Search Results (118)

The social acceptance of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) is a decisive factor in the successful implementation of clean energy projects. This study explores the attitudes, demographic profiles, and common misconceptions of citizens in the Region of Epirus, Greece, toward photovoltaic and wind energy installations. Special attention is given to the role of education, age, and access to information—as well as spatial factors such as visual exposure—in shaping public perceptions and influencing acceptance of RES deployment. A structured questionnaire was administered to 320 participants across urban and rural areas, with subdivision between regions with and without visual exposure to RES infrastructure. Findings indicate that urban residents exhibit greater acceptance of RES, while rural inhabitants—especially those in proximity to installations—express skepticism, often grounded in esthetic concerns or perceived procedural injustice. Misinformation and lack of knowledge dominate in areas without visual contact. Statistical analysis confirms that younger and more educated participants are more supportive and environmentally aware. The study highlights the importance of targeted educational interventions, transparent consultation, and spatially sensitive communication strategies in fostering constructive engagement with renewable energy projects. The case of Epirus underscores the need for inclusive, place-based policies to bridge the social acceptance gap and support the national energy transition. Full article

Waste-to-energy (WtE) are clean technologies that support a circular economy by providing solutions to managing non-recyclable waste while generating alternative energy sources. Despite the promising benefits, technology adoption is challenged by financing constraints, technical maturity, environmental impacts, supporting policies, and public acceptance. A growing number of studies analyzed the acceptability of WtE and identified the factors affecting the adoption of WtE technologies. This study aims to analyze these research hotspots, technologies, and acceptability factors by combining bibliometric and systematic analyses. An initial search from the Web of Science and Scopus databases identified 817 unique documents, and the refinement resulted in 109 for data analysis. The results present a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art, providing researchers a basis for future research directions. Among the WtE technologies in the reviewed literature are incineration, anaerobic digestion, gasification, and pyrolysis, with limited studies about refuse-derived fuel and landfilling with gas recovery. The identified common factors include perceived risks, trust, attitudes, perceived benefits, “Not-In-My-BackYard” (NIMBY), awareness, and knowledge. Moreover, the findings present valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and WtE project planners to support WtE adoption while achieving sustainable, circular, and low-carbon economies. Full article

As part of the global endeavor to encourage sustainable urban growth and lower carbon emissions, Hail City is leading the way in implementing cutting-edge technologies with which to improve its urban infrastructure. Initiatives for energy resilience and the environment heavily rely on shifting to electric vehicles (EVs). This work describes the strategic planning required to implement a network of solar charging stations and analyzes the parameters that affect this, supporting cleaner transport options. In addition to meeting the growing demand from an increased number of EVs, constructing a network of solar charging stations positions the city as a leader in integrating renewable energy sources into urban areas. A solar electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) will also be designed. This study highlights a competitive attitude in establishing international standards for sustainable practices and critically examines the technical factors affecting the required charging stations. Regarding the latter, the following results were obtained. The ideal number of station slots is 200. Less efficient vehicles with higher consumption rates require a more comprehensive charging infrastructure, and increasing the charging power leads to an apparent decrease in the number of stations. The influence of battery capacity on the required NSs is limited, especially at charger power values above 30 kWh. By taking proactive measures to address these factors, Hail City hopes to improve its infrastructure effectively and sustainably, keeping it competitive in a world where cities are increasingly judged on their ability to adopt new technology and green projects. A solar station was designed to supply the EVCS with a capacity of 700.56 kWp. Full article

Since the early years of the 21st century, there has been a clear critique of the diotic way of farming in the international scientific arena, emphasizing that the existing models of economic development are exacerbating social inequalities and overexploiting natural resources. At the same time, the literature promotes the implementation of a new way of farming that takes into account environmental, social, and economic concerns. We have brought together new methods and ways of farming in these areas into one broad concept, called the conclusion of sustainable development. Within this concept, particular emphasis has been placed on sustainable energy development, the intensive development of technologies based on renewable energy sources, and the advancement of end-user awareness of modern technologies. The aim of this paper was to identify the factors that determine the ecological attitude of users of single-family houses in Poland when making strategic energy decisions related to the choice of heating devices in a household. To solve this research problem, the authors conducted a nationwide survey on a representative sample of single-family house users. In turn, the results were analyzed using log-linear analysis. The results showed that the determinants of the ecological nature of such energy decisions are primarily the age of the house users and their level of education. It was found that younger people are significantly more likely to think about ecology when making decisions related to how a building is heated than older people. In addition, people with a higher level of education are more likely to think about ecology when making such decisions than those with a lower level of education. Findings showed that the gender of the occupant of a single-family house, as well as the size of the town in which the building is located, have no significant impact on the ecological nature of decisions related to the choice of the method of obtaining energy for home heating. It was also shown that territorial variation, i.e., the region of the country, had no effect on this issue. The identification of socio-demographic determinants of the ecological nature of decisions related to the choice of heating devices in single-family houses in Poland fills the research gap and thus contributes to the literature in this area. Full article

This paper identifies and examines the latest research on renewable energy in Poland, reviewing articles published between 2021 and 2023 indexed in the Scopus database. It analyzes 124 papers, categorizing them into 11 thematic areas which include (1) energy production, (2) energy consumption, (3) energy policy, (4) sustainable development activities, (5) technology and engineering, (6) energy storage, (7) powering vehicles, (8) awareness and attitude regarding energy, (9) finances and investments, (10) emission, and (11) other. The main objective was to analyze the state of the current research on renewables in Poland. The results highlight significant progress in renewable energy capacity, particularly in wind and solar power, driven by national policies, EU funding, and growing public support. The analysis also reveals persistent challenges related to technology, infrastructure, and policy. The authors critically evaluate the research’s relevance to Poland’s energy sector and globally. They also refer to issue of non-renewable energy sources, which, despite the development of the RES sector, still play a dominant role in the Polish energy economy. Due to this, the article not only describes the state of knowledge, but also formulates conclusions on the real needs and opportunities for the further development of energy in Poland. Full article

The everyday comfort and security of the present society are intimately associated with the assistance of different tools that function by means of diverse sources linked to the transfer and conversion of electromagnetic (EM) energy. The use of these devices exhibits expected outcomes, which are regularly coexistent with unwanted side effects. A laudable intention of an administration is to strengthen the anticipated results and lessen the unsolicited effects. This paper’s goal, in the framework of such an organization, is to evaluate the significance of the methodologies of responsible attitude (RA) and one health (OH) in the everyday exercise of the involved wireless EM energy tools in the environment of a smart city (SC). The approach of RA is linked to a tool’s eco-design, while the concept of OH is linked to the protection of an SC’s biodiversity and ecosystem. The unwanted side effects of these wireless devices could be implicated as occurrences of straying or radiated EM fields on devices or living tissues. The investigation intends to assess the enhancement of projected outcomes and the reduction of unwanted effects in the quotidian exercise of wireless EM energy transfer and transmission tools in the SC environment. The challenges are associated with the sources and the emissions of wireless EM technologies available today, and their impacts on the health of living tissues, biodiversity, and the ecosystem. The paper centered particularly on two cases engaged in the SC environment. The first involves the disrupting effects of EM exposure of onboard or near-living tissues from sensing and assistance medical tools. The second is linked to the adverse biological effects resulting from wireless inductive power transfer used for charging the batteries inside electric vehicles while motionless or running in SCs. The inquiries followed in the paper are supported by instances in the literature. Full article

The energy crisis has highlighted the need for a significant change in Kosovo’s lignite-based electrical energy system, particularly greater investments in renewable energy sources. These sources would provide greater price stability, centralized accessibility, and relatively affordable investment costs. This research tries to analyze the basic attitudes behind the behavior of the students from the agricultural faculty in Kosovo in order to acquire a better understanding of their preferences for renewable energy source purchases, using the Best–Worst Scaling (BWS) method and cluster analysis. Students’ perspectives on renewable energy show strong environmental and price conscientiousness in BWS methods (first and second rank), while the rate of eco-skeptic students reaches only 23% in the cluster analysis, which is a very promising sign of the younger generation’s growing dedication to sustainability. Students, as future decision-makers, can play a critical role in making the transition to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system. Green transition in Kosovo can be reached by combining the importance of dissemination and marketing tools with the pressing demand for renewable energy solutions, which might be interesting not only for Kosovo, but (considering the expectable enlargement) also for the EU. Full article

As the issues of the world’s overreliance on fossil fuels still remain unresolved, mainstream media play a central role in influencing public attitudes towards energy sources. This article aimed to consider Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals as manipulation means in the news coverage of the 2021–2022 global energy crisis. Using computer-aided text analysis, media framing, discourse, and rhetorical analyses, this paper analyzes 600 news articles published on the websites of the four mainstream media sources from the key countries that were affected by the crisis. The results confirmed emotionalization of the news coverage that occurred through the use of similar rhetorical appeals and emotive language means aimed at inducing positive or negative feelings and shaping public opinion. The UK and US mainstream media appeared to rely more on the opinions of political, business, and energy authorities, highlighting a high level of politicization of their coverage. The findings also indicated polarization of the attitudes in the coverage, with mainly negative narratives about fossil fuels and more positive narratives about renewable energies, which contributed to public opinion manipulation and energy decision-making. This study opens up perspectives for future research on media emotions and rhetorical appeals as powerful manipulation means in applied linguistics, rhetoric, and journalism. Full article

The energy transition currently defines the economic development of all market sectors, driven by technological progress and increasing environmental awareness. The requirements of a sustainable economy and green energy are evolving dynamically to address environmental challenges, emphasizing the reduction of CO₂ emissions as well as energy efficiency and renewable energy sources. It is essential to study consumer attitudes toward products manufactured using green energy, including FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) products. The aim of this article is to examine the impact of the energy transformation, and consequently rising energy costs, on the decision-making process of consumers of FMCG products produced in accordance with the principles of sustainable development (including green energy). It explores the factors influencing their purchasing decisions and the role that generation plays in this process. Understanding how different generations respond to the energy aspects of economic functioning is crucial for the future development of the energy sector and the implementation of sustainable economic models. Therefore, it is essential to conduct research that demonstrates the extent of the influence of increasing consumer awareness of energy transformation within the framework of sustainable development. Full article

Green energy sources play a vital role in mitigating environmental impacts and reducing dependence on energy imports. Growing concerns over climate change, coupled with public policies promoting the expansion of green energy, have notably shaped consumer attitudes and behaviours. This study aims to address the knowledge gap by examining the impact of a sustainable lifestyle, consumer innovativeness, and economic attitudes on the intention to adopt green energy sources. The research was conducted on 580 Polish consumers using an online survey. The results of structural equation modelling revealed that pro-environmental self-identity (PESI) and consumer innovativeness (CI) have a positive impact on consumer behaviour toward green energy sources. Pro-environmental self-identity (PESI) is the strongest determinant of consumer behaviour toward green energy sources. Our research on Polish consumer behaviour could serve as a frame of reference for other countries, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. From a theoretical standpoint, this research enhances the understanding of pro-environmental self-identity (PESI) and its link to consumer innovativeness while also offering insights into consumer behaviour related to green energy sources, based on the experiences from the Polish market. The conclusions derived from this study may provide valuable guidance for managers and policymakers in formulating strategies to promote the adoption of green energy sources across Europe effectively. Full article

This study investigates the role of peer effects in shaping the adoption of sustainable heating systems in two highly polluted communes in Southern Chile. Despite policies promoting cleaner alternatives, wood-burning stoves, a major source of particulate matter emissions, remain widespread. This research work addresses a critical gap in the literature by examining how peer influence—typically studied in relation to visible technologies like solar panels or electric vehicles—affects the adoption of less visible but essential sustainable heating technologies. The main objective of this study is to understand how peer networks can influence the attitudes of residents towards sustainable heating technologies in highly polluted urban environments. Employing a non-experimental, cross-sectional design with a sample of 244 participants, this study reveals that peer effects and health risk perception are significant predictors of positive attitudes towards sustainable heating systems. These findings contribute valuable insights for policymakers seeking to accelerate energy transitions in polluted regions. Full article

According to the European Commission, electric vehicles (EVs) remain parked for 95% of their life, which makes them inefficient. In addition, EV sales are forecasted to rise over the following years, which will create additional electricity demand, especially during peak hours. This challenge coincides with the growing trend of homeowners installing renewable energy sources (RES) in their homes. Therefore, a potential solution to managing the increase in electricity costs and peak demand is the use of EVs as a flexible storage system by utilizing vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. The successful market penetration of V2G technology hinges significantly on the willingness of current and future EV drivers to participate. Hence, in the broader context of the promotion and transition to electromobility and related technologies (V2G), the main purpose of this paper was to shed light on the hitherto unknown attitudes of Greek drivers towards V2G technology. The adopted methodology involved a survey questionnaire with statements serving as indicators on a 5-point Likert scale. The results show that Greek drivers highly appreciate the positive environmental impact of EVs but are primarily driven by the potential economic incentives they might receive from engaging with V2G technology. In addition, they appear to be skeptical about both V2G technology and electromobility, mainly due to the increased upfront cost of EVs but also due to the immature V2G market. Full article

Solar energy is increasing in popularity as a renewable energy source, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Even though many governments promote solar energy by giving various incentives, its adoption rate in households is slow. Psychological factors have been relatively overlooked in solar adoption, despite the importance of social and economic factors. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate how psychological determinants impact households’ willingness to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. This study focusses on the future orientation and personal values (biospheric, altruistic, and egoistic values) of households’ and their willingness to install solar PV systems. The research draws from three environmental psychology theories: values orientation theory, value beliefs and norms theory, and the theory of planned behaviour to construct an integrative theoretical model. A survey involving 179 respondents in Australia was conducted and analysed applying the PLS-SEM technique. Findings revealed that future orientation and values are significant predictors of household willingness to install solar PV systems. Further, findings showed that attitude and perceived behavioural control play a significant role in installing solar. The findings will assist policymakers and solar companies in developing lucrative policies and marketing strategies to promote solar PV systems among households. Full article

The functioning of the energy sector in Poland has been changing over recent years, influenced by growing concern for the environment. The concept of inclusive leadership can play a key role in the emergence of behavioral changes related to the development of environmental awareness and the initiation of pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors by employees. The guiding objective of this study is to verify a moderated mediation model of the impact of pro-environmental consciousness (PEC) on the mediating role of the fulfillment of the psychological contract for the environment (PCFE) in pro-environmental inclusive leadership (PEIL) and pro-environmental work behavior (PEWB) relationships in the energy industry. By self-completing a survey questionnaire using the computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) method, responses were collected from 649 respondents employed in various energy industry organizations. Structural equation modelling based on maximum likelihood with bootstrap estimation was used to test the hypothesis model. The findings confirm the assumptions of the research model, demonstrating a direct relationship between pro-environmental inclusive leadership and pro-environmental work behavior. Additionally, a mediating condition was found, where the fulfillment of the psychological contract for the environment mediates the relationship between pro-environmental inclusive leadership and pro-environmental work behavior, and pro-environmental consciousness moderates this process. It was found that higher pro-environmental consciousness enhances the indirect effect of pro-environmental inclusive leadership on employees’ pro-environmental work behavior through the fulfillment of the psychological contract for the environment. This highlights the importance of the fulfillment of the psychological contract for the environment and a pro-environmental consciousness in the effectiveness of pro-environmental leadership. The analysis indicates that managers who apply a pro-environmental inclusive management style contribute to an increasingly pro-environmental consciousness and the promotion pro-environmental work behavior among employees. Furthermore, the indirect effect of green leadership on employees’ green actions, through the fulfillment of a psychological contract for the environment that is moderated by their pro-environmental consciousness, highlights the importance of environmentally conscious leaders in building effective employee–employer relationships. These relationships facilitate the implementation of initiatives that accelerate the pace of change and enhance efforts to build tomorrow’s modern energy industry based on low- and zero-carbon energy sources. Additionally, this is one of the first studies in the Polish energy industry to provide insight into the role and importance of green leadership and green behavior in the energy industry. Full article

Amid rising global demand for renewable energy, geothermal power emerges as a vital, low-carbon solution to enhance energy security and sustainability. Taiwan, strategically located on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, possesses an untapped geothermal potential that is underutilized due to complex site selection challenges. This study specifically addresses the need for a more precise and psychologically attuned site selection process, aiming to optimize the development of geothermal resources in regions with complex geological settings. Utilizing the Modified Bounded Rationality Data Envelopment Analysis (MB-DEA) model, this research integrates traditional DEA with bounded rationality to factor in the risk preferences of decision-makers, offering a novel approach that enhances accuracy in evaluating geothermal sites. This study addresses the critical challenge of accurately selecting geothermal energy sites in geologically complex regions like Taiwan, where traditional methods fall short, aiming to significantly boost the efficiency and effectiveness of geothermal energy exploitation as part of Taiwan’s transition to renewable energy sources. Applied to 30 potential sites across Taiwan, our model provides a detailed assessment based on technical, economic, and psychological criteria, revealing variations in site suitability influenced by stakeholder risk attitudes. Key locations such as Datun Mountain, Maoxing, and Taolin consistently rank highly, confirming their robust potential irrespective of risk preferences. At the same time, other sites show marked sensitivity to shifts in decision-making attitudes. This work significantly advances the methodology of renewable energy site selection by demonstrating the utility of incorporating psychological factors into analytical models, which not only refines decision-making processes but also aligns with Taiwan’s strategic energy planning goals. This study also underscores the importance of accurate geographical data in complex terrains, suggesting further refinement and dynamic integration of bounded rationality for future research. Full article