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Prospects and Challenges of Energy Transition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (12 June 2023) | Viewed by 13714

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Division of Minerals and Energy Sustainable Development, Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Wybickiego 7A, 31-261 Kraków, Poland
Interests: energy markets; energy transition; renewable energy sources; green hydrogen; solar energy; PV
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Guest Editor
Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 31-261 Kraków, Poland
Interests: energy; renewable energy; energy storage; photovoltaics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We cordially invite you to submit your manuscripts to our Special Issue, “Prospects and Challenges of Energy Transition”.

The energy transition is currently observed in most developed economies. The transition to low-emission economies results in positive changes. However, many countries face numerous challenges, including economic, environmental, technological, and regulatory. The chances and challenges depend strongly on the local conditions, fuel mixes, and regulations. In this context, the Special Issue aims to collect original research or review articles on the prospects and challenges of the energy transition occurring in different regions.

The Special Issue provides you with a platform for exchanging knowledge and experience. In particular, we encourage you to submit papers on the following topics:

  • Energy transition;
  • Decarbonization;
  • Energy policy;
  • Energy market.
  • Energy economics;
  • Power systems;
  • Electricity prices;
  • Renewable energy sources;
  • Energy storage;
  • Hydrogen economy;
  • Demand response;
  • Energy management;
  • Electromobility;
  • Fossil fuels;
  • Hard coal market;
  • Natural gas market;
  • Oil market.

Dr. Aleksandra Komorowska
Dr. Piotr Olczak
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 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 policy
  • energy market
  • energy economics
  • power systems
  • electricity prices
  • mathematical modeling
  • optimization
  • system analysis
  • renewable energy sources
  • energy storage
  • hydrogen economy
  • demand response
  • demand side management
  • energy transition
  • decarbonization
  • energy management
  • electromobility
  • environmental impact assessment
  • sustainable development

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 2369 KiB  
Article
Fundamental Shifts in the EU’s Electric Power Sector Development: LMDI Decomposition Analysis
by Viktor Koval, Viktoriia Khaustova, Stella Lippolis, Olha Ilyash, Tetiana Salashenko and Piotr Olczak
Energies 2023, 16(14), 5478; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16145478 - 19 Jul 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1315
Abstract
The electric power sector plays a central role in changing the EU’s energy landscape and establishing Europe as the first climate-neutral continent in the world. This paper investigates fundamental shifts in the EU’s electric power sector by carrying out its logarithmic mean Divisia [...] Read more.
The electric power sector plays a central role in changing the EU’s energy landscape and establishing Europe as the first climate-neutral continent in the world. This paper investigates fundamental shifts in the EU’s electric power sector by carrying out its logarithmic mean Divisia index decomposition by stages of electricity flows on a large-scale basis (for both the entire EU and its 25 member states) for the period 1995–2021 and identifies the individual contribution of each EU member state to these shifts. In this study, four decomposition models were proposed and 14 impact factors (extensive, structural, and intensive) affecting the development of the EU electric power sector were evaluated in absolute and relative terms. It was found that the wind–gas transition, which took place in the EU’s electric power sector, was accompanied by an increase in the transformation efficiency of inputs in electricity generation and a drop in the intensity of final energy consumption. The non-industrial reorientation of the EU’s economy also resulted in a decrease in the final electricity consumption. At the same time, this transition led to negative shifts in the structure and utilization of its generation capacities. The fundamental shifts occurred mainly at the expense of large economies (Germany, France, Spain, and Italy), but smaller economies (Romania, Poland, Croatia, the Netherlands, and others) made significant efforts to accelerate them, although their contributions on a pan-European scale were less tangible. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects and Challenges of Energy Transition)
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20 pages, 2942 KiB  
Article
Home Energy Management Systems Adoption Scenarios: The Case of Italy
by Fabio Gualandri and Aleksandra Kuzior
Energies 2023, 16(13), 4946; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16134946 - 26 Jun 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2311
Abstract
The 2030 zero-net emission target in the E.U. demands a significant improvement in the energy performance of the building stock. This study analyses the adoption of connected thermostats and Home energy-management system solutions (HEMS) as an effective means to tackle the residential energy [...] Read more.
The 2030 zero-net emission target in the E.U. demands a significant improvement in the energy performance of the building stock. This study analyses the adoption of connected thermostats and Home energy-management system solutions (HEMS) as an effective means to tackle the residential energy footprint. It reviews the main features of HEMS systems in terms of technology, cross-study performances, and the obstacles to widespread adoption; the study adopts the case-study methodology to examine the impact on the Italian real estate stock at a regional level. A matrix of adoption scenarios assesses the potential benefits of global residential energy savings, weighted by local climatic variations, dimension, number of single dwellings, and average primary energy reduction per household. Results demonstrate that all adoption scenarios dramatically reduce residential energy consumption, outperforming the E.U. targets for Italy by 2030. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects and Challenges of Energy Transition)
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13 pages, 2901 KiB  
Article
Linking Cost Decline and Demand Surge in the Hydrogen Market: A Case Study in China
by Danlu Xu, Zhoubin Liu, Jiahui Zhu, Qin Fang and Rui Shan
Energies 2023, 16(12), 4821; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16124821 - 20 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1401
Abstract
Hydrogen is crucial in achieving global energy transition and carbon neutrality goals. Existing market estimates typically presume linear or exponential growth but fail to consider how market demand responds to the declining cost of underlying technologies. To address this, this study utilizes a [...] Read more.
Hydrogen is crucial in achieving global energy transition and carbon neutrality goals. Existing market estimates typically presume linear or exponential growth but fail to consider how market demand responds to the declining cost of underlying technologies. To address this, this study utilizes a learning curve model to project the cost of electrolyzers and its subsequent impact on hydrogen market, aligning with a premise that the market demand is proportional to the cost of hydrogen. In a case study of China’s hydrogen market, projecting from 2020 to 2060, we observed substantial differences in market evolution compared to exponential growth scenarios. Contrary to exponential growth scenarios, China’s hydrogen market experiences faster growth during the 2020–2040 period rather than later. Such differences underscore the necessity for proactive strategic planning in emerging technology markets, particularly for those experiencing rapid cost decline, such as hydrogen. The framework can also be extended to other markets by using local data, providing valuable insights to investors, policymakers, and developers engaged in the hydrogen market. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects and Challenges of Energy Transition)
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14 pages, 970 KiB  
Article
Towards Sustainable Transport: Techno-Economic Analysis of Investing in Hydrogen Buses in Public Transport in the Selected City of Poland
by Kinga Stecuła, Piotr Olczak, Paweł Kamiński, Dominika Matuszewska and Hai Duong Duc
Energies 2022, 15(24), 9456; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15249456 - 13 Dec 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2470
Abstract
The production, storage, and use of hydrogen for energy purposes will become increasingly important during the energy transition. One way to use hydrogen is to apply it to power vehicles. This green technological solution affects low-emissions transport, which is beneficial and important, especially [...] Read more.
The production, storage, and use of hydrogen for energy purposes will become increasingly important during the energy transition. One way to use hydrogen is to apply it to power vehicles. This green technological solution affects low-emissions transport, which is beneficial and important, especially in cities. The authors of this article analyzed the use of hydrogen production infrastructure for bus propulsion in the city of Katowice (Poland). The methods, used in the study, included a greedy algorithm and cost methods, which were applied for the selection of vehicles and identification of the infrastructure for the production, storage and refueling of hydrogen, as well as to conduct the economic analysis during this term. The article presented the complexity of the techno-economic analysis of the infrastructure and its installation. The key element was the selection of the number of vehicles to the hydrogen production possibilities of an electrolyser and capabilities of the storage and charging infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects and Challenges of Energy Transition)
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Review

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34 pages, 3792 KiB  
Review
Strategic Analysis of the Renewable Electricity Transition: Power to the World without Carbon Emissions?
by Shirley Thompson
Energies 2023, 16(17), 6183; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16176183 - 25 Aug 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3864
Abstract
This paper explores the role of electricity in the transition to renewable energy to mitigate climate change. A systematic literature review with the Scopus database identified 92 papers relevant to the renewable electricity transition. A PESTLE (Political, Economic, Sociological, Technological, Legal, and Environmental) [...] Read more.
This paper explores the role of electricity in the transition to renewable energy to mitigate climate change. A systematic literature review with the Scopus database identified 92 papers relevant to the renewable electricity transition. A PESTLE (Political, Economic, Sociological, Technological, Legal, and Environmental) review of the papers provided a multidisciplinary analysis. The Paris Agreement created a global movement for carbon neutrality to address the threats of climate change, calling for a transition to renewable electricity to lead the way and expand into new sectors and regions. Although smaller renewable technologies are ramping up, complexities thwarting the transition include locked-in assets, high upfront costs, variability of solar and wind energy, infrastructure, difficulty in decarbonizing transportation and industry, material resource constraints, and fossil fuel support. This research found that renewables are not replacing fossil fuels to date but adding further energy demands, so that greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2021 despite an increased renewable electricity share. Without a major shift in the trillions of dollars of subsidies and investment away from fossil fuels to renewables, catastrophic climate change is predicted. This paper found that the Paris Agreement’s commitment to net-zero carbon and the transition to renewable electricity are undermined by record-high levels of subsidies and financing for fossil fuel industry expansion. Transitioning to a climate-neutral economy requires an investment away from fossil fuels into renewable energy ecosystems. Renewable electricity provides possibilities to realize sustainable development goals, climate stabilization, job creation, a green economy, and energy security with careful planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects and Challenges of Energy Transition)
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23 pages, 4171 KiB  
Review
Revisiting Market Power in the Polish Power System
by Przemysław Kaszyński, Aleksandra Komorowska and Jacek Kamiński
Energies 2023, 16(13), 4856; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16134856 - 21 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1133
Abstract
The consequences of the liberalisation of electricity markets have been widely discussed in the literature emphasising the successes or failures of privatisation and deregulation. While most developed power systems have undergone a form of economic transformation, they still require to be monitored and [...] Read more.
The consequences of the liberalisation of electricity markets have been widely discussed in the literature emphasising the successes or failures of privatisation and deregulation. While most developed power systems have undergone a form of economic transformation, they still require to be monitored and analysed to assess market power. The Polish power system is an example wherein the potential of market power examined fifteen years ago was summarised as significant. Since then, the transformation process and changes in the ownership structure have taken place. This study focuses on the assessment of the potential of market power in the Polish electricity market. For this purpose, statistics on power companies were collected and processed. Then, structural and behavioural measures were applied, including concentration ratios, the entropy coefficient, the Gini coefficient, the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI), the Residual Supply Index (RSI), and the Lerner Index. The results reveal that, despite a dynamic increase in renewable capacity, market concentration has increased in recent years, achieving an HHI of 2020.9 in 2021. An increase in the Lerner Index of lignite and hard coal-fired units is also observed, indicating high mark-ups by the key market players. Based on quantitative analysis, policy recommendations are outlined to reduce the negative impact of market power on consumers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prospects and Challenges of Energy Transition)
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