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Energy poverty is a complex, multifaceted problem which negatively affects many households around the world. Therefore, its mitigation is one of the most relevant policy goals for governments nowdays. The events of COVID-19, and the surge in energy prices due to the postpandemic recovery, the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis worsened an already difficult situation for many citizens, increasing energy poverty. However, these detrimental effects on energy poverty are unlikely to have been homogenous across different household types, impacting some more than others. Although energy poverty in general and the determinants of energy poverty in particular are topics which have received attention from academics in the past, the analysis of the impact of those events on specific types of households has not. The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of COVID, the post-pandemic recovery and the war in Ukraine on energy poverty through an analysis of their effects on different types of households and dwellings. Using a database of Spanish households in 2019 and 2022, and binary probit estimations, the results show that those household heads who are foreign nationals, females, older than 67 years, without education and with lower income levels and households with dependent children, whose members do not have a job and live in a detached dwelling, in a rented house, in a dwelling located in a cold region, in a rural area and in an old dwelling are more likely to be energy poor. Both events had a negative effect on energy poverty in very specific types of households: those in which the household head is a male, households whose members do not have a job, are older than 67 years, have children, are less educated, have lower income levels and live in detached dwellings. Analysing the most affected household types and most influential determinants of energy poverty is key to propose effective and efficient policy interventions which mitigate it. These findings call for the adoption of effective targeted policy interventions which focus on the factors that are more likely to reduce EP. They suggest that additional policy efforts to mitigate energy poverty should be put on specific households.

Energy poverty is a complex, multifaceted problem which negatively affects many households around the world. Therefore, its mitigation is one of the most relevant policy goals for governments nowdays. The events of COVID-19, and the surge in energy prices due to the postpandemic recovery, the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis worsened an already difficult situation for many citizens, increasing energy poverty. However, these detrimental effects on energy poverty are unlikely to have been homogenous across different household types, impacting some more than others. Although energy poverty in general and the determinants of energy poverty in particular are topics which have received attention from academics in the past, the analysis of the impact of those events on specific types of households has not. The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of COVID, the post-pandemic recovery and the war in Ukraine on energy poverty through an analysis of their effects on different types of households and dwellings. Using a database of Spanish households in 2019 and 2022, and binary probit estimations, the results show that those household heads who are foreign nationals, females, older than 67 years, without education and with lower income levels and households with dependent children, whose members do not have a job and live in a detached dwelling, in a rented house, in a dwelling located in a cold region, in a rural area and in an old dwelling are more likely to be energy poor. Both events had a negative effect on energy poverty in very specific types of households: those in which the household head is a male, households whose members do not have a job, are older than 67 years, have children, are less educated, have lower income levels and live in detached dwellings. Analysing the most affected household types and most influential determinants of energy poverty is key to propose effective and efficient policy interventions which mitigate it. These findings call for the adoption of effective targeted policy interventions which focus on the factors that are more likely to reduce EP. They suggest that additional policy efforts to mitigate energy poverty should be put on specific households.

The key to this study is to explore the relation between renewable energy and trade openness under climate change impacts on international trade. This study is based on the analyses of trade openness index and the Notre Dame-Global Adaptation Index in measures of research of the transfer of renewable energy technologies globally, promotion of the growth of renewable energy share, and the country's current vulnerability to climate disruptions. Research is focused on evaluation of low-carbon trade, analysis of renewable heat, and estimation of the impact of renewable energy on trade openness under climate disruptions. Research verified that development of renewable energy can reduce the human impact on climate change, but such technologies are not available to all countries; because of this, different countries may be affected by climate change to varying degrees. The implementation of renewable energy technologies should help countries become more resilient to climate change through the availability of appropriate means of producing renewable energy; however, this is possible subject to the country's openness to the arrival of goods and technologies from outside-increasing trade openness level. Countries with open and competitive markets are more inclusive to adopt and support the renewable energy technologies and their development. From another position, development of trade and deep integration of economy can create external dependence on imported energy sources and block the development of domestic renewable energy sectors. The economic challenges in the field of renewable energy need the focus of governments and policy makers on supporting the stability of renewable generation facilities, increasing the reliability of energy supply, protection from seasonal changes in demand for electricity, support of the energy cooperatives and private consumers of renewable energy, and transition the public transport sector for renewable energy sources. Further research in this direction has prospects, because globalization is a stable trend of recent decades, and allows for an even distribution of efforts to produce various products and provide them to the population, but decarbonization potential of renewable energy production is untapped as fossil fuels dominate in largest world markets.

The key to this study is to explore the relation between renewable energy and trade openness under climate change impacts on international trade. This study is based on the analyses of trade openness index and the Notre Dame-Global Adaptation Index in measures of research of the transfer of renewable energy technologies globally, promotion of the growth of renewable energy share, and the country's current vulnerability to climate disruptions. Research is focused on evaluation of low-carbon trade, analysis of renewable heat, and estimation of the impact of renewable energy on trade openness under climate disruptions. Research verified that development of renewable energy can reduce the human impact on climate change, but such technologies are not available to all countries; because of this, different countries may be affected by climate change to varying degrees. The implementation of renewable energy technologies should help countries become more resilient to climate change through the availability of appropriate means of producing renewable energy; however, this is possible subject to the country's openness to the arrival of goods and technologies from outside-increasing trade openness level. Countries with open and competitive markets are more inclusive to adopt and support the renewable energy technologies and their development. From another position, development of trade and deep integration of economy can create external dependence on imported energy sources and block the development of domestic renewable energy sectors. The economic challenges in the field of renewable energy need the focus of governments and policy makers on supporting the stability of renewable generation facilities, increasing the reliability of energy supply, protection from seasonal changes in demand for electricity, support of the energy cooperatives and private consumers of renewable energy, and transition the public transport sector for renewable energy sources. Further research in this direction has prospects, because globalization is a stable trend of recent decades, and allows for an even distribution of efforts to produce various products and provide them to the population, but decarbonization potential of renewable energy production is untapped as fossil fuels dominate in largest world markets.

Hydrogen is an energy carrier that can support the development of sustainable and flexible energy systems. However, decarbonization can occur when green sources are used for energy production and appropriate water use is manifested. This work aims to propose a socio-economic analysis of hydrogen production from an integrated wind and electrolysis plant in southern Italy. The estimated production amounts to about 1.8 million kg and the LCOH is calculated to be 3.60 €/kg in the base scenario. Analyses of the alternative scenarios allow us to observe that with a high probability the value ranges between 3.20–4.00 €/kg and that the capacity factor is the factor that most affects the economic results. Social analysis, conducted through an online survey, shows a strong knowledge gap as only 27.5 % claim to know the difference between green and grey hydrogen. There is a slight propensity to install systems near their homes, but this tends to increase due to increased knowledge on the topic. Respondents state sustainable behaviours, and this study suggests that these aspects should also be transformed into the energy choices that are implemented every day. The study suggests information to policy-makers, businesses and citizens as it outlines that green hydrogen is an operations strategy that moves toward sustainable development.

Hydrogen is an energy carrier that can support the development of sustainable and flexible energy systems. However, decarbonization can occur when green sources are used for energy production and appropriate water use is manifested. This work aims to propose a socio-economic analysis of hydrogen production from an integrated wind and electrolysis plant in southern Italy. The estimated production amounts to about 1.8 million kg and the LCOH is calculated to be 3.60 €/kg in the base scenario. Analyses of the alternative scenarios allow us to observe that with a high probability the value ranges between 3.20–4.00 €/kg and that the capacity factor is the factor that most affects the economic results. Social analysis, conducted through an online survey, shows a strong knowledge gap as only 27.5 % claim to know the difference between green and grey hydrogen. There is a slight propensity to install systems near their homes, but this tends to increase due to increased knowledge on the topic. Respondents state sustainable behaviours, and this study suggests that these aspects should also be transformed into the energy choices that are implemented every day. The study suggests information to policy-makers, businesses and citizens as it outlines that green hydrogen is an operations strategy that moves toward sustainable development.

Grid-forming (GFM) control has been considered a promising solution for accommodating large-scale power electronics converters into modern power grids thanks to its grid-friendly dynamics, in particular, voltage source behavior on the AC side. The voltage source behavior of GFM converters can provide voltage support for the power grid, and therefore enhance the power grid (voltage) strength. However, grid-following (GFL) converters can also perform constant AC voltage magnitude control by properly regulating their reactive current, which may also behave like a voltage source. Currently, it still remains unclear what are the essential differences between the voltage source behaviors of GFL and GFM converters, and which type of voltage source behavior can enhance the power grid strength. In this paper, we will demonstrate that only GFM converters can provide effective voltage source behavior and enhance the power grid strength in terms of small signal dynamics. Based on our analysis, we further study the problem of how to configure GFM converters in the grid and how many GFM converters we will need. We investigate how the capacity ratio between GFM and GFL converters affects the equivalent power grid strength and thus the small signal stability of the system. We give guidelines on how to choose this ratio to achieve a desired stability margin. We validate our analysis using high-fidelity simulations.

Grid-forming (GFM) control has been considered a promising solution for accommodating large-scale power electronics converters into modern power grids thanks to its grid-friendly dynamics, in particular, voltage source behavior on the AC side. The voltage source behavior of GFM converters can provide voltage support for the power grid, and therefore enhance the power grid (voltage) strength. However, grid-following (GFL) converters can also perform constant AC voltage magnitude control by properly regulating their reactive current, which may also behave like a voltage source. Currently, it still remains unclear what are the essential differences between the voltage source behaviors of GFL and GFM converters, and which type of voltage source behavior can enhance the power grid strength. In this paper, we will demonstrate that only GFM converters can provide effective voltage source behavior and enhance the power grid strength in terms of small signal dynamics. Based on our analysis, we further study the problem of how to configure GFM converters in the grid and how many GFM converters we will need. We investigate how the capacity ratio between GFM and GFL converters affects the equivalent power grid strength and thus the small signal stability of the system. We give guidelines on how to choose this ratio to achieve a desired stability margin. We validate our analysis using high-fidelity simulations.