling of high-frequency physical data (15 min sampling) with an Operational Decision Support Module, enabling adaptive turbine management. Statistical validation against laboratory gravimetric standards yielded a robust correlation of 0.93, confirming the system’s precision in quantifying suspended sediment concentrations. By identifying critical fine particle fractions in real time, the proposed model enables a precision-based maintenance strategy that significantly reduces unscheduled production downtime and mitigates accelerated wear in Pelton turbines. These findings provide a scalable benchmark for extending the operational life of large-scale hydropower facilities facing advanced sedimentation risks through digital transformation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Security and Energy Transition: Towards Sustainable Energy Systems—Second Edition)

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34 pages, 2878 KB

Open AccessArticle

Aligning Governance, Investment, Land Use, and Climate Resilience in Energy Transition Regions: Evidence from the Resilience–Investment–Land Nexus

by Sofia Pavlidou, Lefteris Topaloglou, Despoina Kanteler, Efthimios Tagaris and Rafaella-Eleni P. Sotiropoulou

Energies 2026, 19(5), 1287; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19051287 - 4 Mar 2026

Viewed by 448

Abstract

Energy Transition Regions (ETRs) face the dual challenge of phasing out carbon-intensive activities while ensuring economic viability, social stability, and climate resilience. This study operationalises the Resilience–Investment–Land Nexus (RILN) to examine how climate vulnerability, investment decision-making, land-use planning, and governance capacity interact to shape transition outcomes. An expert survey conducted in three European ETRs, Western Macedonia (Greece), Silesia (Poland), and Stara Zagora (Bulgaria), assesses perceptions of optimal investment and land-use strategies (OILUS) alongside the political and local governance framework (PLGF) enabling their implementation. A radar-based multi-criteria diagnostic analysis reveals a consistent implementation gap: strong strategic alignment on climate-resilient planning coexists with weaker institutional capacity, coordination, financial resources, and data availability. Cross-country differences indicate that these constraints are shaped by context-specific governance structures rather than uniform technical barriers. Formal heterogeneity analysis using nonparametric tests and ordinal regression models reveals limited divergence in strategic priorities but substantial variation in governance capacity perceptions across countries. The findings highlight governance readiness as a critical determinant of whether climate-resilient investment strategies can be translated into actionable policies. By providing an empirically grounded operationalisation of the RILN framework, the study offers a diagnostic approach for identifying institutional bottlenecks and informing more feasible transition pathways in regions undergoing structural energy transformation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Security and Energy Transition: Towards Sustainable Energy Systems—Second Edition)

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36 pages, 1419 KB

Open AccessArticle

Progress in the Energy Transition Process in EU Countries—A Sustainable Multi-Criteria Assessment

by Paweł Ziemba, Abdullah Zair and Aleksander Wolak

Energies 2026, 19(4), 1045; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19041045 - 16 Feb 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 734

Abstract

The energy transition process encompasses the transformation of traditional energy systems towards more sustainable energy sources. It is recognized that a well-executed energy transition plays a key role in achieving sustainable development. It should, among other things, minimize environmental impact, support economic growth, ensure equal access to energy, and so on. The energy transition process affects most countries in Europe and around the world, but the pace and scope of these changes vary significantly. Therefore, a significant research issue is assessing the progress of energy transition in EU countries and forecasting this progress by analysing the impact of these transition processes on the environment, economy, and society. The scientific contribution of this article includes the use of an advanced methodological approach, which yields reliable results for assessing and forecasting the progress of energy transition. The study utilized a multi-criteria decision analysis methodology based on the PROSA-G method, enabling a native assessment of the progress of energy transition in accordance with a strong sustainability paradigm. The results indicate that Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, and Finland are the leading countries, with Greece and Cyprus trailing behind. In the coming years, Malta may join the ranks, while Spain and Poland will also be among the outsiders if they do not change their current energy policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Security and Energy Transition: Towards Sustainable Energy Systems—Second Edition)

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17 pages, 2019 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Economic and Environmental Aspects on Energy Consumption and Energy Efficiency Behaviour in European Union Countries, Considering the Attitudes Towards Environmental Policies

by Ričardas Krikštolaitis and Genovaitė Liobikienė

Energies 2026, 19(4), 869; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19040869 - 7 Feb 2026

Viewed by 360

Abstract

Reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency are particularly important for mitigating climate change. The main motives for saving energy and improving energy efficiency are economic and environmental. It is also necessary to implement the environmental policy. Thus, this paper aims to analyse attitudes towards ecological policy and the impact of economic and environmental factors on energy consumption and energy efficiency behaviours in European Union (EU) countries in 2022. The analysis showed that environmental factors motivated people to reduce energy consumption more in rich EU countries, while economic factors were stronger in less wealthy countries. However, the level of economic development insignificantly influenced energy consumption and efficiency behaviours. The main positive determinants of energy efficiency behaviour were environmental attitudes, confidence in personal energy reduction, willingness to pay more to speed up the green transition, and attitudes toward environmental promotion policy. Meanwhile, the seriousness of the energy price problem and attitudes towards the ban and fee policy negatively influenced this behaviour. All analysed factors, except the attitudes toward environmental promotion policy, significantly and positively determined the energy consumption behaviour. Thus, promoting energy consumption reduction is very difficult. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Security and Energy Transition: Towards Sustainable Energy Systems—Second Edition)

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41 pages, 4825 KB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Local Energy Systems Through Bottom-Up Modelling: A TIMES-Based Analysis for the Municipality of Tito, Southern Italy

by Carmelina Cosmi, Ikechukwu Ikwegbu Ibe, Antonio D’Angola and Senatro Di Leo

Energies 2025, 18(22), 5996; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18225996 - 15 Nov 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 898

Abstract

The energy transition is an essential process for mitigating the effects of climate change in a global context where recent conflicts threaten energy security. Municipalities play an increasing role in achieving the decarbonization targets set at a national level, but they need effective tools to identify the most appropriate actions and policies for achieving quantitative targets. Among the tools available, energy models allow us to represent the evolution of the energy system under different boundary conditions or constraints and defining the least-cost pathways for sustainable development. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the usefulness of a bottom-up modeling approach in the framework of the ETSAP TIMES model generator to represent and optimize the local-scale energy system of the city of Tito in Southern Italy, with a particular focus on the residential and tertiary sectors. The optimization of a Business-as-Usual reference scenario over a thirty-year time horizon (2020–2050) shows an initial situation based on the prevalent use of natural gas. The sensitivity analysis carried out by gradually increasing the cost of natural gas and providing subsidies for the purchase of heat pumps shows a 92% reduction in fossil fuel consumption and a 60% for CO₂ emissions as early as 2030. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Security and Energy Transition: Towards Sustainable Energy Systems—Second Edition)

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37 pages, 578 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Open Innovation in Energy: A Conceptual Model of Stakeholder Collaboration for Green Transition and Energy Security

by Jarosław Brodny, Magdalena Tutak and Wieslaw Wes Grebski

Energies 2025, 18(21), 5654; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18215654 - 28 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1878

Abstract

This paper addresses the very important and topical issue of the effective and efficient implementation of green and energy transition processes, taking into account social aspects and energy security. Due to climate change and the geopolitical situation, these processes are currently priorities for most countries and regions of the world. The opportunity to achieve success in their implementation lies in the implementation of the Open Innovation concept in a new model developed and presented in this paper. Its essence is an identified group of stakeholders in the processes under study (science, business, state, society, environment) and their specific positions, roles, and relationships. It was also important to analyze the mechanisms of cooperation and interaction between stakeholders, defining key forms and directions, as well as ways of harmonizing them, leading to synergy in innovation processes. A significant stage of the work was also the development of a RACI role and responsibility matrix, which enabled the precise assignment of functions to individual stakeholders in the developed model. Key challenges, barriers (technological, regulatory, organizational, and social), and factors conducive to the coordination of cooperation and interests of the identified stakeholder groups were also identified. To deepen knowledge and better understand the dynamics of this cooperation, a matrix was also developed to assess priorities and their impact on the energy sector within the open innovation model. This tool enables the identification of diverse perspectives in relation to key criteria such as energy security, innovation, social participation, and sustainable development. In addition, a set of indicators (in five key categories of the innovation ecosystem) was developed to enable multidimensional measurement of the effectiveness, efficiency, and scalability of the open innovation model in the energy sector. They also allow for the study of the impact of these factors on the sustainable development, security, and resilience of energy systems. The developed and presented concept of a model of cooperation between stakeholders using the Open Innovation model in the energy industry is universal in nature and can also be used in other sectors. Its application offers broad opportunities to support the management of transformation processes, taking into account the innovative solutions that are necessary for the success of these processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Security and Energy Transition: Towards Sustainable Energy Systems—Second Edition)

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40 pages, 5367 KB

Open AccessArticle

Entropy–Evolutionary Evaluation of Sustainability (E³): A Novel Approach to Energy Sustainability Assessment—Evidence from the EU-27

by Magdalena Tutak, Jarosław Brodny and Wieslaw Wes Grebski

Energies 2025, 18(20), 5481; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18205481 - 17 Oct 2025

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1319

Abstract

In the current geopolitical context, sustainable energy development has become one of the pillars of global economic growth. This issue is well recognized in the European Union, which has undertaken a number of measures to achieve sustainable development goals. For these measures to be effective, it is essential to conduct a reliable, multi-variant diagnosis of the state of energy development in the EU-27 countries. This paper addresses this highly topical and important issue. It presents a new proprietary method—the Entropy–Evolutionary Evaluation of Sustainability (E³)—based on a multidimensional approach to researching and evaluating the state of sustainable energy development in the EU-27 countries between 2014 and 2023. Through the integration of 19 indicators representing the adopted dimensions of the study (energy, economic, environmental, and social), the method enabled both a static assessment and a dynamic analysis of energy transition processes across space and time. To determine the weights of the indicators for each dimension of sustainable energy development, the CRITIC, Entropy, and equal weight methods, along with the Laplace criterion, were applied. The Analytic Hierarchy Process method was used to establish the weights of the dimensions themselves. An important component of the approach was the inclusion of scenario studies, which made it possible to assess sustainable energy development under five variants: baseline, level, equilibrium, transformational, and neutral. These scenarios were based on different weight values assigned to three factors: the level of energy development (L), its stability (S), and the trajectory of change (

\tilde{T}

). The results, expressed in the form of a total index value and dimensional indices, reveal significant diversity among the EU-27 countries in terms of sustainable energy development. Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Latvia, and Austria achieved the best results, while Cyprus, Malta, Ireland, and Luxembourg—countries heavily dependent on energy imports, with limited diversification of their energy mix and high energy costs—performed the worst. The developed method and the results obtained should serve as a valuable source of knowledge to support decision-making and the formulation of strategies concerning the pace and direction of actions related to the energy transition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Security and Energy Transition: Towards Sustainable Energy Systems—Second Edition)

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Review

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39 pages, 3597 KB

Open AccessReview

Mapping the Nexus of Climate Resilience, Investment, Land Use, and Energy Justice in Energy Transition Regions: A Review

by Sofia Pavlidou, Lefteris Topaloglou, Despoina Kanteler, Efthimios Tagaris and Rafaella-Eleni P. Sotiropoulou

Energies 2026, 19(3), 704; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19030704 - 29 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 737

Abstract

Energy transition regions (ETRs) face simultaneous pressures as decarbonisation policies intersect climate hazards, land-use constraints, and economic uncertainty. Although research on renewable energy deployment, climate vulnerability, spatial planning, and investment behaviour has expanded, these topics often remain disconnected, limiting their usefulness for guiding regional energy strategies. This review applies a structured, PRISMA-informed (but not protocol-registered) search and screening process, combining bibliometric mapping with qualitative thematic synthesis. In total, 231 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 were analysed to identify how climate-related risks, financial conditions, and territorial constraints jointly influence energy system choices in ETRs. Four major themes emerge: climate risk and infrastructure vulnerability, investment dynamics and policy stability, land-use governance and siting conflicts, and renewable energy system integration. Across these areas, common challenges include the impact of extreme events on system reliability, the influence of policy uncertainty on capital flows, and the role of land scarcity in shaping technology mixes. To link these dimensions, this study proposes the Resilience–Investment–Land Nexus (RILN), a framework that describes how climate exposure, investment risk, spatial suitability, and social acceptance interact to shape transition pathways. The results highlight the need for climate-informed planning, stable regulatory environments, and stronger spatial decision-support tools. It also identifies gaps in integrating climate risk, land-use modelling, and investment analysis and offers directions for future work on resilient, region-specific energy transitions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Security and Energy Transition: Towards Sustainable Energy Systems—Second Edition)

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