Trajectories for Energy Transition in EU-28 Countries over the Period 2000-2019: a Multidimensional Approach

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Energy Policy
• Economics

Background:

• Global warming necessitates urgent policy action, with the European Climate Energy Package guiding member states.
• The package focuses on three key targets: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing renewable energy share, and improving energy efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the energy transition of European countries from 2000-2019 by examining all three climate targets simultaneously.
• To identify temporal and spatial typologies of the energy transition across EU Member States.

Main Methods:

• Multidimensional data analysis to integrate diverse energy and climate metrics.
• Discriminant analysis to identify factors influencing transition performance and country-level disparities.

Main Results:

• A discernible, gradual transition towards a more environmentally conscious economy observed across three sub-periods (2000-2019).
• Four distinct energy transition profiles identified, revealing heterogeneous performances among EU countries.
• Economically advanced nations like Germany, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands are identified as lagging in achieving their climate targets.

Conclusions:

• Economic performance, trade, innovation systems, and policy mix design are key drivers of successful energy transitions.
• The innovation system is crucial in explaining the varying energy transition outcomes observed at the country level.