**Preface to "Energy Economic Development in Europe"**

Renewable energy has emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuels, owing to the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and enhance energy security. Europe has been a frontrunner in this transition, with a rapid increase in the installed capacity of new renewable energies. However, as the region strives to meet the Paris Agreement goals and attain energy independence, it confronts numerous challenges that require strategic policies and actions to overcome.

This Special Issue aims to address the primary challenges faced by Europe in this transition process and the policies and actions it can undertake to foster renewable energy growth while ensuring energy security. The collection of 10 articles presented in this Special Issue delves into a range of issues, including the intermittency problem of solar and wind energy sources, the role of energy policies in promoting renewable energy sources, and the integration of energy grids and markets. Technological progress and investment barriers to renewable energy development are also discussed.

The papers cover a wide range of topics across various countries and sectors, including the acceptance of electromobility in Portugal, greenfield investments as a catalyst for green economic growth, and financial incentives for eco-friendly housing in the Lisbon metropolitan area. The collection also includes studies on the history and benefits of district heating in Denmark, the optimization of coal supply in Ukraine, and the impact of energy policies on residential energy efficiency in Portugal. The impact of natural gas, oil, and renewables consumption on carbon dioxide emissions in Europe, as well as the nexus between financial development, FDI, and CO<sup>2</sup> emissions, are also analyzed. Furthermore, the impact of fossil fuel and biofuel boilers in Ukraine on the levelized cost of heat and the development of renewable energy markets and public awareness in Poland and Lithuania are also examined.

Overall, this collection of empirical and analytical papers aims to provide insights into the current state of renewable energy in Europe, its challenges, and the policies and actions that can be implemented to achieve a sustainable energy future. We hope that this Special Issue Reprint will serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, academics, and practitioners working in the field of renewable energy.

## **Jos´e Alberto Fuinhas, Matheus Koengkan, and Nuno Miguel Barateiro Gon¸calves Silva** *Editors*
