Abstract
During the 2010–2020 period, the European Union (EU) launched a growth strategy based on three fundamental pillars: smart growth, sustainable growth, and inclusive growth. Aiming to finance the projects related to these growth pillars, the EU used mainly the Rural Development Funds, the Structural Funds, those derived from the R&D Framework Program, the Trans-European Networks, and the European Investment Bank. This research aimed to determine whether the Spanish regions maintain homogeneous efficiency levels by using these resources to improve the levels of environmental quality related to renewable energies. A methodology that is frequently used by researchers in efficiency analyses was chosen, the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The main findings revealed that the efficiency in the use of renewable energies is very uneven among the Spanish regions and these differences are maintained throughout the period analyzed. These results highlighted the need of changes regarding the proposed criteria for allocating European resources to finance the projects presented by each Spanish region.
Highlights
The study results provide some implications for improving energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions in China
A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) has been applied to the function that assumes an orientation towards output (BCC) and variable returns to scale
The results have shown how the level of environmental energy efficiency related to economic growth levels has been very different among the DMUs
Summary
As defined by the European Commission (EC), sustainable growth implies a new economic growth approach based on the efficient use of natural resources. It is supported both in the development of new processes and technologies and the development of smart grids. In both cases, it must be allowed the creation of a shared space of low carbon emissions, with little degradation of the environment, and avoiding the loss of biodiversity in European territory. According to the EC’s calculations, if generating 20% of energy through renewable sources, more than 600,000 jobs could be created in the EU
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