Taxonomic Analysis of the Diversity in the Level of Wind Energy Development in European Union Countries

Katarzyna Chudy-Laskowska, Tomasz Pisula, Mirosław Liana and László Vasa
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Katarzyna Chudy-Laskowska: Department of Quantitative Methods, Faculty of Management, Rzeszow University of Technology, al. Powstancow W-wy 10, 35959 Rzeszow, Poland
Tomasz Pisula: Department of Quantitative Methods, Faculty of Management, Rzeszow University of Technology, al. Powstancow W-wy 10, 35959 Rzeszow, Poland
Mirosław Liana: Department of Quantitative Methods, Faculty of Management, Rzeszow University of Technology, al. Powstancow W-wy 10, 35959 Rzeszow, Poland
László Vasa: Management Campus, Széchenyi István University, Egyetem tér 1, 9026 Győr, Hungary

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 17, 1-21

Abstract: In this paper, the development of the wind energy sector in 28 European Union countries in 2017 is described. By means of taxonomic methods—i.e., Ward’s method and the Wroclaw taxonomic methods—clusters of countries similar in terms of their potential and level of development of the wind energy sector in the EU are distinguished. The main purpose of the paper is to separate and cluster EU countries due to the current development potential of the wind energy sector and determinants stimulating the development of this sector. By means of the ranking methods of linear ordering (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution—TOPSIS method), a ranking of EU countries that defines their position in the development of this very important wind energy sector was determined. The results show that the research hypothesis of a great diversity of EU countries considering the development potential of the wind energy sector is justified. The countries of the former European Union, which have focused for a long time on the development of wind energy in their energy policy and have had favorable climate and natural conditions, as well as a large social acceptance of programs supporting the acquisition of energy from renewable sources, have primacy in the development ranking of the energy sector. Additionally, new members of the union, in spite of some delays associated with the development of “green” energy, are trying to increase their energy potential in this area. The research may be extended to include further analyses regarding other renewable energy sources and take into account other European and world countries.

Keywords: renewable energy; wind energy development; cluster analysis; TOPSIS method (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: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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