IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v257y2026ics0960148125024383.html

Enhancing energy efficiency and emission reduction: A data-driven analysis of sustainable transportation in the EU

Author

Listed:
  • Gurler, Hasan Emin
  • Pamucar, Dragan
  • Özçalıcı, Mehmet

Abstract

This study examines energy conservation and emission reduction in the transportation sector across 15 European Union (EU) countries — Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Spain. These countries were selected to represent diverse geographic regions, economic profiles, and infrastructures within the Union, using complete and comparable datasets for 2021. Data were obtained from the International Energy Agency's Energy End-Use and Efficiency Indicators report (November 2023), ensuring a contemporary temporal scope. Energy efficiency was evaluated using the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods WENSLO and ARTASI, based on 30 criteria spanning energy indicators, consumption, carbon metrics, and emissions. A two-stage sensitivity analysis compared the model's outcomes with other MCDM techniques (MABAC, MARCOS, WASPAS, TOPSIS) and tested ranking stability under weight variation. Results indicate notable differences in performance among member states, with Hungary achieving consistently high scores across all weighting scenarios. These findings highlight the robustness of the proposed approach and point to the value of comprehensive, criteria-rich evaluation frameworks in supporting the EU's 2050 carbon-neutrality goal.

Suggested Citation

  • Gurler, Hasan Emin & Pamucar, Dragan & Özçalıcı, Mehmet, 2026. "Enhancing energy efficiency and emission reduction: A data-driven analysis of sustainable transportation in the EU," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:257:y:2026:i:c:s0960148125024383
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.124774
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148125024383
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2025.124774?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tomasz Rokicki & Grzegorz Koszela & Luiza Ochnio & Kamil Wojtczuk & Marcin Ratajczak & Hubert Szczepaniuk & Konrad Michalski & Piotr Bórawski & Aneta Bełdycka-Bórawska, 2021. "Diversity and Changes in Energy Consumption by Transport in EU Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-21, August.
    2. Bartosz Radomski & Tomasz Mróz, 2023. "Application of the Hybrid MCDM Method for Energy Modernisation of an Existing Public Building—A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Tian, Xuelin & An, Chunjiang & Chen, Zhikun, 2023. "The role of clean energy in achieving decarbonization of electricity generation, transportation, and heating sectors by 2050: A meta-analysis review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    4. Li, Hui & Mu, Wenyu & Huang, Weiwei & Torvanger, Asbjørn & Chen, Tianqi, 2025. "Bioenergy utilization and greenhouse gas emission reduction: A global impact assessment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    5. He, Xiaoping & Yu, Yuxuan & Jiang, Shuo, 2023. "City centrality, population density and energy efficiency," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    6. Zhang, Qi & Gu, Baihe & Zhang, Haiying & Ji, Qiang, 2023. "Emission reduction mode of China's provincial transportation sector: Based on “Energy+” carbon efficiency evaluation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    7. Zhang, Rui & Hu, Yu-Jie & Tang, Bao-Jun, 2025. "A Stackelberg game approach for power generators' policy preferences to meet emission reduction and development goals," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    8. Feng, Chao & Wang, Miao, 2018. "Analysis of energy efficiency in China's transportation sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 565-575.
    9. Xie, Chunping & Bai, Mengqi & Wang, Xiaolei, 2018. "Accessing provincial energy efficiencies in China’s transport sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 525-532.
    10. Zhang, Ning & Wei, Xiao, 2015. "Dynamic total factor carbon emissions performance changes in the Chinese transportation industry," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 409-420.
    11. Jaber, J.O. & Al-Ghandoor, A. & Sawalha, S.A., 2008. "Energy analysis and exergy utilization in the transportation sector of Jordan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 2985-2990, August.
    12. Liu, Hongwei & Yang, Ronglu & Wu, Jie & Chu, Junfei, 2021. "Total-factor energy efficiency change of the road transportation industry in China: A stochastic frontier approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    13. Gongbing Bi & Pingchun Wang & Feng Yang & Liang Liang, 2014. "Energy and Environmental Efficiency of China’s Transportation Sector: A Multidirectional Analysis Approach," Mathematical Problems in Engineering, Hindawi, vol. 2014, pages 1-12, May.
    14. Utlu, Zafer & Hepbasli, Arif, 2006. "Assessment of the energy utilization efficiency in the Turkish transportation sector between 2000 and 2020 using energy and exergy analysis method," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(13), pages 1611-1618, September.
    15. Barbara Kryk & Małgorzata Klaudia Guzowska, 2021. "Implementation of Climate/Energy Targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy by the EU Member States," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, May.
    16. Xu, Chong & Li, Zhiwen & Chen, Boyang & Yang, Qian & An, Jiafu, 2024. "Low-carbon development in China's transportation sector: Multidimensional characteristics and policy implications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    17. Kumar, Aalok & Anbanandam, Ramesh, 2022. "Assessment of environmental and social sustainability performance of the freight transportation industry: An index-based approach," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 43-60.
    18. Zhang, Xinmin & Wang, Miao & Zang, Hong, 2025. "Renewable energy technology innovation, climate risk, and carbon emission reduction: A cross-country analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    19. Zare Banadkouki, Mohammad Reza, 2023. "Selection of strategies to improve energy efficiency in industry: A hybrid approach using entropy weight method and fuzzy TOPSIS," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    20. Hamza Gribiss & Mohammad Mohsen Aghelinejad & Farouk Yalaoui, 2023. "Configuration Selection for Renewable Energy Community Using MCDM Methods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-23, March.
    21. Matsumoto, Ken'ichi & Doumpos, Michalis & Andriosopoulos, Kostas, 2018. "Historical energy security performance in EU countries," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P2), pages 1737-1748.
    22. Ji, Xi & Chen, G.Q., 2006. "Exergy analysis of energy utilization in the transportation sector in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(14), pages 1709-1719, September.
    23. Pamucar, Dragan & Özçalıcı, Mehmet & Gurler, Hasan Emin, 2025. "Evaluation of the efficiency of world airports using WENSLO-ARTASI and Monte-Carlo simulation," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    24. Indre Siksnelyte-Butkiene & Tomas Karpavicius & Dalia Streimikiene & Tomas Balezentis, 2022. "The Achievements of Climate Change and Energy Policy in the European Union," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    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. Liu, Hongwei & Yang, Ronglu & Wu, Jie & Chu, Junfei, 2021. "Total-factor energy efficiency change of the road transportation industry in China: A stochastic frontier approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(C).
    2. Yao, Lianxiao & Chen, Weidong, 2025. "Temporal and spatial evolution of low-carbon transportation efficiency and its influencing factors in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    3. Du, Xiaoyun & Meng, Conghui & Guo, Zhenhua & Yan, Hang, 2023. "An improved approach for measuring the efficiency of low carbon city practice in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    4. Sai, Rockson & Yuan, Hongping & Kwabena Takyi, Ebenezer & Abudu, Hermas & Agyeman, Stephen, 2025. "Evaluation of transport carbon efficiency, reduction potential, and influencing factors in Africa," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 65-83.
    5. Zhang, M. & Li, G. & Mu, H.L. & Ning, Y.D., 2011. "Energy and exergy efficiencies in the Chinese transportation sector, 1980–2009," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 770-776.
    6. Qi, Hai & Dong, Zhiliang & Dong, Shaohui & Sun, Xiaotian & Zhao, Yiran & Li, Yu, 2021. "Extended exergy accounting for smelting and pressing of metals industry in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    7. Mao, Yumeng & Li, Xuemei & Jiao, Dehan & Zhao, Xiaolei, 2024. "Characterizing the spatial correlation network structure and impact mechanism of carbon emission efficiency: Evidence from China's transportation sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    8. Motasemi, F. & Afzal, Muhammad T. & Salema, Arshad Adam & Moghavvemi, M. & Shekarchian, M. & Zarifi, F. & Mohsin, R., 2014. "Energy and exergy utilization efficiencies and emission performance of Canadian transportation sector, 1990–2035," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 355-366.
    9. Zhang, Qi & Gu, Baihe & Zhang, Haiying & Ji, Qiang, 2023. "Emission reduction mode of China's provincial transportation sector: Based on “Energy+” carbon efficiency evaluation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    10. Omrani, Hashem & Yang, Zijiang & Karbasian, Arash & Teplova, Tamara, 2023. "Combination of top-down and bottom-up DEA models using PCA: A two-stage network DEA with shared input and undesirable output for evaluation of the road transport sector," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    11. Zha, Jianping & Tan, Ting & Fan, Rong & Xu, Han & Ma, Siqi, 2020. "How to reduce energy intensity to achieve sustainable development of China's transport sector? A cross-regional comparison analysis," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    12. Byers, Edward A. & Gasparatos, Alexandros & Serrenho, André C., 2015. "A framework for the exergy analysis of future transport pathways: Application for the United Kingdom transport system 2010–2050," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 849-862.
    13. Feng, Chao & Wang, Miao, 2018. "Analysis of energy efficiency in China's transportation sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 565-575.
    14. Liu, Xiao & Zhou, Xiaoyong, 2025. "Determinants of carbon emissions from road transportation in China: An extended input-output framework with production-theoretical approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    15. Saqr, Khalid M. & Musa, Md. Nor, 2011. "A perspective of the Malaysian highway energy consumption and future power supply," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 3873-3877, June.
    16. Lee, Junghwan & Kim, Jinsoo, 2023. "Are electric vehicles more efficient? A slacks-based data envelopment analysis for European road passenger transportation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    17. Gasparatos, Alexandros & El-Haram, Mohamed & Horner, Malcolm, 2009. "A longitudinal analysis of the UK transport sector, 1970-2010," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 623-632, February.
    18. Kondo, Kumiko, 2009. "Energy and exergy utilization efficiencies in the Japanese residential/commercial sectors," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(9), pages 3475-3483, September.
    19. Meng, Conghui & Du, Xiaoyun & Zhu, Mengcheng & Ren, Yitian & Fang, Kai, 2023. "The static and dynamic carbon emission efficiency of transport industry in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    20. Zhao, Pengjun & Zeng, Liangen & Li, Peilin & Lu, Haiyan & Hu, Haoyu & Li, Chengming & Zheng, Mengyuan & Li, Haitao & Yu, Zhao & Yuan, Dandan & Xie, Jinxin & Huang, Qi & Qi, Yuting, 2022. "China's transportation sector carbon dioxide emissions efficiency and its influencing factors based on the EBM DEA model with undesirable outputs and spatial Durbin model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:eee:renene:v:257:y:2026:i:c:s0960148125024383. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    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.