Europe - Energy - Climate: The quest for the clean energy transition in the EU

Edited monograph by Agnieszka E. Rządkowska

ISBN: 978-94-6433-700-6

Format: eBook (PDF with Digital Rights Management)

Licensing: single reader license / library one-year license / library perpetual license

First publication date: July 2021

Corrected edition publication date: November 2021

Below you will find the synopsis of the book and its table of contents.

“Europe – Energy – Climate, the quest for the clean energy transition in the EU” is an edited monograph aiming to provide an up to date comprehensive study from many different angles on the prospects of the clean energy transition pursued by the EU. The book focuses on the most recent European energy policies in the context of the global challenge of climate change extending this discourse within the five topical sections that feature relevant chapters from academics and practitioners in the EU energy sector including policy-makers, members of many relevant NGOs, experts and scientists in renewable and traditional energy, as well as in climate and environment. The study aims to investigate the current European energy situation and discuss the real prospects and the steps in a transition to clean energy in the EU from political, economic and technological perspectives with analytical data presented and discussed along with the possible directions of further actions investigated. The book first provides an outlook of a current energy situation in Europe (contextualized globally) followed by a description of the current European energy policy and the discussion of the most important aspects of the new European Green Deal. A dedicated analysis is considering the COVID-19 pandemic context and how it affects and will affect in the future the clean energy transition in the EU (with emphasis that despite the pandemic in itself is only temporarily affecting energy demand and lowering related greenhouses gases emissions on a global scale, a much more profound negative effect may come with less responsible states that will seek to reduce emissions targets and clean energy transition policies in order to offset economies crises derived from the pandemic). Further on, the book contextualizes the discussed situation and policy with a background of undeniable changes in the climate observed throughout the recent years. Then it covers an outlook study of the current technological developments in the renewable energy with a focus on the most promising directions. This discussion leads to the last section which provides a summarizing discourse on the process of the clean energy transition, its prospects, advantages, drawbacks and possible risks, including aspects such as international relations in the global geopolitical context as well as key policy issues such as energy security. The five sections of the book feature chapters from the perspective of academy and practice in related fields of policy, analysis and strategic planning, as well as technology, authored by many European and international experts, thus providing a unique blend of competent contributors among advanced scientists, policy-makers, industry specialists and practitioners who lead the current discourse in this field. The book is highly interdisciplinary yet the problem it tackles, the quest for the clean energy transition is such as well. The monograph presents different perspectives and enables the reader to develop his own opinion on basis of being acquainted with different takes on the problem. Co-authors of the book have been invited to contribute their chapters based on their current roles and fields of expertise by the editor and a main author of the monograph, Agnieszka E. Rządkowska, chair and co-founder of the European Solar Network (ESN), member of the board of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), member of the editorial board of the newly established Solar Energy Advances Journal of Elsevier, academically affiliated with her Alma Matter, University of Wrocław in Poland. The main author and editor formulates a consequent and facts-based narration on the clean energy transition in the EU and on its global context in at least two initial chapters in all five sections, followed by additional particularities and various specific aspects analyzes in relevant sections’ corresponding topics covered by invited chapters authors. The book concludes with a summary of prospects for the clean energy transition in the European Union, determined to lead the world by example in stopping the global warming and the consequences it could bring. We all need to join this effort as much as we can, because at stake is our children’s future.

• Chapter 1.1. The EU energy mix and renewables outlook, A. Rządkowska (pp 13-113)
• Chapter 1.2. The renewables share in the EU’s electrical energy mix, A. Rządkowska (pp 114-124)
• Chapter 1.3. Europe’s place in the resource race: sovereignty in critical minerals as the key vector in achieving EU’s low-carbon transition efforts, Y. Popkostova (pp 125-163)
• Chapter 1.4. Cap-and-trade systems as a way to curb emissions and incentivize an early adoption of sustainable alternatives: the European perspective, M. Centurioni (pp 163-198)
• Chapter 1.5. Renewable energy in the Mediterranean, how can Europe be a rule maker, F. Valezano (pp 199-216)
• Chapter 1.6. EU energy consumer rights and energy dispute-resolution bodies, A. Jantzen (pp 217-222)

• Chapter 2.1. Implementation of the European Green Deal, A. Rządkowska (pp 224-231)
• Chapter 2.2. European energy policy transformation, A. Rządkowska (pp 232-255)
• Chapter 2.3. Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) economic feasibility in Europe and the effect of the homogenous carbon taxing on the system’s economic feasibility, H. Gholami, H.N. Røstvik (pp 256-284)
• Chapter 2.4. Fostering green jobs. Opportunities and challenges for the EU’s clean energy transition, M. Kottari (pp 285-311)
• Chapter 2.5. EU heat policy and its broader perspective, S. Abrecht (pp 312-325)
• Chapter 2.6. The role of energy trading and energy exchanges for the European Energy Transition, R. Gersdorf, D. Wragge (pp 326-352)
• Chapter 2.7. Impact of EU carbon proposals on renewable energy across Eastern Europe, T. Williamson (pp 353-358)
• Chapter 2.8. Energy poverty policies – European framework and national responses, M. Cornelis (pp 359-371)
• Chapter 2.9. EU energy policy towards energy innovation, B. Barth (pp 372-394)

• Chapter 3.1. Climate change drivers, A. Rządkowska (pp 396-488)
• Chapter 3.2. European climate strategies and targets,  A. Rządkowska (pp 489-518)
• Chapter 3.3. European Climate Neutral Economy 2050 – a shift from silos to holos, G. San Bruno (pp 519-550)
• Chapter 3.4. Adapting to climate change and protecting health in Europe, A. Rotaru (pp 551-563)
• Chapter 3.5. A strengthened climate finance target for the Next Generation EU budget – the role of the European Cohesion Policy, F. Foglia (pp 564-576)
• Chapter 3.6. EU effectiveness in climate governance, diplomacy and energy cooperation, S. Willemart (pp 577-648)
• Chapter 3.7. EU energy and climate policy from the perspective of the EU fuel supply industry, C. Nourigat (pp 649-679)
• Chapter 3.8. The energy-climate relationship and policy in developing countries – Indian perspective, V. Varshney (pp 680-708)
• Chapter 3.9. Sociological and non-material aspects of the climate change and EU sustainability policy, E. Koumentakos (pp 709-720)

• Chapter 4.1. European research and development policy for photovoltaics, A. Rządkowska (pp 722-734)
• Chapter 4.2. European Key Enabling Technologies in clean energy, A. Rządkowska (pp 735-754)
• Chapter 4.3. AI assisted solar energy photovoltaic developments, A. Rządkowska (pp 755-781)
• Chapter 4.4. Solar energy photovoltaic technological developments, W. Jacak (pp 782-849)
• Chapter 4.5. Solar thermal energy technological developments, H. Laget (pp 850-862)
• Chapter 4.6. Solar heat for industrial processes – towards a clean industry, I.S. Ribeiro (pp 863-877)
• Chapter 4.7. Technological developments in offshore wind farms, A. Jain (pp 878-910)
• Chapter 4.8. Hydrogen in a future integrated energy system, A. Keys, M. Parr (pp 911-938)
• Chapter 4.9. Review of new biomass gasification and pyrolysis technologies, A.G. Bhave (pp 939-955)
• Chapter 4.10. Prospects and developments in digital technologies for the local energy transition, D. Donnerer (pp 956-974)

• Chapter 5.1. The new EU energy market, A. Rządkowska (pp 976-1006)
• Chapter 5.2. Energy security context of the European Green Deal, A. Rządkowska (pp 1007-1029)
• Chapter 5.3. Understanding of PV market – from physics to electricity price, C. Alvarado (pp 1030-1068)
• Chapter 5.4. The EU electricity market design and markets perspective on the energy sector transformation, M. Bostan (pp 1069-1089)
• Chapter 5.5. Industrial control systems and procedures for providing comprehensive security of “green energy” facilities in the future digital economy, A.V. Korneyev (pp 1090-1109)
• Chapter 5.6. Attaining sustainable energy security – opportunities for the EU-India cooperation, K. Narula (pp 1110-1133)
• Chapter 5.7. Energy security and economic challenges – Israel case study, D.M. DiSegni (pp 1134-1145)
• Chapter 5.8. EU-China energy cooperation – the pathway towards a cleaner future, L.S. Irigaray (pp 1146-1167)
• Chapter 5.9. Prospects for the clean energy transition in Europe, A. Rządkowska (pp 1168-1179)

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European Solar Network Press is part of the European Solar Network VZW, a not for profit international organization seated in Brussels, Belgium, supporting clean energy transition worldwide and in particular in the European Union, based on the solar energy, by disseminating knowledge and skills along with promoting education, learning and research at highest levels of excellence.