Powering profits: how renewable energy boosts financial performance in European non-financial companies

Purpose - The study aims to investigate the relationship between renewable energy use and financial performance in non-financial companies in European countries. Design/methodology/approach - This study examines a panel data set consisting of 1,919 firm-year observations of non-financial companies operating in 13 European nations, covering the period from 2014 to 2021. The study uses the ordinary least squares (OLS) and the two-stage least squares method (2SLS) as the baseline models and further enhances robustness with sub-sample analysis. Findings - The results demonstrate a positive link between renewable energy use and financial performance, and these results hold up across different measurements, sub-sample analysis and model specifications, demonstrating their robustness. Furthermore, the results indicate that some factors such as the industry nature and environmental, social and governance (ESG) controversies have an impact on this positive association. Practical implications - The findings are substantial for both policymakers and companies, highlighting the benefits of incorporating renewable energy into their operations for improved business success. Originality/value - This study adds to the existing body of literature on the effect of environmental performance on a company’s success by focusing on a novel aspect – the correlation between renewable energy usage and firm performance. It responds to the recent request from researchers to investigate different aspects of sustainability, with a specific emphasis on renewable energy, which is a vital factor in reducing carbon emissions and improving financial performance.