• Energy Research

Establishing conditions that meet climate requirements should be one of the most important goals of the whole world in order to protect against the negative effects of climate change. Without cooperation and considerable commitment from everyone, it is possible that these negative effects will worsen. The implementation of the Energy Policy from now until 2050 should facilitate the transformation of the coal-based power system toward a more sustainable and diversified mix of energy sources. Financial investments in the countries analyzed in this paper create real opportunities and changes for the transition toward renewable energy sources (RES), but there is criticism concerning the insufficient speed of change and the costs of the transformation for society. The dominant emphasis on the optimum selection of energy sources creates conflicts, especially in democratic decision-making. Resource management is both incremental and participatory, and while decisions are strongly based on science, the decision-making process is rarely rational or comprehensive. It is difficult to estimate environmental costs, especially because there is no method for comparing the many criteria between the different energy sources since there are differences in the energy efficiency results obtained in different areas. Public opinion is of great importance and it has a huge influence on the development of the development strategies and policies that are undertaken. Therefore, as part of our analysis, we conducted research using a questionnaire to obtain opinions on fundamental issues regarding the climate and energy strategies that have been adopted in the EU. This was important for achieving the main goal of this article, which is a multidimensional analysis of activities aimed at adapting the national economy to the EU strategies that are responsible for reaching the energy and climate goals by 2050. The low-emission energy transformation is aimed at introducing significant changes for the entire economy while at the same time ensuring the implementation of the so-called European triad of goals (energy security, energy competitiveness and climate protection), which often contradict each other in practice.

Wind energy has emerged as a strategic pillar in the global energy transition, offering both environmental and economic benefits. This comprehensive review explores the development of wind energy with a focus on the regulatory, socio-economic, and technological challenges that shape its deployment in Europe, particularly in Poland. The study highlights disparities between countries in terms of both total and per capita installed capacity, emphasizing the importance of equitable access to renewable energy. Denmark and Germany outperform larger economies like China and India in per capita terms, indicating the significance of effective policy frameworks and public engagement. The article presents detailed case studies of successful wind farm projects across the EU alongside economic evaluations including cost structures, return on investment, and local development impacts. Additionally, the role of innovation—such as floating offshore wind farms and AI-based energy management—is discussed in the context of improving efficiency and overcoming infrastructure and environmental barriers. The analysis is supported by quantitative comparisons, graphical representations, and policy reviews, culminating in practical recommendations for future growth. Wind energy’s expansion depends on integrated strategies that combine policy reform, technological advancement, economic viability, and community participation.

This study presents theoretical and practical contributions to the environmental dimension of enterprises’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) in sustainable development. Interest in the environment is related to CSR through environmental cost optimization and energy-efficiency management. The practical stage of the research, obtained using the computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) method, allowed for presenting case studies of the best practices used by international enterprises operating in Poland. This study describes the practical tools and advice companies can use to improve efficiency and environmental responsibility. The article is an in-depth study of the growing role of enterprises in shaping sustainable and socially responsible businesses and aims to assess the extent to which these companies prioritize energy efficiency as a part of their CSR initiatives. The authors highlight the role of energy efficiency in achieving broader corporate environmental responsibility. This research aims to encourage businesses to adopt responsible environmental strategies for a greener and more sustainable future. The implementation of this goal helped develop and indicate conclusions regarding the development of environmental tools related to corporate responsibility in sustainable development, encouraging scientific debates and promoting responsible monitoring of the implementation of this concept.

Natural resources play a significant role in the development of the global economy. This refers, in particular, to strategic fuel and mineral resources. Due to the limited supply of natural resources and the lack of substitutes for most of the key resources in the world, the competition for the access to strategic resources is a feature of the global economy. It would seem that the countries which are rich in resources, because of this huge demand, enjoy spectacular economic prosperity. However, the results of empirical studies have demonstrated what is known as the ‘resource curse’. This article concentrates on the characteristics of the paradox of plenty, and in particular on the possibilities of preventing this phenomenon. The aim of this article is to identify the measures of economic policy with which to counteract the resource curse, based on the relationship between the state and the extraction business. Upon the critical analysis of the relevant literature, we concluded that the state’s economic policy, implemented in cooperation with the extraction business, is increasingly important for the prevention of the resource curse. In the context of the resource curse, the optimal and most consensual instrument, in comparison with other resource sharing agreements, is a production sharing agreement (PSA), which should also be adjusted to the current local economic conditions in a given country.

Congestion extends the time of the journey for both people and goods. Therefore, transport solutions should be optimized. Management scientists and technical scientists worked together in order to develop a proprietary solution to increase efficiency in terms of productivity improvements for intelligent transport systems. The most fundamental functions of management have been paired with a detailed analysis of city traffic. The authors developed a method for determining the order of vehicles at traffic lights and connected it with vehicle-to-vehicle communication and GPS signals. As a result, a novel method to increase the throughput of intersections is presented. This solution generates a sound signal in order to inform the driver that the preceding car has started moving forward. The proposed solution leads to the shortening of the reaction time of the drivers waiting in a queue. This situation is most common at red lights. Consequently, the traffic simulation shows that the discharge of queues at traffic lights may be quicker by up to 13.5%. Notably, that proposed solution does not require any modification of the infrastructure as well as any additional devices for vehicle-to-infrastructure communication at the road intersections. To conclude, proper implementation of the proposed solution will certainly contribute to efficiency improvements within intelligent transport systems, with the potential to reduce traffic jams.

The EU’s energy policy is geared towards introducing changes in order to stop or avoid negative climate change. The determinants of the energy policies of Poland and Germany are presented along with the priorities until 2050. The possibilities of reducing the impact of energy on the environment were interpreted, emphasizing its common goal. Activities supporting the EU and maintaining the level of energy security are indicated. Possible negative effects in the social and health sphere are presented as a response to the failure to implement these demands. The literature was analyzed and proprietary questionnaires were carried out, and the results realized in the EU by the independent FBI Economic Department were implemented. On the basis of earlier pilot studies, variants of a successful transformation were implemented, assuming different roles performed by a citizen (entrepreneur). Opportunities to tackle climate change and global challenges have been identified based on innovation and motivation. The opinion on the way of thinking in Poland and Germany was compared, and a descriptive model was prepared to increase the achievement of the assumed goals, together with a model based on innovation. Citizens should be active in efforts to promote renewable energy. The EU has a strong base to work to avoid climate change. What is needed is innovative thinking and a motivation to introduce changes with the involvement of every citizen through solidarity, efficiency, and justice. The existing foundations of legal solutions create adaptation possibilities and the ability to achieve goals through self-discipline, comparing with the assumption of EU civic awareness, significantly affecting the successful implementation of RES. Analyzing the attitudes of Poland and Germany, it seems that the distant social consequences are not sufficient. It is necessary not only to perform selected management functions (planning, organizing), but also partly to motivate. There is a strong need to increase motivation and implement the control process required under the threat of negative consequences in the current period as a key strategic preventive action. The analysis of the opinions of Poland and Germany against the background of the European Union allowed for no significant differences, subject to Germany’s readiness to take greater risk. Most of Poland is less inclined to take risks. The lack of an unambiguous opinion may indicate incomplete awareness of both the negative effects of climate change. Both countries are concerned about the unplanned costs of transformation. Germany, unlike Poland, has dedicated employees to handle the climate, and conducts an energy audit and is of interest to investors, thanks to investment plans.

There is a high demand for energy production, which is dependent on energy consumption and input. This demand affects socioeconomic development and quality of life. However, the lack of an innovative formal, legal, and organizational structure regarding public space in the European Union (EU) is problematic; one solution could be preparing and implementing grid services as part of distributed energy solutions (based on local and regional renewable resources), and involving local public, private, and profitable entities. Autonomous energy regions (AREs) are a response to this type of problem, as they can contribute to the creation of organizational and legal tools that counteract the marginalization of crisis areas, where undesirable socioeconomic phenomena intensify (and the conditions and management of the natural environments deteriorate). Investments in energy infrastructure based on distributed energy (mainly renewable energy sources) will be a tool for socioeconomic changes in affected areas. In terms of practical considerations in the energy field (i.e., keywords, barriers to energy consumption, and access to it), it is important to formulate recommendations regarding the creation, management, identification, and designation of autonomous energy regions (AREs) in the EU. In this case, postal questionnaires and a taxonomic method (Hellwig’s method) were used. It is worth emphasizing that the creation of AREs is a modern requirement in connection with global CO2 emissions. Sustainable low-emission economies, according to the conducted research, may be introduced to the entire European Union. The lack of proposals for direction of regional development, in terms of autonomous energy regions, was indicated in this paper. There is a need to formulate specific recommendations regarding the possibility of creating and managing autonomous energy regions (AREs) in the European Union. Fortunately, there are natural, organizational, and social opportunities to begin this process. For example, local authorities may become leaders in creating a network of connections in emerging AREs, and communities might willingly make the effort to co-create AREs.