Blockchain, or distributed ledger, is an innovative technology that is emerging in various sectors and industries across the globe. It has attracted the attention of different interest groups such as energy companies, SMEs and start-ups, information technology developers, financial institutions, national authorities, and the university community. Through, for example, the decentralization of authority in transactions, Internet of Things (IoT) implementation, and smart contracting, the improvement of the daily business operations is firmly forecasted. In the energy sector, digitalization is already present in solutions such as smart grids, smart meters, electric vehicles, etc. Moreover, a new concept of the Internet of Energy (IoE) has been introduced in the academic literature. In this article, the level of trust and maturity of Blockchain technology implementation is investigated through the Blockchain Maturity Questionnaire, developed by the authors. The database consists of responses from upper management professionals from the renewable energy industry. The analysis reveals the state of know-how about Blockchain, the main benefits and bottlenecks associated with its implementation as well as willingness to integrate this technology in the case companies’ future operations. The insight from the industry experts helped to provide a “Roadmap for Blockchain Adoption” in future energy systems. This curiosity study yields numerous applications not only for the renewable energy industry experts but also for the interest groups coming from different industries, as well as public authorities and researchers scrutinizing the fields taken into its scope.

A harmful impact of climate change and global warming has concerned various sectors of the international community. Numerous energy policies aiming at climate change mitigation have been implemented on a national and global scale. Renewable energy technologies (RETs) play a critical role in enhancing sustainable solutions that significantly limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Such innovative technologies can facilitate energy transition through providing, e.g., energy security, sustainable development, and effective usage of indigenous resources. However, the commercialization of RETs is extremely challenging. The barriers can be of a different nature, although this study focused on socioeconomic and regulatory issues. There is ample evidence that energy policies play a central role in supporting adoption of renewables. It is also claimed that RETs require the whole ecosystem to support their successful diffusion. In this study, we explored multifarious barriers for widespread RET diffusion in two European Union countries, Finland and Poland, indicating the most common barriers existing in the literature as well as analyzing major bottlenecks from the viewpoint of renewable energy companies’ executives. We also present statistics of the most commonly used RETs in these countries in order to express the diffusion issues more appropriately. The research shows that inflexible, ineffective, and excessive regulatory frameworks; limited financing options; as well as an insufficient level of societal awareness have been seen as the main bottlenecks for RET diffusion in both countries. The outcomes of this study provide useful insights for the researchers in the energy transition field as well as practical managerial and regulatory implications aimed at overcoming these challenges.

The concept of circular economy is becoming increasingly important not only for academics, but also for other stakeholders. Notably the local government representatives are implementing such solutions, in response for the population growth and development, connected with increased consumption. This paper aims to recognize existing local solutions of circular economy as well as to identify possible ways for its development. Mixed methodology is used, including constructive approach, swot analysis, descriptive statistics or weak-market test. An analysis emphasizes a positive impact of circular economy on local development of the investigated municipality. However, it is still necessary to continue and intensify information and education activities for increasing public awareness of waste prevention, their removal under communal waste collection and collection systems, and proper management of municipal waste (especially biodegradable waste).

Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) are critical for the energy transition towards environmentally friendly solutions. There are many international regulations enhancing climate change mitigation. However, on a national level, disruptive technologies often struggle with many various barriers. There is ample evidence supporting the claim that innovative energy technologies require the whole ecosystem to support their diffusion. In fact, it is often a case that the change starts at the regional level. Therefore, some country-specific limitations are worth investigating.In this study, we examine various barriers of renewable energy technologies diffusion in the case of two European countries: Finland and Poland in the first phase. It served to perform a comparative analysis in a second stage, revealing the similarities and differences between them. An analysis provides insightful knowledge about the current constraints of widespread and effective renewable energy technologies diffusion. As a conclusion, the directions and possibilities for improvement are suggested.

No abstract