IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i4p3414-d1066904.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of Energy Efficiency in the European Union Countries in 2013 and 2020

Author

Listed:
  • Aneta Karasek

    (Institute of Management and Quality Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Plac Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej 5, 20-031 Lublin, Poland)

  • Barbara Fura

    (Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Rzeszów, Ćwiklińskiej 2, 35-601 Rzeszów, Poland)

  • Magdalena Zajączkowska

    (Department of European Studies and Economic Integration, Krakow University of Economics, Rakowicka 27, 31-510 Kraków, Poland)

Abstract

In the face of the current energy crisis and the need to implement the objectives of climate and energy policy, it seems necessary to examine energy efficiency. Accordingly, this article aims to assess the energy efficiency of European Union (EU) countries. The assessment is performed using data envelopment analysis (DEA), a non-parametric method of measurement of relative efficiency. Ireland recorded the highest energy efficiency both in 2013 and 2020. The average efficiency of all countries assessed was lower in 2020 than in 2013. The number of fully efficient countries had decreased in 2020 compared to 2013. The differentiation of countries in terms of energy efficiency had increased in 2020. The research made it possible to express the efficiencies of countries using a single indicator applied to establish countries’ rankings. The lowest-ranked states are encouraged to improve their technologies for transforming inputs into outputs following the technologies of the benchmark countries. Moreover, a new approach to defining and measuring energy efficiency is proposed. We define energy efficiency as the ratio of services, goods and/or energy obtained to the energy input. In analysing energy efficiency, we emphasise dynamic perspectives rather than static ones.

Suggested Citation

  • Aneta Karasek & Barbara Fura & Magdalena Zajączkowska, 2023. "Assessment of Energy Efficiency in the European Union Countries in 2013 and 2020," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3414-:d:1066904
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/4/3414/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/4/3414/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chang, Tzu-Pu & Hu, Jin-Li, 2010. "Total-factor energy productivity growth, technical progress, and efficiency change: An empirical study of China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(10), pages 3262-3270, October.
    2. William W. Cooper & Lawrence M. Seiford & Joe Zhu (ed.), 2011. "Handbook on Data Envelopment Analysis," International Series in Operations Research and Management Science, Springer, number 978-1-4419-6151-8, September.
    3. Wang, Zhao-Hua & Zeng, Hua-Lin & Wei, Yi-Ming & Zhang, Yi-Xiang, 2012. "Regional total factor energy efficiency: An empirical analysis of industrial sector in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 115-123.
    4. Yu, Dejian & He, Xiaorong, 2020. "A bibliometric study for DEA applied to energy efficiency: Trends and future challenges," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    5. Charnes, A. & Cooper, W. W. & Rhodes, E., 1978. "Measuring the efficiency of decision making units," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 2(6), pages 429-444, November.
    6. Sueyoshi, Toshiyuki & Yuan, Yan & Goto, Mika, 2017. "A literature study for DEA applied to energy and environment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 104-124.
    7. William W. Cooper & Lawrence M. Seiford & Joe Zhu, 2011. "Data Envelopment Analysis: History, Models, and Interpretations," International Series in Operations Research & Management Science, in: William W. Cooper & Lawrence M. Seiford & Joe Zhu (ed.), Handbook on Data Envelopment Analysis, chapter 0, pages 1-39, Springer.
    8. Ayres, Robert U. & Turton, Hal & Casten, Tom, 2007. "Energy efficiency, sustainability and economic growth," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(5), pages 634-648.
    9. Malinauskaite, J. & Jouhara, H. & Ahmad, L. & Milani, M. & Montorsi, L. & Venturelli, M., 2019. "Energy efficiency in industry: EU and national policies in Italy and the UK," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 255-269.
    10. McAndrew, Ryan & Mulcahy, Rory & Gordon, Ross & Russell-Bennett, Rebekah, 2021. "Household energy efficiency interventions: A systematic literature review," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    11. Hu, Jin-Li & Wang, Shih-Chuan, 2006. "Total-factor energy efficiency of regions in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(17), pages 3206-3217, November.
    12. Chenari, Behrang & Dias Carrilho, João & Gameiro da Silva, Manuel, 2016. "Towards sustainable, energy-efficient and healthy ventilation strategies in buildings: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 1426-1447.
    13. Patterson, Murray G, 1996. "What is energy efficiency? : Concepts, indicators and methodological issues," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 377-390, May.
    14. Saunders, Harry D. & Roy, Joyashree & Azevedo, Inês M.L. & Chakravarty, Debalina & Dasgupta, Shyamasree & De La Rue Du Can, Stephane & Druckman, Angela & Fouquet, Roger & Grubb, Michael & Lin, Boqiang, 2021. "Energy efficiency: what has research delivered in the last 40 years?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 114344, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    15. Kiril Simeonovski & Tamara Kaftandzieva & Gregory Brock, 2021. "Energy Efficiency Management across EU Countries: A DEA Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, May.
    16. Paris, Bas & Vandorou, Foteini & Balafoutis, Athanasios T. & Vaiopoulos, Konstantinos & Kyriakarakos, George & Manolakos, Dimitris & Papadakis, George, 2022. "Energy use in open-field agriculture in the EU: A critical review recommending energy efficiency measures and renewable energy sources adoption," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    17. Makridou, Georgia & Andriosopoulos, Kostas & Doumpos, Michael & Zopounidis, Constantin, 2016. "Measuring the efficiency of energy-intensive industries across European countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 573-583.
    18. Abbas Mardani & Dalia Streimikiene & Tomas Balezentis & Muhamad Zameri Mat Saman & Khalil Md Nor & Seyed Meysam Khoshnava, 2018. "Data Envelopment Analysis in Energy and Environmental Economics: An Overview of the State-of-the-Art and Recent Development Trends," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-21, August.
    19. Honma, Satoshi & Hu, Jin-Li, 2008. "Total-factor energy efficiency of regions in Japan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 821-833, February.
    20. Brockway, Paul E. & Sorrell, Steve & Semieniuk, Gregor & Heun, Matthew Kuperus & Court, Victor, 2021. "Energy efficiency and economy-wide rebound effects: A review of the evidence and its implications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    21. Baležentis, Tomas & Butkus, Mindaugas & Štreimikienė, Dalia & Shen, Zhiyang, 2021. "Exploring the limits for increasing energy efficiency in the residential sector of the European Union: Insights from the rebound effect," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    22. Paramati, Sudharshan Reddy & Shahzad, Umer & Doğan, Buhari, 2022. "The role of environmental technology for energy demand and energy efficiency: Evidence from OECD countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    23. Magdalena Cyrek & Piotr Cyrek, 2022. "Rural Specificity as a Factor Influencing Energy Poverty in European Union Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-24, July.
    24. Bertoldi, Paolo & Mosconi, Rocco, 2020. "Do energy efficiency policies save energy? A new approach based on energy policy indicators (in the EU Member States)," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    25. Pyoungsoo Lee, 2022. "Ranking Decision Making for Eco-Efficiency Using Operational, Energy, and Environmental Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    26. Tao Xu & Jianxin You & Hui Li & Luning Shao, 2020. "Energy Efficiency Evaluation Based on Data Envelopment Analysis: A Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-20, July.
    27. Stigka, Eleni K. & Paravantis, John A. & Mihalakakou, Giouli K., 2014. "Social acceptance of renewable energy sources: A review of contingent valuation applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 100-106.
    28. Yang, Mian & Hong, Yili & Yang, Fuxia, 2022. "The effects of Mandatory Energy Efficiency Policy on resource allocation efficiency: Evidence from Chinese industrial sector," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 513-524.
    29. A. Charnes & W. W. Cooper, 1962. "Programming with linear fractional functionals," Naval Research Logistics Quarterly, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 9(3‐4), pages 181-186, September.
    30. Mateusz Trzeciak & Izabela Jonek-Kowalska, 2021. "Monitoring and Control in Program Management as Effectiveness Drivers in Polish Energy Sector. Diagnosis and Directions of Improvement," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-25, July.
    31. Safarzadeh, Soroush & Rasti-Barzoki, Morteza & Hejazi, Seyed Reza, 2020. "A review of optimal energy policy instruments on industrial energy efficiency programs, rebound effects, and government policies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yu, Dejian & He, Xiaorong, 2020. "A bibliometric study for DEA applied to energy efficiency: Trends and future challenges," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    2. Tao Xu & Jianxin You & Hui Li & Luning Shao, 2020. "Energy Efficiency Evaluation Based on Data Envelopment Analysis: A Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-20, July.
    3. Fernández, David & Pozo, Carlos & Folgado, Rubén & Jiménez, Laureano & Guillén-Gosálbez, Gonzalo, 2018. "Productivity and energy efficiency assessment of existing industrial gases facilities via data envelopment analysis and the Malmquist index," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1563-1577.
    4. Demiral, Elif E. & Sağlam, Ümit, 2021. "Eco-efficiency and Eco-productivity assessments of the states in the United States: A two-stage Non-parametric analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 303(C).
    5. Kiril Simeonovski & Tamara Kaftandzieva & Gregory Brock, 2021. "Energy Efficiency Management across EU Countries: A DEA Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, May.
    6. Mardani, Abbas & Zavadskas, Edmundas Kazimieras & Streimikiene, Dalia & Jusoh, Ahmad & Khoshnoudi, Masoumeh, 2017. "A comprehensive review of data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach in energy efficiency," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 1298-1322.
    7. Wang, Zhao-Hua & Zeng, Hua-Lin & Wei, Yi-Ming & Zhang, Yi-Xiang, 2012. "Regional total factor energy efficiency: An empirical analysis of industrial sector in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 115-123.
    8. Qin, Quande & Li, Xin & Li, Li & Zhen, Wei & Wei, Yi-Ming, 2017. "Air emissions perspective on energy efficiency: An empirical analysis of China’s coastal areas," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 604-614.
    9. Yang Li & An-Chi Liu & Shu-Mei Wang & Yiting Zhan & Jingran Chen & Hsiao-Fen Hsiao, 2022. "A Study of Total-Factor Energy Efficiency for Regional Sustainable Development in China: An Application of Bootstrapped DEA and Clustering Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-13, April.
    10. Xie, Wei & Sheng, Pengfei & Guo, Xiaohui, 2015. "Coal, oil, or clean energy: Which contributes most to the low energy efficiency in China?," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 67-71.
    11. Bian, Yiwen & Hu, Miao & Wang, Yousen & Xu, Hao, 2016. "Energy efficiency analysis of the economic system in China during 1986–2012: A parallel slacks-based measure approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 990-998.
    12. Li, Nan & Jiang, Yuqing & Mu, Hailin & Yu, Zhixin, 2018. "Efficiency evaluation and improvement potential for the Chinese agricultural sector at the provincial level based on data envelopment analysis (DEA)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1145-1160.
    13. Du, Huibin & Matisoff, Daniel C. & Wang, Yangyang & Liu, Xi, 2016. "Understanding drivers of energy efficiency changes in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 1196-1206.
    14. Li, Lei & Chi, Ting & Wang, Shi, 2016. "Is energy utilization among Chinese provinces sustainable?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 198-206.
    15. Wang, Zhaohua & Feng, Chao & Zhang, Bin, 2014. "An empirical analysis of China's energy efficiency from both static and dynamic perspectives," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 322-330.
    16. Magdalena Ziolo & Sandra Jednak & Gordana Savić & Dragana Kragulj, 2020. "Link between Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Economic and Financial Development in OECD Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-28, November.
    17. Honma, Satoshi & Hu, Jin-Li, 2014. "Industry-level total-factor energy efficiency in developed countries: A Japan-centered analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 67-78.
    18. Gökgöz, Fazıl & Güvercin, Mustafa Taylan, 2018. "Energy security and renewable energy efficiency in EU," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 226-239.
    19. Shujing Yue & Yang Yang & Jun Shao & Yuting Zhu, 2016. "International Comparison of Total Factor Ecology Efficiency: Focused on G20 from 1999–2013," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-13, November.
    20. Wu, Haitao & Hao, Yu & Ren, Siyu & Yang, Xiaodong & Xie, Guo, 2021. "Does internet development improve green total factor energy efficiency? Evidence from China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:4:p:3414-:d:1066904. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.