• Energy Research

Abstract The basic idea of this paper is that an efficient energy planning requires a deepened awareness of the state of place. By considering the complexity of this issue - that involves both production, consumption, impacts on the environment and policy aspects - a multidimensional analysis should be implemented. The aim of the study is to propose an innovative approach for achieving increased efficiency energy by reducing the existent differential among the local areas. The approach consists of two main steps: i) the building of LEEI (Local Energy efficiency Index) and further four sub-indexes - designed by using a Principal Component Analysis - for assessing the level of local efficiency; ii) the measurement of the distance between the score achieved in the ranking by each observation and a threshold calculated as best compromise situation - realized by using a redrafted Sen Index. This methodology has been tested on a sample of 20 Italian provinces. The findings allow to provide information to policy makers concerning the overall energy efficiency of an area through a vertical comparison among the observation; while the four sub-indexes offer specific indication about the multidimensionality of the analysed phenomenon. This final step helps to offer punctual information for a future allocation to the regions, for a financial resource programming on the bases of the real weakness.

Worldwide manufactures are redesigning supply chains, often outsourcing with the aim of maintaining a competitive advantage and gaining market share. When selecting and purchasing fabrics, firms should actively cooperate with suppliers, to meet customers’ needs. In this view, the supplier selection process plays a key role in keeping a competitive edge in global markets. Therefore, this study proposes a multicriteria decision-making model (MCDM) to ease supplier evaluation and selection. Supply chain operation reference metrics (SCOR metrics) and fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (FTOPSIS) are combined to build a model for supplier selection. The former allows us to conduct a very thorough fact-based analysis of all features in the supply chain, while the combination of fuzzy theory and SCOR model allows us to deal with uncertainty. The main novelty of this method is that it incorporates a consolidated supply chain management criteria within the framework of fuzzy set theory and multicriteria decision-making model (MCDM) facilitating their application into practice. The proposed approach is tested by considering the case of a manufacturing firm in the fashion industry willing to designate the most appropriate supplier within a set of three potential ones.

Abstract Renewable energy and energy efficiency are recognized among the key factors of transitioning towards a low-consumption and low-carbon society. In order to achieve such transition, the government policies should be aimed at meeting the renewable energy generation and energy efficiency targets of specific localities. Nonetheless, these targets vary between different urban regions, and there is limited knowledge on the correlation between energy transition and urbanization levels. The aim of this paper is to identify that correlation in urban regions. This study places Italian regions under the microscope of an empirical investigation. The study adopts a two-step analysis that provides a useful model for regional analyses. The results of the study consolidates our understanding and highlights that the energy transition process requires greater efforts concerning social participation and provision of incentives for renewable energy production, mainly in the less urbanized areas.

Abstract Digitalisation of urban metabolism circularity provides policymakers, urban managers, planners and administrators with a useful tool for identifying, controlling and evaluating a wide range of data concerning the flows of social, environmental and economic resources. This approach is based on the crucial role of fixed and mobile digital infrastructures such as real-time monitoring stations, GPS tracking sensors, augmented reality, virtual sharing platforms, social media dashboards, smart grids, and the like in the development and strengthening of the quality and efficiency of the circularity of resources. For these reasons, the integration of digital technologies in mobility, waste, water and wastewater management, energy efficiency, safety, and so on, represents a crucial aspect for cities involved in the circularity of their urban metabolism. Through a systematic literature review and case study approaches, the analysis disclose a wide-range of initiatives adopted by several European circular cities that optimise the circularity of urban metabolic flows, and contributes to the efforts in increasing understanding and awareness of the digitalisation driven by the urban metabolism circularity.

Solid biomass planning is a complex and multifaceted process, as it aims to achieve a large number of objectives while involving various stakeholders. This complexity heightens particularly in marginal areas, where socioeconomic weaknesses are critical obstacles to the sustainable development of these territories. This paper proposes an integrated method for dealing with such problem by using a combined optimization approach. This is done in order to implement the ‘best’ investment solution to be realized in marginal areas, and a benefit cost analysis to assess the feasibility of investment for each involved operator. The methodology of the study maximizes the utility of the stakeholders in the respect of the territory. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been demonstrated through a twofold and comparative application, both in Italy and in Germany, in order to verify the results.

Abstract Using both a multivariate technique and a classic convergence analysis, we set out to test in an original way if the European Union (EU) regulation on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by urban road transport has generated a policy transfer process. By doing so, this paper attempts to fill the gap in research on ex-post analysis to assess whether the decisions taken at the EU level are actually transposed and implemented locally. The results obtained allow to document whether the EU regulation has stimulated the adoption of sustainable mobility policies for a selected group of Italian cities. The findings show that the processes of policy transfer may produce different effects if heterogeneity exists between cities or regions, even if they belong to the same country. Italian evidence demonstrates that northern cities are more actively drawing policy lessons. The study also reveals that large cities choose to look abroad more often than small municipalities. These results indicate that there may be institutional and economic variables that influence the transfer process.

Literature stresses that efficient institutions are necessary to achieve the highest returns from public policies. It has been recognized by the European Union (EU) that regional institutions have a fundamental role in obtaining the highest results from Cohesion and Structural investments, which represent the main fiscal and anticyclical instruments available for the regions. The paper aims at analyzing the impact of the quality of regional governments, and their management of EU cohesion funds on the economic growth of Italian regions. In order to measure the quality of institutions, we have combined the Institutional Quality Index (IQI) with a set of efficiency indexes, calculated in order to evaluate the ability of regional policymakers to manage European Funds. We conduct a two-way fixed effect panel regression model during the period between 2007 and 2015. The results underline that, in general, Cohesion investments and IQI are positively related to the regional growth; instead, efficiency indexes are important key factors mainly in the Southern area, characterized by structural weaknesses.