Utilization of Renewable Energy Sources in Road Transport in EU Countries—TOPSIS Results

Joanna Kisielińska, Monika Roman, Piotr Pietrzak, Michał Roman, Katarzyna Łukasiewicz and Elżbieta Kacperska
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Joanna Kisielińska: Management Institute, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Monika Roman: Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Piotr Pietrzak: Management Institute, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Michał Roman: Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Katarzyna Łukasiewicz: Management Institute, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Elżbieta Kacperska: Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 22, 1-18

Abstract: The primary aim of this study was to assess and compare EU countries in terms of the use of renewable energy sources in road transport. The following research tasks were undertaken to realize this aim: (1) a review of the literature concerning the negative externalities in road transport, the concept of sustainable development, and legal regulations referring to the utilization of renewable energy sources; (2) presentation of changes in energy consumption (both traditional and renewable) in road transport in EU countries in the years 2008–2019; and (3) identification of leaders among the EU countries in terms of consumption of renewable energy sources in road transport. The aim and tasks were realized using the literature review and TOPSIS method as well as descriptive, tabular, and graphic methods. The analysis was conducted for 28 EU countries according to the status for 2019. The period of 2008–2019 was investigated. Sources of materials included literature on the subject and Eurostat data. Although renewable energy sources accounted for as little as 6% of total energy consumption in road transport in EU countries in 2019, this is a significant topical issue. It results from the direction in which changes need to be implemented in terms of energy generation in this area of human activity. It turned out that blended biodiesel and blended biogasoline were the most commonly used fuels originating from renewable sources. The application of the TOPSIS method resulted in the identification of five groups of EU member countries, which differed in terms of the degree of utilization of renewable energy sources in road transport. Luxemburg, Sweden, and Austria were leaders in this respect. In turn, Malta, Estonia, and Croatia were characterized by very low consumption of renewable energy. The greatest progress in the utilization of renewable energy sources in road transport was recorded in Sweden, Finland, and Bulgaria (changes in the relative closeness to the ideal solution from 0.15 to 0.27), while the greatest reduction in relation to other countries was observed in Austria, Germany, and Lithuania (changes from ?0.35 to ?0.22).

Keywords: road transport; renewable energy sources; energy consumption; TOPSIS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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