IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i18p4886-d1749359.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of Sustainable Energy Development in European Union—Correspondence Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Janina Jędrzejczak-Gas

    (Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Zielona Góra, ul. Podgórna 50, 65-246 Zielona Góra, Poland)

  • Joanna Wyrwa

    (Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Zielona Góra, ul. Podgórna 50, 65-246 Zielona Góra, Poland)

  • Anetta Barska

    (Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Zielona Góra, ul. Podgórna 50, 65-246 Zielona Góra, Poland)

Abstract

The energy transition has now been recognised by European Union (EU) member states as a necessary condition for their long-term development. The process of energy transformation is predicated on the simultaneous implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, which present a considerable challenge for modern economies and impose significant restrictions on their functioning. The objective of this article is to evaluate the transformation of EU member states in the field of sustainable energy development and to categorise them based on their alignment with Sustainable Development Goal No. 7 of the United Nations Agenda 2030, concerning affordable and clean energy, in 2015 and 2023. The monitoring of the progress of the energy transition, as well as the examination of its temporal trends and spatial characteristics, can provide a fundamental analysis framework for the strategic development of energy policy in the EU at national and regional levels. An important approach for this endeavour is the indicator-based assessment of trends. The correspondence analysis proposed in this study and the hierarchical classification, which was intended to help link categories in a two-dimensional space, have the potential to facilitate a more comprehensive assessment of the degree to which EU member states are developing sustainable energy. The study results confirmed significant heterogeneity among the EU-27 countries in terms of energy sustainability. In both 2015 and 2023, the groups of EU countries that achieved a certain level of energy sustainability were identified. However, it should be noted that the composition of each group changed in 2023 compared to 2015. Moreover, no group of EU countries was without its own particular strengths and weaknesses. The results provide opportunities for their interpretation, both in terms of analysing changes in individual indicators and in terms of the global assessment of sustainable development in individual countries. The adoption of an original research approach, divergent from previous studies, for the new timeframe contributes to the resolution of the research gap in empirical studies concerning the classification of EU member states in terms of SDG7 implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Janina Jędrzejczak-Gas & Joanna Wyrwa & Anetta Barska, 2025. "Assessment of Sustainable Energy Development in European Union—Correspondence Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-23, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:18:p:4886-:d:1749359
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/18/4886/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/18/4886/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nathalie Spittler & Ganna Gladkykh & Arnaud Diemer & Brynhildur Davidsdottir, 2019. "Understanding the Current Energy Paradigm and Energy System Models for More Sustainable Energy System Development," Post-Print hal-02127724, HAL.
    2. Michał Bernard Pietrzak & Magdalena Olczyk & Marta Ewa Kuc-Czarnecka, 2022. "Assessment of the Feasibility of Energy Transformation Processes in European Union Member States," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-23, January.
    3. Katarzyna Łukasiewicz & Piotr Pietrzak & Jakub Kraciuk & Elżbieta Kacperska & Małgorzata Cieciora, 2022. "Sustainable Energy Development—A Systematic Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-18, November.
    4. Cosmi, Carmelina & Dvarionenė, Jolanta & Marques, Isabel & Di Leo, Senatro & Gecevičius, Giedrius & Gurauskienė, Inga & Mendes, Gisela & Selada, Catarina, 2015. "A holistic approach to sustainable energy development at regional level: The RENERGY self-assessment methodology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 693-707.
    5. Neofytou, H. & Nikas, A. & Doukas, H., 2020. "Sustainable energy transition readiness: A multicriteria assessment index," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    6. Shi, Zhen & Yang, Xinyue & Jin, Qinqin & Chiu, Yung-ho & Zhang, Lina, 2025. "Roadmap to achieve sustainable energy development: Is energy security important to the path to SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy -Sustainable Development Goals?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    7. Wiesław Musiał & Monika Zioło & Lidia Luty & Kamila Musiał, 2021. "Energy Policy of European Union Member States in the Context of Renewable Energy Sources Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-20, May.
    8. Agnė Žičkienė & Mangirdas Morkunas & Artiom Volkov & Tomas Balezentis & Dalia Streimikiene & Indre Siksnelyte-Butkiene, 2022. "Sustainable Energy Development and Climate Change Mitigation at the Local Level through the Lens of Renewable Energy: Evidence from Lithuanian Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, January.
    9. Nathalie Spittler & Ganna Gladkykh & Arnaud Diemer & Brynhildur Davidsdottir, 2019. "Understanding the Current Energy Paradigm and Energy System Models for More Sustainable Energy System Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-22, April.
    10. Nadiia Artyukhova & Inna Tiutiunyk & Sylwester Bogacki & Tomasz Wołowiec & Oleksandr Dluhopolskyi & Yevhen Kovalenko, 2022. "Scenario Modeling of Energy Policies for Sustainable Development," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-24, October.
    11. Magdalena Ligus & Piotr Peternek, 2021. "The Sustainable Energy Development Index—An Application for European Union Member States," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-32, February.
    12. Michael Benson & Chad Boda & Runa R. Das & Leslie King & Chad Park, 2022. "Sustainable Development and Canada’s Transitioning Energy Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-19, February.
    13. Papież, Monika & Śmiech, Sławomir & Frodyma, Katarzyna, 2022. "Does the European Union energy policy support progress in decoupling economic growth from emissions?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    14. Paweł Ziemba & Abdullah Zair, 2023. "Temporal Analysis of Energy Transformation in EU Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-21, November.
    15. Kashour, Mohammad, 2023. "A step towards a just transition in the EU: Conclusions of a regression-based energy inequality decomposition," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    16. Tomasz Rokicki & Aleksandra Perkowska, 2021. "Diversity and Changes in the Energy Balance in EU Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-19, February.
    17. Hagreaves Kumba & Oludolapo Akanni Olanrewaju, 2024. "“Towards Sustainable Development: Analyzing the Viability and Integration of Renewable Energy Solutions in South Africa”—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-15, March.
    18. Kozar, Łukasz, . "Sektor energetyczny, a wyzwania zrównoważonego rozwoju – analiza przestrzennego zróżnicowania sytuacji w UE w oparciu o wybrane wskaźniki," Problems of World Agriculture / Problemy Rolnictwa Światowego, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, vol. 18(33, Part ).
    19. Eva M. Urbano & Konstantinos Kampouropoulos & Luis Romeral, 2023. "Energy Crisis in Europe: The European Union’s Objectives and Countries’ Policy Trends—New Transition Paths?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-23, August.
    20. Puertas, R. & Marti, L., 2021. "International ranking of climate change action: An analysis using the indicators from the Climate Change Performance Index," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    21. Edward Halawa, 2024. "Sustainable Energy: Concept and Definition in the Context of the Energy Transition—A Critical Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-15, February.
    22. Siksnelyte, Indre & Zavadskas, Edmundas Kazimieras & Bausys, Romualdas & Streimikiene, Dalia, 2019. "Implementation of EU energy policy priorities in the Baltic Sea Region countries: Sustainability assessment based on neutrosophic MULTIMOORA method," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 90-102.
    23. Daniela Vîrjan & Claudia Rodica Popescu & Iuliana Pop & Delia Popescu, 2023. "Energy Transition and Sustainable Development at the Level of the European Union," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 25(63), pages 429-429, April.
    24. Joseph Akpan & Oludolapo Olanrewaju, 2023. "Sustainable Energy Development: History and Recent Advances," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-44, October.
    25. Magdalena Tutak & Jarosław Brodny & Dominika Siwiec & Robert Ulewicz & Peter Bindzár, 2020. "Studying the Level of Sustainable Energy Development of the European Union Countries and Their Similarity Based on the Economic and Demographic Potential," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-31, December.
    26. Qian, Yu & Xu, Zeshui & Qin, Yong & Gou, Xunjie, 2025. "A critical review on the multidimensional complexity of sustainable energy development," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 394(C).
    27. Jarosław Brodny & Magdalena Tutak & Wes Grebski, 2024. "Empirical Assessment of the Efficiency of Poland’s Energy Transition Process in the Context of Implementing the European Union’s Energy Policy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-36, June.
    28. Ewelina Kochanek, 2021. "The Energy Transition in the Visegrad Group Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-13, April.
    29. 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. Brodny, Jarosław & Tutak, Magdalena, 2025. "Decade of Progress: A multidimensional measurement and assessment of energy sustainability in EU − 27 nations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 382(C).
    2. Marcin Bukowski & Janusz Majewski & Agnieszka Sobolewska, 2023. "The Environmental Impact of Changes in the Structure of Electricity Sources in Europe," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-22, January.
    3. Magdalena Tutak & Jarosław Brodny & Wieslaw Wes Grebski, 2025. "Entropy–Evolutionary Evaluation of Sustainability ( E 3 ): A Novel Approach to Energy Sustainability Assessment—Evidence from the EU-27," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-40, October.
    4. Jarosław Brodny & Magdalena Tutak & Wieslaw Wes Grebski, 2025. "Empirical Evaluation of the Energy Transition Efficiency in the EU-27 Countries over a Decade—A Non-Obvious Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-36, June.
    5. Anna Marciniuk-Kluska & Mariusz Kluska, 2023. "Forecasting Energy Recovery from Municipal Waste in a Closed-Loop Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-15, March.
    6. Janina Jędrzejczak-Gas & Joanna Wyrwa & Anetta Barska, 2024. "Sustainable Energy Development and Sustainable Economic Development in EU Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-20, April.
    7. Spittler, Nathalie & Davidsdottir, Brynhildur & Shafiei, Ehsan & Diemer, Arnaud, 2021. "Implications of renewable resource dynamics for energy system planning: The case of geothermal and hydropower in Kenya," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    8. Francisco García-Lillo & Eduardo Sánchez-García & Bartolomé Marco-Lajara & Pedro Seva-Larrosa, 2023. "Renewable Energies and Sustainable Development: A Bibliometric Overview," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-22, January.
    9. Magdalena Tutak & Jarosław Brodny & Peter Bindzár, 2021. "Assessing the Level of Energy and Climate Sustainability in the European Union Countries in the Context of the European Green Deal Strategy and Agenda 2030," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-32, March.
    10. Viktorija Bobinaite & Inga Konstantinaviciute & Arvydas Galinis & Mária Bartek-Lesi & Viktor Rácz & Bettina Dézsi, 2022. "Energy Sufficiency in the Household Sector of Lithuania and Hungary: The Case of Heated Floor Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-19, December.
    11. Kateryna Redko & Olena Borychenko & Anatolii Cherniavskyi & Volodymyr Saienko & Serhii Dudnikov, 2023. "Comparative Analysis of Innovative Development Strategies of Fuel and Energy Complex of Ukraine and the EU Countries: International Experience," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(2), pages 301-308, March.
    12. Rita Remeikienė & Ligita Gasparėnienė & Aleksandra Fedajev & Marek Szarucki & Marija Đekić & Jolita Razumienė, 2021. "Evaluation of Sustainable Energy Development Progress in EU Member States in the Context of Building Renovation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-22, July.
    13. Jarosław Brodny & Magdalena Tutak & Wes Grebski, 2024. "Empirical Assessment of the Efficiency of Poland’s Energy Transition Process in the Context of Implementing the European Union’s Energy Policy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-36, June.
    14. Plazas-Niño, F.A. & Ortiz-Pimiento, N.R. & Montes-Páez, E.G., 2022. "National energy system optimization modelling for decarbonization pathways analysis: A systematic literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    15. Charlotte Senkpiel & Audrey Dobbins & Christina Kockel & Jan Steinbach & Ulrich Fahl & Farina Wille & Joachim Globisch & Sandra Wassermann & Bert Droste-Franke & Wolfgang Hauser & Claudia Hofer & Lars, 2020. "Integrating Methods and Empirical Findings from Social and Behavioural Sciences into Energy System Models—Motivation and Possible Approaches," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-30, September.
    16. Elżbieta Kacperska & Katarzyna Łukasiewicz & Piotr Pietrzak, 2021. "Use of Renewable Energy Sources in the European Union and the Visegrad Group Countries—Results of Cluster Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-17, September.
    17. Yoro, Kelvin O. & Daramola, Michael O. & Sekoai, Patrick T. & Wilson, Uwemedimo N. & Eterigho-Ikelegbe, Orevaoghene, 2021. "Update on current approaches, challenges, and prospects of modeling and simulation in renewable and sustainable energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    18. Jacek Brożyna & Wadim Strielkowski & Aleš Zpěvák, 2023. "Evaluating the Chances of Implementing the “Fit for 55” Green Transition Package in the V4 Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-17, March.
    19. Jarosław Brodny & Magdalena Tutak & Wieslaw Wes Grebski, 2025. "A Holistic Assessment of Sustainable Energy Security and the Efficiency of Policy Implementation in Emerging EU Economies: A Long-Term Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-38, April.
    20. Małgorzata Trojanowska & Krzysztof Nęcka, 2020. "Selection of the Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making Method for Evaluation of Sustainable Energy Development: A Case Study of Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-24, November.

    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:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:18:p:4886-:d:1749359. 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.