The Role of Renewable Sources and Emerging Energy Technologies in Supporting Sustainable Economic Growth: Case Study on Energy Communities

The energy transition based on renewable sources and emerging energy technologies became an important element of contemporary sustainable development strategies in the context of increasing environmental pressures and the need to limit the link between economic growth and resource-intensive consumption. The paper examines how renewable sources and emerging energy technologies can support sustainable economic growth through the contribution of a pilot energy community project in relation to SDG indicator 7.1, SDG indicator 8.1.1 and SDG indicator 9.4.1. The topic is motivated by the difference between the macro level of defining the SDGs and the need to understand the micro mechanisms through which local initiatives can contribute directly or indirectly to their achievement. The research methodology combines qualitative analysis of the specialized literature with the case study method. The results show that the project contributes to the improvement of the access quality to energy through local renewable production; it partially reduces energy costs and also reduces emissions associated with electricity consumption from the grid. The analysis also highlights the limits of using SDG indicators at a micro scale, especially in the case of macroeconomic indicators. The contribution of the paper is to propose a cautious approach in appliance of SDG indicators at the local level and uses them as interpretative tools and not as direct causal measures. The recommendations aim to strengthen the legislative and economic framework for energy communities, stimulate self-consumption and energy sharing, and integrate these initiatives into national energy transition and sustainable development strategies.