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A Review Of Europe’S Transition From Fossil Fuels To Renewable Energy Using Circular Economy Principles

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  • Nicolae Pintilie

    (Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

More and more public and private organizations are trying to integrate the concept of circular economy into their daily operations. Given the existing pressures related to climate change, there are various debates in the literature on how to reduce the impact, and one of these debates is the use of renewable energy to the detriment of fossil fuels. This paper aims to create an image of the link between circular economy and the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy through specialized papers published between 2000 and 2020 and through statistics published by International Agencies such as Eurostat. In this way, this paper is based on the study and analysis of the updated databases regarding the mentioned indicators. Moreover, the paper also discusses different possibilities of circular economy use and how they can be integrated into the European body, with a positive effect on the society and environment. The study found that European Union energy supply is increasingly based on renewable resources, the use of fossil fuels being limited from one year to another. At the same time, even if in the last decades the European Union has been characterized by industrialization and urbanization, there can be seen a growing efficiency of the energy system in the conditions in which the GDP per capita had a fulminant growth of over 50%. Moving forward, one of the most interesting result of the paper is related to a massive concentration of works in the last two years of the period considered in the analysis. In other words, there is a great opportunity for more scientific research in the field. Despite this, researchers agree that the principles of the circular economy contribute to the conversion of the energy system, with positive effects on society, ensuring sustainability, productivity and efficient waste management. At the end, in order to support the energy transition, a number of institutions such as the European Investment Bank are supporting initiatives that aim to invest in objectives such as technologies which could adopt circular economy. The paper also presents possible limits of the research, but also future directions of its development.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolae Pintilie, 2021. "A Review Of Europe’S Transition From Fossil Fuels To Renewable Energy Using Circular Economy Principles," Business Excellence and Management, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 11(2), pages 95-107, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:rom:bemann:v:11:y:2021:i:2:p:95-107
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. repec:aud:audfin:v:20:y:2018:i:49:p:616 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Wei-Ming Chen & Hana Kim, 2019. "Circular economy and energy transition: A nexus focusing on the non-energy use of fuels," Energy & Environment, , vol. 30(4), pages 586-600, June.
    5. Korhonen, Jouni & Honkasalo, Antero & Seppälä, Jyri, 2018. "Circular Economy: The Concept and its Limitations," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 37-46.
    6. Mariana Vu?a & Mihai Vuta & Adrian Enciu & Sorin-Iulian Cioaca, 2018. "Assessment of the Circular Economy’s Impact in the EU Economic Growth," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 20(48), pages 248-248.
    7. Alexandru –Mircea Nedelea & Marilena Mironiuc & Maria Carmen Huian & Mihaela B?rsan & Maria Viorica Bedrule-Grigoruta, 2018. "Modeled Interdependencies between Intellectual Capital, Circular Economy and Economic Growth in the Context of Bioeconomy," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 20(49), pages 616-616, August.
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