A Systematic Review on the Path to Inclusive and Sustainable Energy Transitions
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Background
1.2. Scope of the Study
1.2.1. Rationale
1.2.2. Objectives
- Identify and analyze the key factors driving current energy transitions.
- Highlight specific countries with advanced energy transition programs and examine their policies, strategies, or frameworks.
- Explore the roles of energy literacy and justice in energy transitions.
- Provide recommendations for future research and policy development.
1.3. Methodology
1.3.1. Literature Search
1.3.2. Refinement and Selection
1.3.3. Data Analysis
- What are the driving factors behind current energy transitions?
- Which case studies best exemplify successful or ongoing energy transitions?
- How do energy literacy and justice contribute to these transitions?
1.3.4. Case Study Selection
2. Bibliometric Analysis
2.1. Keyword Co-Occurrence
2.2. Collaboration and Citation Counts by Country of Affiliation
2.3. Top Key Publications and Document Classifications
3. Thematic Analysis
3.1. Factors Driving Current Energy Transitions
3.1.1. Policy Initiatives
3.1.2. Technological Advancements
3.1.3. Economic Incentives
3.1.4. International Agreements and Collaborations
3.2. Countries with Advanced Energy Transition Programs
3.2.1. Progressive Countries
3.2.2. Policies, Strategies, and Frameworks
Nordic Countries
Germany and Poland
Country | Progress and Outcomes | Challenges | References |
---|---|---|---|
Denmark | Denmark has achieved significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and increased the share of wind energy in its electricity mix. The transition has resulted in a robust renewable energy sector, increased energy security, and economic benefits from exporting renewable energy technologies. | The country faces challenges in further integrating renewable energy into the grid and balancing intermittent energy sources. | [56,57,58] |
Germany | Germany has made substantial progress in increasing the share of renewable energy in its electricity mix and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The country has significantly boosted its renewable energy capacity, particularly in wind and solar power, making these energy sources competitive with traditional fossil fuels. Currently, renewables powered up 55% of Germany’s electricity, and the country aims to reach 80% by 2050. | The country faces challenges in managing the socio-economic impacts of phasing out coal and ensuring grid stability with high shares of renewable energy. | [59,60,61] |
Poland | Poland has made initial steps towards increasing renewable energy capacity and reducing coal dependency. Poland’s efforts have been slower compared to other EU countries, but the strategy sets a foundation for future progress in achieving its energy transition goals. | The country faces significant socio-economic challenges from the transition, including job losses in coal regions and the need for substantial investments in new energy infrastructure. | [53,59] |
3.3. The Role of Energy Literacy and Justice
3.3.1. Defining Energy Literacy and Justice
Energy Literacy
Energy Justice
3.3.2. Integration into Policies and Practices
3.3.3. Impact on Public Acceptance and Participation
4. Conclusions
4.1. Key Summary
4.2. Future Directions
- i.
- Encourage the active involvement of local communities in decision-making processes related to energy projects. This can be achieved through public consultations, workshops, and participatory planning sessions.
- ii.
- Promote community ownership of renewable energy projects to ensure that the economic benefits are retained within the community. Policies can support cooperative models and community-led initiatives.
- iii.
- Ensure that energy transition policies address mobility and transportation needs, particularly in rural and underserved areas. This includes developing infrastructure for electric vehicles and improving public transportation options.
- iv.
- Guarantee that the processes involved in energy transitions are transparent, inclusive, and just. This involves fair representation in regulatory bodies and equitable distribution of decision-making power.
- v.
- Implement measures to ensure that the economic benefits of energy transitions are shared equitably. This includes job creation, training programs, and support for local businesses, ensuring affordable access to renewable energy for all.
- vi.
- Protect and enhance the livelihoods of individuals and communities affected by energy transitions. This can involve providing compensation, retraining opportunities, and support for alternative livelihoods.
- vii.
- Engage in place-based justice approaches that incorporate historical awareness and considerations to ensure successful transition efforts through community acceptance and participation. Given that the reviewed case studies are primarily associated with European communities and nations, it is crucial to account for historical contexts to ensure that transition approaches are applicable across various regions with differing histories of injustice. For instance, addressing fear and mistrust requires tackling issues related to region- or community-specific historical distrust involving communities, governments, and the energy industry.
- viii.
- Leverage social media platforms to promote energy literacy and justice, considering that social media can be a powerful tool to reach a broad audience, including young people and vulnerable populations, and to raise awareness about energy issues. By disseminating information through engaging content such as videos, infographics, and interactive posts, the public can be educated about energy systems, highlight instances of energy injustices, and empower individuals to participate in energy-related discussions. This can increase public engagement and support for energy transition initiatives.
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Newell, P. Power Shift, 1st ed.; Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK, 2021. [Google Scholar]
- Svobodova, K.; Owen, J.R.; Harris, J.; Worden, S. Complexities and contradictions in the global energy transition: A re-evaluation of country-level factors and dependencies. Appl. Energy 2020, 265, 114778. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Carley, S.; Konisky, D.M. The justice and equity implications of the clean energy transition. Nat. Energy 2020, 5, 569–577. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gatto, A.; Busato, F. Energy vulnerability around the world: The global energy vulnerability index (GEVI). J. Clean. Prod. 2020, 253, 118691. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Villavicencio Calzadilla, P.; Mauger, R. The UN’s new sustainable development agenda and renewable energy: The challenge to reach SDG7 while achieving energy justice. J. Energy Nat. Resour. Law 2018, 36, 233–254. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Guo, Q.; Abbas, S.; AbdulKareem HK, K.; Shuaibu, M.S.; Khudoykulov, K.; Saha, T. Devising strategies for sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa: The roles of renewable, non-renewable energy, and natural resources. Energy 2023, 284, 128713. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Halkos, G.E.; Gkampoura, E.-C. Reviewing Usage, Potentials, and Limitations of Renewable Energy Sources. Energies 2020, 13, 2906. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cordero, E.C.; Centeno, D.; Todd, A.M. The role of climate change education on individual lifetime carbon emissions. PLoS ONE 2020, 15, e0206266. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gibellato, S.; Ballestra, L.V.; Fiano, F.; Graziano, D.; Luca Gregori, G. The impact of education on the Energy Trilemma Index: A sustainable innovativeness perspective for resilient energy systems. Appl. Energy 2023, 330, 120352. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Molthan-Hill, P.; Blaj-Ward, L.; Mbah, M.F.; Ledley, T.S. Climate Change Education at Universities: Relevance and Strategies for Every Discipline. In Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Springer International Publishing: Cham, Switzerland, 2022; pp. 3395–3457. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gladwin, D.; Ellis, N. Energy literacy: Towards a conceptual framework for energy transition. Environ. Educ. Res. 2023, 29, 1515–1529. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kirshner, J.; Omukuti, J. Energy justice and development. In Handbook on Energy Justice; Edward Elgar Publishing: Cheltenham, UK, 2023; pp. 79–93. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Shelton, R.E.; Eakin, H. Who’s fighting for justice?: Advocacy in energy justice and just transition scholarship. Environ. Res. Lett. 2022, 17, 063006. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Siciliano, G.; Wallbott, L.; Urban, F.; Dang, A.N.; Lederer, M. Low-carbon energy, sustainable development, and justice: Towards a just energy transition for the society and the environment. Sustain. Dev. 2021, 29, 1049–1061. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Biswas, S.; Echevarria, A.; Irshad, N.; Rivera-Matos, Y.; Richter, J.; Chhetri, N.; Parmentier, M.J.; Miller, C.A. Ending the Energy-Poverty Nexus: An Ethical Imperative for Just Transitions. Sci. Eng. Ethics 2022, 28, 36. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Heffron, R.J. Applying energy justice into the energy transition. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2022, 156, 111936. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Awolesi, O.; Osobamiro, T.; Alabi, O.; Oshinowo, A.; Jegede, S. Low Carbon Emission Studies: A Bibliometric Approach. Int. J. Innov. Sci. Res. Technol. 2019, 4, 294–299. [Google Scholar]
- Merigó, J.M.; Yang, J.-B. A bibliometric analysis of operations research and management science. Omega 2017, 73, 37–48. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Moed, H. Citation Analysis in Research Evaluation; Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2005; Volume 9. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- van Eck, N.J.; Waltman, L. Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping. Scientometrics 2010, 84, 523–538. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Braun, V.; Clarke, V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual. Res. Psychol. 2006, 3, 77–101. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Vaismoradi, M.; Turunen, H.; Bondas, T. Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study. Nurs. Health Sci. 2013, 15, 398–405. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Md Khudzari, J.; Kurian, J.; Tartakovsky, B.; Raghavan, G.S.V. Bibliometric analysis of global research trends on microbial fuel cells using Scopus database. Biochem. Eng. J. 2018, 136, 51–60. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fan, L.; Wang, Y.; Ding, S.; Qi, B. Productivity trends and citation impact of different institutional collaboration patterns at the research units’ level. Scientometrics 2020, 125, 1179–1196. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kwiek, M. What large-scale publication and citation data tell us about international research collaboration in Europe: Changing national patterns in global contexts. Stud. High. Educ. 2021, 46, 2629–2649. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Szulecki, K. Conceptualizing energy democracy. Environ. Politics 2018, 27, 21–41. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Vanegas Cantarero, M.M. Of renewable energy, energy democracy, and sustainable development: A roadmap to accelerate the energy transition in developing countries. Energy Res. Soc. Sci. 2020, 70, 101716. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sovacool, B.K. Contestation, contingency, and justice in the Nordic low-carbon energy transition. Energy Policy 2017, 102, 569–582. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Szulecki, K.; Overland, I. Energy democracy as a process, an outcome and a goal: A conceptual review. Energy Res. Soc. Sci. 2020, 69, 101768. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Islar, M.; Brogaard, S.; Lemberg-Pedersen, M. Feasibility of energy justice: Exploring national and local efforts for energy development in Nepal. Energy Policy 2017, 105, 668–676. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wang, W.; Moreno-Casas, V.; Huerta de Soto, J. A Free-Market Environmentalist Transition toward Renewable Energy: The Cases of Germany, Denmark, and the United Kingdom. Energies 2021, 14, 4659. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lu, Y.; Khan, Z.A.; Alvarez-Alvarado, M.S.; Zhang, Y.; Huang, Z.; Imran, M. A Critical Review of Sustainable Energy Policies for the Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5078. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Maris, G.; Flouros, F. The Green Deal, National Energy and Climate Plans in Europe: Member States’ Compliance and Strategies. Adm. Sci. 2021, 11, 75. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Beiter, P.; Cooperman, A.; Lantz, E.; Stehly, T.; Shields, M.; Wiser, R.; Telsnig, T.; Kitzing, L.; Berkhout, V.; Kikuchi, Y. Wind power costs driven by innovation and experience with further reductions on the horizon. WIREs Energy Environ. 2021, 10, e398. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Snow, S.; Chadwick, K.; Horrocks, N.; Chapman, A.; Glencross, M. Do solar households want demand response and shared electricity data? Exploring motivation, ability and opportunity in Australia. Energy Res. Soc. Sci. 2022, 87, 102480. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tarasova, E.; Rohracher, H. Marginalising household users in smart grids. Technol. Soc. 2023, 72, 102185. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kowalska-Pyzalska, A. What makes consumers adopt to innovative energy services in the energy market? A review of incentives and barriers. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2018, 82, 3570–3581. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Curtin, J.; McInerney, C.; Johannsdottir, L. How can financial incentives promote local ownership of onshore wind and solar projects? Case study evidence from Germany, Denmark, the UK and Ontario. Local Econ. J. Local Econ. Policy Unit 2018, 33, 40–62. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Qadir, S.A.; Al-Motairi, H.; Tahir, F.; Al-Fagih, L. Incentives and strategies for financing the renewable energy transition: A review. Energy Rep. 2021, 7, 3590–3606. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Özdemir, Ö.; Hobbs, B.F.; van Hout, M.; Koutstaal, P.R. Capacity vs energy subsidies for promoting renewable investment: Benefits and costs for the EU power market. Energy Policy 2020, 137, 111166. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Timilsina, G.R.; Kurdgelashvili, L.; Narbel, P.A. Solar energy: Markets, economics and policies. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2012, 16, 449–465. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Diahovchenko, I.; Kolcun, M.; Čonka, Z.; Savkiv, V.; Mykhailyshyn, R. Progress and Challenges in Smart Grids: Distributed Generation, Smart Metering, Energy Storage and Smart Loads. Iran. J. Sci. Technol.-Trans. Electr. Eng. 2020, 44, 1319–1333. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Moretti, M.; Djomo, S.N.; Azadi, H.; May, K.; De Vos, K.; Van Passel, S.; Witters, N. A systematic review of environmental and economic impacts of smart grids. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2017, 68, 888–898. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Andresen, S.; Bang, G.; Skjærseth, J.B.; Underdal, A. Achieving the ambitious targets of the Paris Agreement: The role of key actors. Int. Environ. Agreem. Politics Law Econ. 2021, 21, 1–7. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Sovacool, B.K.; Blyth, P.L. Energy and environmental attitudes in the green state of Denmark: Implications for energy democracy, low carbon transitions, and energy literacy. Environ. Sci. Policy 2015, 54, 304–315. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mäki, E.; Saastamoinen, H.; Melin, K.; Matschegg, D.; Pihkola, H. Drivers and barriers in retrofitting pulp and paper industry with bioenergy for more efficient production of liquid, solid and gaseous biofuels: A review. Biomass Bioenergy 2021, 148, 106036. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Wu, F.; Pfenninger, S. Challenges and opportunities for bioenergy in Europe: National deployment, policy support, and possible future roles. Bioresour. Technol. Rep. 2023, 22, 101430. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Alfredsen, K.; Amundsen, P.-A.; Hahn, L.; Harrison, P.M.; Helland, I.P.; Martins, E.G.; Twardek, W.M.; Power, M. A synoptic history of the development, production and environmental oversight of hydropower in Brazil, Canada, and Norway. Hydrobiologia 2022, 849, 269–280. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Figenbaum, E. Norway—The World Leader in BEV Adoption. In Who’s Driving Electric Cars; Springer: Cham, Switzerland, 2020; pp. 89–120. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cook, D.; Karlsdóttir, I.; Minelgaite, I. Enjoying the Heat? Co-Creation of Stakeholder Benefits and Sustainable Energy Development within Projects in the Geothermal Sector. Energies 2022, 15, 1029. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lund, J.W.; Huttrer, G.W.; Toth, A.N. Characteristics and trends in geothermal development and use, 1995 to 2020. Geothermics 2022, 105, 102522. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Joas, F.; Pahle, M.; Flachsland, C.; Joas, A. Which goals are driving the Energiewende? Making sense of the German Energy Transformation. Energy Policy 2016, 95, 42–51. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mrozowska, S.; Wendt, J.A.; Tomaszewski, K. The challenges of Poland’s energy transition. Energies 2021, 14, 8165. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kalkbrenner, B.J.; Roosen, J. Citizens’ willingness to participate in local renewable energy projects: The role of community and trust in Germany. Energy Res. Soc. Sci. 2016, 13, 60–70. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Yazdanpanah, M.; Komendantova, N.; Ardestani, R.S. Governance of energy transition in Iran: Investigating public acceptance and willingness to use renewable energy sources through socio-psychological model. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2015, 45, 565–573. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Boscán, L.; Kaiser, B.A.; Ravn-Jonsen, L. Beyond Wind: New Challenges to the Expansion of Renewables in Denmark. In New Challenges and Solutions for Renewable Energy; Palgrave Macmillan: Cham, Switzerland, 2021; pp. 319–348. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pinson, P.; Mitridati, L.; Ordoudis, C.; Ostergaard, J. Towards fully renewable energy systems: Experience and trends in Denmark. CSEE J. Power Energy Syst. 2017, 3, 26–35. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sovacool, B.K. Energy policymaking in Denmark: Implications for global energy security and sustainability. Energy Policy 2013, 61, 829–839. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Brauers, H.; Oei, P.-Y.; Walk, P. Comparing coal phase-out pathways: The United Kingdom’s and Germany’s diverging transitions. Environ. Innov. Soc. Transit. 2020, 37, 238–253. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Nebel, A.; Cantor, J.; Salim, S.; Salih, A.; Patel, D. The Role of Renewable Energies, Storage and Sector-Coupling Technologies in the German Energy Sector under Different CO2 Emission Restrictions. Sustainability 2022, 14, 10379. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Schmid, E.; Pahle, M.; Knopf, B. Renewable electricity generation in Germany: A meta-analysis of mitigation scenarios. Energy Policy 2013, 61, 1151–1163. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fuller, J.; Moore, S. Pedagogy for the ethical dimensions of energy transitions from Ethiopia to Appalachia. Case Stud. Environ. 2018, 2, 1–7. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Dias, R.A.; Rios de Paula, M.; Silva Rocha Rizol, P.M.; Matelli, J.A.; Rodrigues de Mattos, C.; Perrella Balestieri, J.A. Energy education: Reflections over the last fifteen years. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 2021, 141, 110845. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Gladwin, D.; Karsgaard, C.; Shultz, L. Collaborative learning on energy justice: International youth perspectives on energy literacy and climate justice. J. Environ. Educ. 2022, 53, 251–260. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Stern, P.C.; Dietz, T. Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making; National Academies Press: Washington, DC, USA, 2008. [Google Scholar]
Author (Publication Year) | Citation Count | Document Type | Affiliated Country of First Author |
---|---|---|---|
Szulecki (2018) [26] | 262 | Article | Norway |
Vanegas Cantarero (2020) [27] | 196 | Review | Germany |
Sovacool (2017) [28] | 107 | Article | Denmark; United Kingdom |
Szulecki and Overland (2020) [29] | 92 | Review | Norway |
Islar et al. (2017) [30] | 73 | Article | Sweden |
Reference | Energy Education | Energy Literacy |
---|---|---|
[36,62] | Energy education focuses on teaching about various facets of energy systems. | Energy literacy refers to skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior in energy consumption. |
[45] | Energy education refers to formal teaching about energy topics. | Energy literacy is the practical understanding and knowledge individuals have about energy issues. |
[63,64] | Energy education involves raising awareness that activates the society towards rational energy use. | Energy literacy integrates sociocultural dynamics and political decision-making for just energy transitions. |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Awolesi, O.; Salter, C.A.; Reams, M. A Systematic Review on the Path to Inclusive and Sustainable Energy Transitions. Energies 2024, 17, 3512. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17143512
Awolesi O, Salter CA, Reams M. A Systematic Review on the Path to Inclusive and Sustainable Energy Transitions. Energies. 2024; 17(14):3512. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17143512
Chicago/Turabian StyleAwolesi, Oluwafemi, Corinne A. Salter, and Margaret Reams. 2024. "A Systematic Review on the Path to Inclusive and Sustainable Energy Transitions" Energies 17, no. 14: 3512. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17143512
APA StyleAwolesi, O., Salter, C. A., & Reams, M. (2024). A Systematic Review on the Path to Inclusive and Sustainable Energy Transitions. Energies, 17(14), 3512. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17143512