Green Energy Pathways Towards Carbon Neutrality

• Published in: Environmental & resource economics 2024-06, Vol.87 (6), p.1473-1496
• Main Authors: Halkos, George E., Aslanidis, Panagiotis-Stavros C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Capital formation; Carbon; Carbon dioxide; Carbon neutrality; Clean energy; Economic Policy; Economics; Economics and Finance; Electricity; Electricity generation; Energy resources; Environmental Economics; Environmental Law/Policy/Ecojustice; Environmental Management; GDP; Green energy; Greenhouse gases; Gross Domestic Product; Information processing; Labor force; Neutrality; Panel data; Policy making; Productivity; Renewable energy; Renewable energy sources; Renewable resources; Sailing
• ISSN: 0924-6460; 1573-1502
• DOI: 10.1007/s10640-024-00856-z

Trying to reach carbon neutrality is by no means plain sailing in times of energy crisis, price volatility, and war. The European Green Deal (EGD) prioritizes green pathways, but it is not enough when it copes with greenhouse gases (GHGs). The present research utilizes the Malmquist–Luenberger productivity index (MLPI) to estimate advancements in total factor productivity (TFP) in the European Union (EU). The study uses panel data from 1995 to 2019, in addition, there is comparison between two periods: 1995 – 1996 and 2018 – 2019, would provide important information about TFP progress or recession during a turbulent European era. Two MLPI models are applied, one that utilizes only non-renewable energy sources (NRES), while the other adopts renewable energy sources (RES). Encompassing inputs such as: electricity generation, labour force, and gross fixed capital formation (GFCF); desirable output: gross domestic product; and undesirable outputs: carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ). There is average productivity progress, more specifically the MLPI average productivity for NRES and RES is 2.14% and 7.34% respectively, meaning that the RES adoption leads to greater productivity performance by almost three times. This novel analysis might offer useful and practical information to policymakers through the measuring of TFP in order to effectively attain and accomplish carbon neutrality objectives.