scholarly journals R&D Spending in the Energy Sector and Achieving the Goal of Climate Neutrality

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (23) ◽  
pp. 7875
Author(s):  
Małgorzata K. Guzowska ◽  
Barbara Kryk ◽  
Dorota Michalak ◽  
Paulina Szyja

Research and development (R&D) spending in the energy sector, which is aimed at exploring ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, among other things, plays a vital role in achieving the goal of climate neutrality. The purpose of this paper is to assess the environmental performance of R&D spending in the energy sector of selected EU member states from 2011–2017/2019, and to compare the results. Taxonomic research with the zero unitarization method was used, which enabled a synthetic assessment of EU countries according to the environmental performance of the total spending in the energy sector and an analysis of the changes in performance for six categories of spending in this area. The assessment of changes in the environmental performance of individual categories of R&D spending over time using the applied method was an added value compared with the assessment methods previously used in this area. The study found that there were significant differences in the level of environmental efficiency of R&D expenditures in the energy sector between countries, changes in environmental efficiency in most of the countries studied were not satisfactory, the most environmentally efficient expenditures were on renewable energy, other power and storage, hydro and fuel cell technologies, and the least on fossil fuels and nuclear energy. The results reflected both the member states’ progress towards climate neutrality and the discussion on the environmental performance of the means and directions of actions aimed at this.

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-223
Author(s):  
Jean-Baptiste Farcy

Abstract This article critically assesses EU harmonisation in the field of labour immigration. It argues that EU directives are limited both in scope and intensity which explains their relatively low effectiveness and added value. Given the current political and institutional context, the article claims that a truly common labour immigration policy is unrealistic. Labour immigration remains a predominantly national prerogative and EU rules have done little to overcome normative competition between EU Member States. Looking forward, the EU should adopt complementary measures to Member States’ policies. The role of the EU in this sensitive policy area should be better defined and justified, in particular in relation to the principle of subsidiarity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-238
Author(s):  
Johannes Socher

With Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, the question of the lasting legacy of a specific English administrative culture in the remaining member states arises. Although often treated as an import from the United States, this article argues that the British model of independent regulatory authorities is one of the most formative contributions to a common European administrative culture, forcing other EU member states to rethink fundamental ideas of democratic legitimacy. Taking national regulatory authorities in the energy sector as an example, this contribution shows how British approaches towards organisation and independence of these authorities played a decisive role in the drafting of the relevant EU directives. Consequently, only few changes in UK national legislation where necessary to comply, while in Germany major reforms were due, being the only member state in which no regulatory authority existed in the energy sector prior to the implementation of the EU directives. The analysis of these European requirements, the British influence on them, and the different ways of their implementation in the United Kingdom and Germany are the subject of this article.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Murtaza Ershad

Renewable energy resources could play a vital role in the sustainable economic, social, and environmental development of Afghanistan. Heavy reliance of rural households on firewood, rising costs of fossil fuels, outdoor and indoor air pollution, and climate change are some of the challenges that can be addressed by diversifying our power production fuel inputs and adopting renewable energy technologies. In order to deploy and scale up renewable energy technologies and improve access to sustainable energy, clear policies and targets and dedicated institutions are crucial. Fortunately, Afghan government with the support of international community is setting ambitious targets for the renewable energy sector and is encouraging national and international investors to take part in the generation, transmission, and distribution of renewable energy especially electricity through Power Purchase Agreements or very cheap land leases. Thus, the objectives of this report are (I) to review the existing institutions in the field of renewable energy, (II) to review renewable energy policies and targets in Afghanistan, and (III) to identify institutional and policy gaps and recommend solutions.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2711
Author(s):  
Barbara Kryk ◽  
Małgorzata Klaudia Guzowska

The most important goals on the Europe 2020 Strategy contained were the climate/energy goals, which determine the achievement of other targets of the strategy. The aim of the article is to evaluate the implementation of the climate/energy targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy by the EU Member States in 2010 and 2019 and to compare the results achieved by them. To measure them, a basic set of indicators was used for this purpose, which the authors supplemented with additional indicators. The evaluation was done using the taxonomic and zero-unitarization method. They made it possible to integrate all indicators. Moreover, the added value in relation to other studies is: the use of individual indicators, instead of general ones obtaining additional information about the internal structure and nature of the implementation of multidimensional groups of targets and focusing solely on the achievement of climate/energy targets. The achieved results not only reflect the progress of the Member States in achieving the climate/energy targets and the differences in the level of achieving objectives between countries, but they are also discussion on future strategic objectives, their indicators and necessary directions for a further community climate/energy policy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (02) ◽  
pp. 212-228
Author(s):  
Alma Mačiulytė-Šniukienė ◽  
Dali Sekhniashvili

Development of innovation is recognised as a most powerful tool for the economic growth of countries. However, their effects on the quality of the environment are still being debated. To achieve sustainable development, eco-innovation becomes significant. EU countries expand eco-innovation activities, but it is not clear whether its development achieves the goal of economic growth and improves the quality of the environment. Purpose – to present how EU Member States perform in economic growth, environment and eco-innovation development and to evaluate eco-innovations impact on economic and environmental performance. Research methodology – the random effect regression was used for investigation relationship between eco-innovation, economic growth and environmental performance. Findings – eco-innovation development influences not only EU MS economic growth but also has a positive effect on environmental performance. Research limitations – eco-innovations development and economic growth can be interdepended, but this research investigates just one-way dependence. Granger causality test can be used for relationship assessment in the future. Practical implications – the research results can be used for both the development of environmental policy and the policy of business support for eco-innovation implementation. Originality/Value – study results confirmed previous assessment results on eco-innovation and economic growth and provided new knowledge of their effect on environmental performance.


2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-60
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Pach-Gurgul

The utilisation of renewable energy in the European Union seems, at the present stage of energy policy development, inevitable. It offers many benefits, including, above all: the possibility of increasing the energy security of a given state or region thanks to the diversification of the sources of energy supply, the limitation of imports from energy suppliers, such as of natural gas or oil, thus reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, ecological effects connected with the elimination of greenhouse gas emissions and other substances harmful to the natural environment, economic and social benefits, such as the creation of new jobs. The Climate and Energy Package obliges member states to pursue a common aim – to increase the share of renewable energy to 20% in the general energy balance of the European Union by 2020. This is a challenging task, since the renewable energy sector requires significant financial support to increase its competitiveness, compared to traditional energy sources. When adopting the Energy Package, leaders of member states did not anticipate the economic crisis and its impact on the European Union’s economy, and on the energy sector in particular.  


2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 71-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Bašek ◽  
J. Kraus

The following international comparison of selected indicators of farms stems from the official results of investigations on holdings incorporated in the "Farm Accountancy Data Network" (FADN) and it is based on the standard outputs recalculated for the average agricultural holding in each Member State. The paper accepts the mandatory concept that defines the basic indicators serving to illustrate the creation and division of income from farming in the FADN system. The presentation of the results develops from the indicators assessing the overall agricultural production divided into its basic components. Production and cost indicators, operational subsidies, gross and net added value per one hectare of agricultural land, or per one AWU and other derived indicators are analysed.


2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 636-649
Author(s):  
Volker Telljohann

The European Union Energy Sector Directive no. 96/62 laid down that Member States were to initiate a market liberalisation process in the electricity sector. In this context Pacts for Employment and Competitiveness (PEC) represent part of a strategy enterprises are adopting in order to face the challenge of managing the changeover from near-monopoly to internationally competitive structures. The article, based on ten case studies carried out in five EU Member States, looks at the thinking underlying these pacts, the changes at the level of collective bargaining, and how the PECs are interpreted by the parties involved: not only the contents of the PECs, but also the underlying motives, the processes of negotiation and the effects of the agreements. It points to areas in which PECs have been able to contribute to generating win-win situations, but also to possible ambiguities and contradictions linked to the negotiation and implementation of such pacts.


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