Energy, Sustainability and Society最新文献

{"title":"What renewable energy future should we strive for? Assessing renewable energy utopias through Sci-Fi and normative energy ethics","authors":"Nynke van Uffelen, Daniel Wuebben, Giovanni Frigo, Roman Meinhold, Lorenzo Simone","doi":"10.1186/s13705-025-00559-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-025-00559-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Socio-technical imaginaries, visions and utopias concerning energy and sustainability offer ideas about how the world should be. As such, they are normative endeavors that require a critical ethical assessment. However, normative assumptions about energy futures often remain implicit, thereby escaping critical scrutiny. This study combines science fiction and normative energy ethics to evaluate competing visions of renewable energy futures. We introduce a conceptual framework that distinguishes between the two main ways in which energy intersects with utopian futures: energy abundance and energy sufficiency. Next, we identify the ethical pros and cons of energy abundance and sufficiency as desirable future states, examining this through popular science fiction texts and normative energy ethics perspectives such as energy justice, virtue ethics, and critical theory of technology.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The vision of renewable energy abundance provides a very appealing prospect and can motivate different stakeholders to speed up the transition to a low-carbon energy system. However, striving towards such an energy utopia comes with several caveats. First, the idea of renewable energy abundance in the near future is dangerous because it is, so far, a technological illusion. Second, regional visions of energy abundance often neglect global and intergenerational energy justice considerations. Third, according to virtue ethics, pursuing energy abundance can be considered excessive, not virtuous and hence immoral. Fourth, energy abundance can lead to problematic forms of alienation and, therefore, dystopian versions of the good life. Utopias based on renewable energy and sufficiency aim to avoid these issues. Yet they face two additional problems that seem to hinder the adoption of energy sufficiency as the leading energy policy paradigm. First, there is a real danger that citizens would protest and slow down the energy transition if energy sufficiency were to be promoted by governments on a large scale. Second, in practice, the lines between energy sufficiency and abundance, and between energy needs and wants, remain unclear and highly contextual, leading to philosophical and practical problems.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>We propose distinguishing between two questions that may require different answers: Firstly, what kind of energy future do we, as a society, want? And what energy future should we strive for in our energy policies? Taking critiques of the pursuit of renewable energy abundance seriously, we conclude that we should resist the tendency to unquestioningly incorporate utopian ideas of renewable energy abundance into energy policies and technologies, despite the strong rhetorical appeal of abundance. This implies that the second concern regarding energy sufficiency — namely, its ambiguity, context dependency, and challenging measurement issues — should be addressed directly instead of being avoided. Energy policies ","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12886226/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146163344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impacts of key technologies on the sustainable development goals to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions in Sweden","authors":"A. Ahlbäck,&nbsp;H. Klingvall,&nbsp;E. Nordell,&nbsp;K. M. Eriksson","doi":"10.1186/s13705-025-00558-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-025-00558-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The target of the Swedish climate policy framework is to reach net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045, implying large transformations of the current industry, energy and transport sector. Electric vehicles, wind and solar power, biomass, carbon capture and storage, climate-neutral concrete and green hydrogen are considered key technologies in the Swedish climate transition. There is, however, a growing need to identify how such technologies impact the broader scope of sustainable development. The purpose of this study is to determine the positive and negative effects of the large-scale implementation of key technologies on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, the aim of this study is to allocate the effects as domestic or international spillovers. The study is based on expert opinions elicited from workshops in which the effects of each key technology on the SDGs were addressed. The workshop results were qualitatively analyzed to construct causal relationships and compared against published literature to gain empirical support.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>This study identified impacts for 11 out of the 17 SDGs. More than half of the impacts in Sweden were positive, whereas most negative impacts were identified as international spillovers. Positive impacts in Sweden are foremost linked to economic growth and job creation as well as sustainable industrialization and innovation. Internationally, negative spillover impacts mainly stem from mineral extraction, with consequences for human health, environmental degradation, local democracy and corruption.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The multifaceted linkages between climate mitigation efforts and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are highlighted in this study, illustrating a need for policy coherence. Large-scale implementation of key technologies will result in more positive than negative impacts in the domestic context, reinforcing the Swedish implementation of the SDGs. However, the opposite is true for international spillovers, where the Swedish climate transition might hamper the fulfillment of specific SDGs in other countries. To achieve a sustainable climate transition, a holistic view incorporating all the SDGs and the core principle of “Leaving No One Behind” needs to be employed. The next steps could include stakeholders in policy and industry to identify actions and initiate collaborative approaches to strengthen positive and minimize negative impacts from climate mitigation efforts on the SDGs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13705-025-00558-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146082447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Social acceptance of a hydrogen-driven industrial transition in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany","authors":"Laura Altstadt,&nbsp;Aileen Reichmann,&nbsp;Nora Weber,&nbsp;Katja Witte","doi":"10.1186/s13705-025-00557-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-025-00557-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Germany’s commitment to climate neutrality by 2045 poses significant challenges for its energy-intensive industries, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia, where green hydrogen is essential for the decarbonisation of basic industries. In this study, we investigate social acceptance of the hydrogen-driven industrial transition, focusing on public perspectives and the perspectives of stakeholders in industry, non-governmental organisations, trade unions, and political administration.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The results indicate broad support for industrial green hydrogen use but also highlight acceptance issues along its value chain. Key challenges emerge in political, economic, social, and environmental dimensions, with notable public risk perception of hydrogen transport. Our analysis shows that increasing concerns tend to be accompanied by a willingness to protest, while knowledge is associated with acceptance of industrial hydrogen use.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Stakeholders must find ways to gather and address local public concerns. Moreover, the results indicate the need to assess green hydrogen along its entire value chain and on an international scale.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13705-025-00557-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146082612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The policy landscape of agrivoltaics: a systematic review","authors":"André Alves,&nbsp;Eduarda Marques da Costa,&nbsp;Igor Sirnik","doi":"10.1186/s13705-025-00555-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-025-00555-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Agrivoltaics, the dual use of land for both agriculture and solar energy production, has gained increasing attention in recent years. However, its large-scale implementation is constrained by policy challenges. Despite growing interest, limited research has systematically examined how agrivoltaics are incorporated into policy frameworks worldwide. This study systematically reviews the scientific literature on agrivoltaic policies and the policy frameworks supporting their implementation.</p><h3>Main text</h3><p>Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) framework, peer-reviewed literature from Scopus and Web of Science was analysed, including journal articles, review papers, and conference proceedings in English. Out of 308 publications, 12 focused on policy instruments for agrivoltaics and met the inclusion criteria. The selected studies, published between 2021 and 2024, were examined to identify recurring policy themes, instruments, and implementation approaches. The review identified two main research approaches: one assessing the potential of agrivoltaics within legal frameworks through policy adjustments of existing legislation, and the other addressing policy instruments specific to agrivoltaics. A compilation of policies from several countries was conducted, encompassing different types of instruments, with economic and financial incentives being the most frequently identified. Key literature gaps included limited geographic coverage and inadequately addressed issues. The lack of policy integration across the energy, agriculture, and land use sectors, coupled with unclear guidelines regarding agrivoltaics, was identified as a constraint to its upscaling.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The study highlights the fragmented nature of agrivoltaic policy and the need for more policy-integrated frameworks to support its expansion. The findings underscore the importance of addressing policy effectiveness, stakeholder roles, business models, and strategies in underrepresented regions. Limitations of this review stem from the limited geographic scope of the literature analysed and the non-inclusion of grey literature. Future research should examine how different policy instruments influence the adoption of agrivoltaics and how cross-sector coordination can support its development. These insights contribute to advancing research on agrivoltaics and policymaking, supporting the broader energy transition.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13705-025-00555-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146082748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-criteria feasible optimisation of a sustainable aquaponic system for rural areas in Cape Verde","authors":"Luis Mazorra-Aguiar,&nbsp;Fabian Deniz,&nbsp;Priscila Velazquez,&nbsp;Eduardo Vega-Fuentes,&nbsp;Lidia Robaina","doi":"10.1186/s13705-025-00553-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-025-00553-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Climate change is exacerbating the lack of fertile land and the scarcity of irrigation water. To guarantee food security in this context, aquaponic systems have been developed. An aquaponic system achieves the simultaneous production of plants and fish by recirculating water through both subsystems. Combining these two production technologies provides an efficient and sustainable method of growing fish and producing plants. These types of systems are often installed in rural areas, where the electrical grid is not completely reliable.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>This work assesses a Hybrid Renewable Energy System to improve the sustainability and efficiency of isolated aquaponic production systems. The simulated systems are based on renewable energy sources using photovoltaic, wind, diesel and battery technologies. The main contribution of this study is the improvement in the decision-making process for selecting the optimal hybrid system for each project. A multi-criteria decision-making procedure based on technical and economic variables of the project is proposed. The criteria used in this study are NPC (20 and 10 years), payback, initial cost, O&amp;M cost and renewable fraction (%) cover by the system. The procedure requires calculating hourly simulations of the energy flow in the installation with different hybrid configurations. In this work, a case of a hybrid system located on the island of Santo Domingo (Cape Verde) is presented using more than 1680 different sizing configurations.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The solution obtained improves the results offered by other hybrid system optimisation software. The investment in the multi-criteria solution is 20 k€ less expensive than that obtained using other software and provides a payback period of four years, half a year less without affecting the rest of the decision criteria. Compared to the diesel base case, the solution saves more than 200 k€ in 20 years and will save more than 28 tonnes of CO<span>(_2)</span> per year. Moreover, this approach ensures the selection of a technically feasible configuration that aligns with the constraints of each project.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This study will have an impact on the circular economy of experimental aquaponic farming production systems, making them more accessible in agricultural areas with energy problems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13705-025-00553-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145886911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Socioeconomic divide and environmental impact: how income inequality shapes energy and emissions patterns","authors":"Lina Volodzkiene,&nbsp;Dalia Streimikiene","doi":"10.1186/s13705-025-00554-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-025-00554-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Understanding the influence of economic inequality on energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and the uptake of renewable energy is becoming increasingly important as the European Union (EU) intensifies its efforts towards climate neutrality and sustainable development. Despite recent shifts in the income distribution, persistent disparities among social groups remain a critical factor with respect to energy behaviour and environmental outcomes. This research article explores how income inequality affects per capita energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions from energy use, and the share of renewable energy in the EU. Additionally, it examines how these variables relate to economic performance by using gross domestic product (GDP) as a benchmark.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>This study applies ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to panel data covering 27 EU member states for the period 1990–2023. The results reveal a U-shaped relationship between income inequality and energy consumption per capita. At moderate levels, inequality is associated with reduced energy use; however, beyond a certain threshold, greater inequality leads to increased energy consumption, which is driven primarily by the high demand from wealthy population segments. Furthermore, per capita energy consumption is a strong predictor of emissions, although the marginal impact weakens at higher consumption levels, thus suggesting diminishing returns. Renewable energy significantly helps decrease per capita emissions, but its effectiveness also marginally decreases as its share increases, thus indicating saturation effects. Diagnostic tests for autocorrelation, heteroskedasticity, and cross-sectional dependence confirm the statistical robustness and reliability of the model.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This study highlights the necessity of integrating social equity into climate and energy policy frameworks. Reducing income inequality can promote energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, thereby contributing to the EU’s dual objectives of environmental sustainability and inclusive economic growth. These findings suggest that energy transition policies are more effective when they are complemented by measures that address economic disparities. Future research should explore inequality thresholds that alter environmental impacts and identify policy synergies that maximize both climate and social outcomes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13705-025-00554-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145904416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Are alternative fuels considered a game changer? Benefit and barrier perceptions and the acceptance of alternative fuels for road transport","authors":"Anika Linzenich,&nbsp;Linda Engelmann,&nbsp;Martina Ziefle","doi":"10.1186/s13705-025-00552-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-025-00552-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Replacing diesel and gasoline in combustion engines with fuels from renewable resources can reduce emissions in the transport sector. This study investigated public perceptions of alternative fuels to reveal potential adoption drivers and barriers for a successful introduction in road transport.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The findings point towards a high acceptance of alternative fuels in road transport. Benefits for the environment and drivers were acknowledged, whereas barrier perceptions were comparably low. The acceptance of alternative fuels was affected by perceived environmental benefits and environment-related attitudes. Higher environmental awareness and perceived responsibility for environmental problems were related to higher acceptance, higher benefit perceptions, and lower barrier ratings.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Considering the key finding that environment-related attitudes and the perception of environmental benefits were factors positively impacting the acceptance of alternative fuels, communication concepts should be designed to inform transparently and comprehensibly about the environmental effects of alternative fuels. Where applicable and possible, fuel design should reduce user-perceived barriers—such as high costs and infrastructure incompatibility. Policy making should furthermore support planning security via long-term framework design in order to enable heightened fuel adoption and positive climatic impacts of alternative fuels.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13705-025-00552-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145674951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"When promises are not (yet) met: local dysphoria, contestations, and the struggle for survival amidst large-scale solar energy development in Kenya","authors":"Frankline A. Ndi","doi":"10.1186/s13705-025-00550-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-025-00550-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Across Africa, employment and corporate social responsibility (CSR) promises are used by land investors to mobilize community support for large-scale renewable energy projects. Often times, when such promises are backpedaled or do not materialize as anticipated, local contestations become imminent. Using the case of Alten Solar energy in Kenya, this article aims to show how the energy investor appears to be struggling to deliver on its promises – and how this has provoked local contestations. While local contests linked to energy projects constructed on communally-owned land are not uncommon in the country and have been widely documented, contestations regarding projects constructed on privately-owned land are yet to receive sufficient scholarly attention despite similar equity stakes. This paper aims to bridge this gap and is guided by basic ideas drawn from theories of peasant resistance to offer insights into the micro politics around solar energy development in the specific context of private land ownership. Data was elicited using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions conducted on two occasions: from February – March 2023 and November – December 2023, with a follow-up visit in February 2025.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The results show that local contests are about the benefits that people anticipate from the solar project, rather than seeking to prevent it. Rural people, despite being critical of the project, struggle with the company through their relations with the county government and local elites, to demand a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) that could offer them more opportunities and address unintended socio-environmental challenges.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The study suggests the need for the energy investor to respect its CSR promises, and to adhere to its time plan, as specified in the new MoU signed with the communities. It also emphasizes the need for the government to implement policies ensuring that communities benefit directly from energy investments. Ensuring a proper benefit-sharing mechanism, fulfilling CSR promises, and addressing socio-environmental impacts linked to the solar project would (re)present more attractive ‘terms of incorporation’, and possibly reduce societal resistance ‘from below’.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13705-025-00550-y.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146082471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of the decarbonization efficiency in the European Union: machine learning approach","authors":"Goran Šimić,&nbsp;Mirjana Radovanović,&nbsp;Sanja Filipović","doi":"10.1186/s13705-025-00549-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-025-00549-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The European Union has established a strategic objective to attain carbon neutrality across the continent by the year 2050; however, this complex undertaking is shaped by a variety of influencing factors. It is particularly important to monitor the effects of such a long-term strategy, as it will influence all aspects of the European Union’s sustainable energy development as well as the welfare of its citizens. Since no universally accepted methodology exists for tracking the effects of decarbonization, the use of machine learning as a method of artificial intelligence is proposed—not only to generate concrete results but also to evaluate its applicability for this purpose. The main objective of this research is to assess the trends of 13 selected energy indicators that are vital to the decarbonization initiative. The research was conducted on a sample of 27 countries for the period from 2013 to 2030 using a novel predictive model developed in the Python runtime environment.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The primary findings of the research indicate that the EU is likely to experience significant fluctuations in the values of specific indicators. The anticipated progressive rise in electricity prices is expected across all EU countries, accompanied by an increase in consumption. In addition, the projected growth in energy imports presents a significant challenge that will affect the competitiveness of the European economy and the social standing of its citizens. Particularly disadvantaged in the implementation of the decarbonization strategy will be landlocked countries that are highly dependent on energy imports and therefore vulnerable to fluctuations in prices and security of supply. Also at risk are countries facing difficulties in the deployment and exploitation of renewable energy sources, as well as those with weaker socioeconomic indicators. The results further indicate a rising risk to energy security, even in the wealthiest EU countries. Overall, the projections suggest an increase in CO₂ levels up to 2030, followed by a gradual decline thereafter. A particular challenge for managing the decarbonization strategy lies in the significant fluctuations of the monitored parameters, which hinder planning in every respect.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>In light of the geopolitical and supply chain shifts post-2022, it is clear that a comprehensive reassessment of the strategies for managing the decarbonization of the European Union economy is necessary. The research findings demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed machine learning approach, which has potential for enhancement due to its scalability and adaptability. The study provides governance and methodological recommendations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13705-025-00549-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145887094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable and secure energy development of the European Union: artificial intelligence-based approach for policymaking","authors":"Mirjana Radovanović,&nbsp;Goran Šimić,&nbsp;Jámbor Attila","doi":"10.1186/s13705-025-00551-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-025-00551-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The European Union considers the decarbonization of Europe by 2050 a strategic objective. This necessitates finding the solutions that will support the intricate process of formulating energy policies and decisions with enduring implications for the economy, environment, and social welfare of European Union citizens and beyond. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the suitability of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based approach in policymaking (control stage) with the aim of achieving a more optimal formulation of the common European energy policy and the policies of individual member states.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Given the scope and volatility of the data, as well as the research objective, data processing was conducted using clustering—a technique within artificial intelligence (AI)—which is suitable for producing more precise, explainable, and provable (PEP) outcomes. In doing so, the study addresses one of the main obstacles to the broader use of AI in policymaking: the current lack of trust in AI-based solutions. The research was conducted in three stages. In the first stage, energy security indicators were determined based on 13 selected indicators using the aggregate approach. In the second stage, clustering was executed as an unsupervised machine learning method, utilizing the K-means algorithm as the designated learning model. In the third stage, a classifier model utilizing an artificial neural network was proposed. The research findings have revealed that countries exhibiting the highest levels of energy security, and consequently the most favorable conditions for sustainable growth, have different energy portfolios, unique economic frameworks, and differing energy prices.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The research findings are significant in the domains of energy and environmental policies, decision theory, and AI (with special emphasis on the EU AI Act). The research highlights the efficacy of an interdisciplinary approach and contributes to the studies about the use of AI in policymaking, with emphasis on the improvements that will lead to its greater power and precision—one of the milestones for efficient policymaking. Policymaking based on PEP AI outcomes can be seen as one of the most efficient methods for strategic planning and control of decarbonization of Europe; therefore, the paper also proposes recommendations in this context.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13705-025-00551-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145887020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}