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Towards Sustainable Energy Development: Energy Efficiency and Economic Growth

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 November 2025 | Viewed by 2765

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Prof. Dr. Maria Urbaniec

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Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Krakow University of Economics, ul. Rakowicka 27, 31-510 Kraków, Poland
Interests: sustainable energy development; economic growth; renewable energy; environmental sustainability; green economy; energy transition; sustainability; technological innovation; green innovation; sustainable entrepreneurship
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue examines the relationship between energy efficiency and economic growth within the framework of sustainable energy development. As the global community works toward ambitious climate goals and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), energy efficiency has become a crucial strategy for reducing environmental impacts while supporting economic resilience. Our objective is to provide a multidisciplinary platform for research that explores innovative solutions, policy frameworks, and financial mechanisms driving the shift to sustainable energy systems. Contributions are sought from academics, policymakers, and practitioners across various disciplines, including economics, engineering, environmental sciences, and social sciences, to address the challenges and opportunities in this field. This Special Issue also aims to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue by uniting diverse perspectives to uncover actionable insights and promote energy efficiency as a core element of sustainable development. We seek to emphasize energy efficiency not only as a technical or economic matter, but as a transformative factor in global sustainability efforts.

We invite scholarly work that delves into the theoretical, empirical, and practical aspects of sustainable energy development, focusing on the role of energy efficiency as a driver of economic transformation. Research on advanced technologies, policy interventions, and innovative business models that enable the transition to sustainable energy systems is particularly encouraged.

Original research articles, reviews, case studies, and theoretical papers advancing the understanding of the interplay between energy efficiency and economic growth are welcome.

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

Energy efficiency policies;
Technological innovations;
Renewable energy integration;
Industrial energy efficiency;
Behavioural and societal aspects of energy use;
Sustainable urban energy systems;
Financial mechanisms for sustainable energy;
Climate change mitigation and environmental sustainability.

Prof. Dr. Maria Urbaniec
Guest Editor

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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 efficiency
economic growth
renewable energy integration
environmental sustainability
energy policy
technological innovation
climate
sustainable development goals
energy transition
green economy

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

45 pages, 2014 KB

Open AccessArticle

Innovative Business Models Towards Sustainable Energy Development: Assessing Benefits, Risks, and Optimal Approaches of Blockchain Exploitation in the Energy Transition

by Aikaterini Papapostolou, Ioanna Andreoulaki, Filippos Anagnostopoulos, Sokratis Divolis, Harris Niavis, Sokratis Vavilis and Vangelis Marinakis

Energies 2025, 18(15), 4191; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154191 - 7 Aug 2025

Viewed by 592

Abstract

The goals of the European Union towards the energy transition imply profound changes in the energy field, so as to promote sustainable energy development while fostering economic growth. To achieve these changes, the incorporation of sustainable technologies supporting decentralisation, energy efficiency, renewable energy production, and demand flexibility is of vital importance. Blockchain has the potential to change energy services towards this direction. To optimally exploit blockchain, innovative business models need to be designed, identifying the opportunities emerging from unmet needs, while also considering potential risks so as to take action to overcome them. In this context, the scope of this paper is to examine the opportunities and the risks that emerge from the adoption of blockchain in four innovative business models, while also identifying mitigation strategies to support and accelerate the energy transition, thus proposing optimal approaches of exploitation of blockchain in energy services. The business models concern Energy Performance Contracting with P4P guarantees, improved self-consumption in energy cooperatives, energy efficiency and flexibility services for natural gas boilers, and smart energy management for EV chargers and HVAC appliances. Firstly, the value proposition of the business models is analysed and results in a comprehensive SWOT analysis. Based on the findings of the analysis and consultations with relevant market actors, in combination with the examination of the relevant literature, risks are identified and evaluated through a qualitative assessment approach. Subsequently, specific mitigation strategies are proposed to address the detected risks. This research demonstrates that blockchain integration into these business models can significantly improve energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, enhance security, and support a more decentralised energy system, providing actionable insights for stakeholders to implement blockchain solutions effectively. Furthermore, according to the results, technological and legal risks are the most significant, followed by political, economic, and social risks, while environmental risks of blockchain integration are not as important. Strategies to address risks relevant to blockchain exploitation include ensuring policy alignment, emphasising economic feasibility, facilitating social inclusion, prioritising security and interoperability, consulting with legal experts, and using consensus algorithms with low energy consumption. The findings offer clear guidance for energy service providers, policymakers, and technology developers, assisting in the design, deployment, and risk mitigation of blockchain-enabled business models to accelerate sustainable energy development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Energy Development: Energy Efficiency and Economic Growth)

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16 pages, 1856 KB

Open AccessArticle

Gas in Transition: An ARDL Analysis of Economic and Fuel Drivers in the European Union

by Olena Pavlova, Kostiantyn Pavlov, Oksana Liashenko, Andrzej Jamróz and Sławomir Kopeć

Energies 2025, 18(14), 3876; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18143876 - 21 Jul 2025

Viewed by 637

Abstract

This study investigates the short- and long-run drivers of natural gas consumption in the European Union using an ARDL bounds testing approach. The analysis incorporates GDP per capita, liquid fuel use, and solid fuel use as explanatory variables. Augmented Dickey–Fuller tests confirm mixed integration orders, allowing valid ARDL estimation. The results reveal a statistically significant long-run relationship (cointegration) between gas consumption and the energy–economic system. In the short run, the use of liquid fuel exerts a strong positive influence on gas demand, while the effects of GDP materialise only after a two-year lag. Solid fuels show a delayed substitutive impact, reflecting the ongoing transition from coal. An error correction model confirms rapid convergence to equilibrium, with 77% of deviations corrected within one period. Recursive residual and CUSUM tests indicate structural stability over time. These findings highlight the responsiveness of EU gas demand to both economic and policy signals, offering valuable insights for energy modelling and strategic planning under the European Green Deal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Energy Development: Energy Efficiency and Economic Growth)

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17 pages, 1224 KB

Open AccessArticle

Economic Efficiency of Renewable Energy Investments in Photovoltaic Projects: A Regression Analysis

by Adem Akbulut, Marcin Niemiec, Kubilay Taşdelen, Leyla Akbulut, Monika Komorowska, Atılgan Atılgan, Ahmet Coşgun, Małgorzata Okręglicka, Kamil Wiktor, Oksana Povstyn and Maria Urbaniec

Energies 2025, 18(14), 3869; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18143869 - 21 Jul 2025

Viewed by 492

Abstract

Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) are performance-based financing mechanisms designed to improve energy efficiency and support renewable energy adoption in the public sector. This study examines the economic efficiency of a 1710.72 kWp solar power plant (SPP), implemented under an EPC at Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, using a regression-based analysis. The model evaluates the effects of solar radiation, investment cost, and electricity sales price on unit production cost, and its predictions were compared with actual production data. Results show the system exceeded the EPC contract target by 16.2%, producing 2,423,472.28 kWh in its first year and preventing 1168.64 tons of CO₂ emissions. The developed multiple linear regression model achieved a predictive error margin of 14.7%, confirming its validity. This study highlights the technical, economic, and environmental benefits of EPC applications in Türkiye’s public institutions and offers a practical decision-support framework for policymakers. The novelty lies in integrating a regression model with operational data and providing a comparative assessment of planned, predicted, and actual outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Energy Development: Energy Efficiency and Economic Growth)

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21 pages, 303 KB

Open AccessArticle

Balancing Environmental Regulation and Marketization: A Quantile Analysis of Energy Efficiency in China’s Provinces

by Junguo Shi, Wenyi Yan, Yan Li, Qian Wang and Shanshan Dou

Energies 2025, 18(7), 1857; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18071857 - 7 Apr 2025

Viewed by 541

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of environmental regulations and marketization on energy efficiency in China using panel data from 30 provinces covering the period from 2008 to 2016. The analysis employs fixed effects regression, quantile regression, and heterogeneity analysis methods to provide comprehensive insights. The fixed effects regression results reveal that both command-and-control (CAC) regulations and market-based (MBR) regulations exert a negative impact on energy efficiency. Notably, marketization significantly mitigated the adverse effects of CAC regulations. Quantile regression analysis indicates that both negative impacts are more pronounced at lower energy efficiency levels, whereas marketization (MR) significantly mitigates these effects. Heterogeneity analysis further identified regional disparities, with CAC regulations yielding more significant negative impacts in the Western and Central regions and MBR showing stronger effects in the Western region. The results advocate for regionally differentiated policies that account for local economic, infrastructural, and institutional contexts to enhance energy efficiency outcomes rather than relying on one-size-fits-all approaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards Sustainable Energy Development: Energy Efficiency and Economic Growth)

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