• Energy Research

On-grid hybrid wind–solar systems are one of the best sustainable solutions for developing distributed generation, as they can provide a stable and reliable electricity supply, effectively using the potential of the two most common renewable energy resources. In Ukraine, promoting the development of on-grid hybrid wind–solar power plants takes on particular importance under conditions of electricity shortages caused by the large-scale destruction of the energy infrastructure due to the ongoing hostilities. This article examines the economic efficiency of installing such power plants in the residential sector of Ukraine under different state support schemes. This study was conducted for on-grid hybrid wind–solar systems of various configurations and installed capacities with different equity and debt capital proportions involved in implementing investment projects. This study’s results highlight the economic efficiency of the feed-in tariff compared to the net billing for households investing in such facilities and emphasize the need to improve policy measures to increase their investment attractiveness.

This paper deals with improving the feed-in tariff policy for green energy advancement in Ukraine’s households based on assessing the economic efficiency of investment project implementation under the current state support mechanisms. This study was conducted for solar and wind power plants with different installed capacities. The Levelized Cost of Electricity and the payback period for such power plants were calculated considering the ongoing feed-in tariffs and discount rates determined by various equity and debt capital ratios. The results showed that the state support provides attractive payback periods for solar and wind power plants with an installed capacity of ≥30 kW. In comparison, 5 kW solar power plants and wind power plants with a capacity of up to 10 kW are not paid off during the power plants’ lifecycle. It confirmed that the ongoing energy policy in Ukraine’s residential sector is still designed to obtain profits by the owners of generating facilities by selling the excess electricity. In the meantime, its main goal—providing households energy independence—has been levelled. To resolve the issues caused by such a state support model, a methodical approach to improve the feed-in tariff calculation is proposed. In addition, recommendations for reconsidering other policy measures to ensure effective renewable energy development in the residential sector have been made.

The recent surge in publications addressing household energy efficiency and renewable energy highlights their vital roles in managing national decarbonization and green power transition. The study aims to analyze the research trends in this field to comprehend their significance in shaping residential decarbonization changes. Bibliometric and visualization analyses are applied to bridge existing knowledge gaps by focusing on technology and managerial mechanisms for implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy concepts. Leveraging the Scopus database and VOSviewer 1.6.19 software, the study covers energy efficiency publications from 1978 to 2023 and renewable energy papers from 1984 to 2023. The study clusters academic articles in two ways: keyword co-occurrence and co-authorship analyses. The first one reveals the merging of renewable energy and energy efficiency studies, covering sustainable development, heating/cooling mechanisms, and emerging technology trends. While both topics share commonalities like smart grids and the Internet of Things, renewable energy clusters spotlight specific areas such as bioenergy and wind/solar power. Co-authorship analysis highlights a notable increase in countries considering research topics, reflecting growing international collaboration. Leading contributors include the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Germany, and India. This study equips scientists with a systematic understanding of the evolution and latest research trends in managing household energy efficiency and renewable energy transformations. It aids in identifying promising research directions, further advancing these crucial fields. AcknowledgmentsThe publication was prepared in the framework of the research project “Formation of economic mechanisms to increase energy efficiency and provide sustainable development of renewable energy in Ukraine’s households” (No. 0122U001233), funded by the National Research Foundation of Ukraine.

This paper proposes methodological approaches to assessing the impact of renewable energy and energy efficiency development on emerging economies’ energy security. It is suggested to supplement the current methodology for assessing energy security with the decoupling index of the renewable energy financial burden on the state budget, the energy efficiency decoupling index, the households’ energy poverty indicator, the index of capacity development for balancing electricity generation volumes, and the energy fluctuations indicator. These indices provide a comprehensive assessment of energy security under the latest challenges. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic in the Ukrainian energy sector led to the “green and coal paradox”, when the government decided to keep green electricity generation but limit nuclear generation. It required increased flexible capacities (thermal generation) and led to a rise in electricity prices and environmental pollution. Forecasting energy fluctuations with Butterworth filters allows minimizing the risks of maximum peak loads on the grid and timely prevention of emergencies. The energy fluctuations within the 20% range guarantee energy security and optimal energy companies’ operation. It is proposed to smooth out energy consumption fluctuations through green energy development, smart grids formation, energy efficiency improvements, and energy capacities balancing to ensure energy and economic sustainability.

Sustainable development of the global economy can be achieved with the help of renewable energy (RE). The paper investigates the determinants of RE development in order to boost its adoption. The determinants of RE deployment were analyzed using random-effects GLS regression for the panel data from 27 EU member states in 2011–2020.The results confirm that economic development and high employment in advanced technology manufacturing are drivers of the RE sector, whereas unemployment growth affects RE deployment negatively. Our results show that active political participation and economic freedom promote RE; however, the level of corruption and democracy does not have a statistically significant impact on it. Favorable geographical location was proved to be a determinant of RE development. The hypothesis that plenty of natural resources discourage countries to develop RE was disproved. The major policy implications for RE promotion include the importance of economy deregulation, open market development and educational transformations. Following the results, prospects for further research were outlined.

Abstract The paper reports main problems of stimulating development of renewable energy in Ukraine. The authors consider presented state mechanisms for maintenance of the green energy where the most effective tariff is the feed-in tariff (functions in Ukraine from 2009). The changes in the active laws and the results of effect of the regulation policy on the development of renewable energy are described. The principal challenges of the law regulation relative to the renewable energy projects as well as proposals for improving the present policy are also discussed.

This paper elaborates on the theoretical and methodological fundamentals of a tradable green certificates system to foster renewable energy development in Ukraine. It proposes a management mechanism premised on the classical market model of tradable green certificates aiming at increasing the share of electricity from renewable energy sources in the country’s energy mix. Organizational stages of the mechanism formation at the national level and a methodological approach to assess green electricity generation cost are developed. The modeling has shown that the annual increase in the cap for green electricity consumption by 1% will raise the electricity tariff by 3%, which is not a significant financial burden for consumers. The proposed changes in the tradable green certificates system can be an effective management tool to achieve the required amount of electricity from renewable energy sources in the country’s total electricity consumption and to foster the development of the Ukrainian renewable energy sector.