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Evaluating Renewable Energy Sustainability by Composite Index

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Dragos Cîrstea

    (Electrical Power Systems and Management Department, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Cluj Napoca, 26-28 Baritiu Street, 400027 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Calin Moldovan-Teselios

    (Sociology Department, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, Babes-Bolyai University, Anghel Saligny Street, 400609 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Andreea Cîrstea

    (Accounting and Audit Department, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Babes-Bolyai University, 58-60 Theodor Mihaly, 400591 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Antoniu Claudiu Turcu

    (Electrical Power Systems and Management Department, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Cluj Napoca, 26-28 Baritiu Street, 400027 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Cosmin Pompei Darab

    (Electrical Power Systems and Management Department, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Cluj Napoca, 26-28 Baritiu Street, 400027 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

Abstract

Renewable energy is a global interest area in achieving sustainable development. Renewable energy sustainability has been assessed using the most commonly used dimensions of this concept: economic, environmental, social, and institutional dimensions. In this paper, we designed a composite index named the Renewable Energy Sustainability Index. The proposed index may represent a national monitoring mechanism that points out the strengths and weaknesses of a state in terms of renewable energy. The data were normalized by calculating the z-score. We tested the proposed index on a selection of 15 European countries ranked by final energy consumption and with different levels of development. The Kayser-Mayer-Olkin values were above the 0.700 limit, which indicates the robustness of each dimension. The proposed index reveals the development stages of renewable energy sustainability and can provide solutions to increase the sustainability of a country by improving positive impact indicators and mitigating negative impact indicators.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Dragos Cîrstea & Calin Moldovan-Teselios & Andreea Cîrstea & Antoniu Claudiu Turcu & Cosmin Pompei Darab, 2018. "Evaluating Renewable Energy Sustainability by Composite Index," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:3:p:811-:d:136297
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