Abstract
Energy transition in the European Union (EU) is strongly related to public support from structural funds which enable member states to create new and renovate existing renewable energy source (RES) installations. However, in order to maximize benefits of these investments it is crucial to consider where RES funds are allocated, how it corresponds with RES potential in specific locations, and how future implementation of energy policies can be improved. In this study, RES development projects supported by EU funds, implemented in the period 2004–2019 in Poland, were analyzed in relation to solar, wind and biomass energy potential. The study was conducted with the use of agglomeration method and k-mean method to define clusters of local administrative units characterized by similar features of RES funds absorption and renewable energy production potential. The results obtained show that in the case of all energy sources there is no correlation between high RES funds absorption and energy production potential. The final conclusion of the research is that in order to boost energy transformation into more sustainable solutions, renewable energy production potential should be considered as a factor to allocate public financial support for future energy policy implementation.
Highlights
IntroductionEuropean Union (EU) policy efforts on energy efficiency started in the 1970s as response to the oil crisis [1] and at that time had more economic background
The domain of energy transition is not a new topic
Information on renewable energy source (RES) development projects supported by European Union (EU) funds was obtained from governmental database [57]
Summary
European Union (EU) policy efforts on energy efficiency started in the 1970s as response to the oil crisis [1] and at that time had more economic background. In response to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), known as the Earth Summit (3–14 June 1992) and the adopted Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (Agenda21) [2], EU introduced the first major European policy on energy efficiency by the Council Directive 93/76/EEC of 13 September. Member states of the Energies 2020, 13, 5551; doi:10.3390/en13215551 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies “old” EU, which represent higher economic and financial development and have more experience in the implementation of eco innovations, have higher level of greenhouse gas emissions which impact socio-environmental systems [7]. Different groups of countries have to face different problems and undertake different actions to balance their environmental carrying capacity [8]
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