Achievements of the European Union Countries in Seeking a Sustainable Electricity Sector

Abstract

The electricity production sector has a significant share of final energy consumption and has a huge potential to use more renewable energy sources. Over the last two decades, the European Union (EU) reform of electricity markets has had positive results, and market liberalization acts as a stimulus for energy efficiency, lower prices, and technological progress. Today’s EU policy for the development of electricity and the entire energy sector seeks to provide system modernization, stability, reinforcement of the single market, and implementation of climate change policy with an emphasis on the decarbonization of energy sources and the increase of energy efficiency. After all of the EU efforts to form an electricity sector in member states, it is necessary to assess the efficiency of the policy implemented and to identify the results achieved in shaping a sustainable electricity sector. The purpose of this article is to carry out a sustainability assessment of the electricity sector in the EU countries. A set of eight indicators designed to assess the sustainability of the electricity sector of different EU countries in 2017 has been drawn up. The assessment is made using the multi-criteria decision-making method (MCDM) Technique for Order Preference (TOPSIS). The assessment shows that the electricity market of Slovenia is the most sustainable, with Luxembourg in the second position in the EU.

Economic and Spatial Determinants of Energy Consumption in the European Union

“…The European Union (EU) has been promoting the reduction of carbon emissions and within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations on climate change, which was adopted in 1997, but which came into force as of 2005. "It undertook to reduce its average total emissions during the period 2008-2012 by 8% compared to 1990" [9], taking into account that in the last decades, the reform of the EU energy markets has produced positive results, and market liberalization stimulates energy efficiency [10]. In this same framework, the "20-20-20" measure was established, which aims to reduce primary energy consumption of the European Union by 20%; to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%; and to increase the contribution of renewable energies to 20% of consumption.…”

Comparative Study of Induction Motors of IE2, IE3 and IE4 Efficiency Classes in Pump Applications Taking into Account CO2 Emission Intensity

“…To compare the cost of the electricity consumed per annum in the case of different motors, the differences in the costs were calculated at the considered flow-time profile according to formula (8).…”

“…All aforementioned measures are aimed at the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions, since CO 2 is one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases. Besides energy saving on the consumer side, usage of the sources with high energy conversion efficiency and renewable energy sources are also very important and results in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions [7][8][9].…”

On the Road to Affordable and Clean Energy: Assessing the Progress of European Countries Toward Meeting SDG 7

“…A comparison of renewable energy technologies in 6 countries is dealt with by [40], who work with 6 specific indicators. The TOPSIS technique, which uses 8 indicators divided into 3 dimensions for evaluation of the energy sector in EU countries, can be found in the research of [41]. A group of 14 indicators in 4 dimensions for the evaluation of energy security performance are used by [42].…”