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This paper delves into an econometric analysis to uncover the differences between Nordic European Countries - NEC (Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden) and South-East European Countries - SEEC (Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary). The focus is on exploring the interplay among electricity generation from Renewable Energy Sources (RES), CO 2 emissions, urban population and GDP per capita in these two European regions. The study employs cross-sectional dependence, first and second-generation panel unit root tests, Pedroni panel and Westerlund panel cointegration tests, ARDL, Dumitrescu-Hurlin causality test to establish the relation among variables. The findings reveal that in both regions, CO 2 emissions are significantly influenced by GDP per capita, urbanization and RES generation. Furthermore, urbanization plays an important role. When examining causality in SEEC, three bidirectional relationships are observed: urbanization and CO 2 , urbanization and GDP, urbanization and generation from RES, and two unidirectional causalities: CO 2 and GDP, generation from RES and CO 2. In contrast, for the NEC, there are two bidirectional causalities: urbanization and CO 2 , urbanization and generation from RES, and two unidirectional causalities: GDP and CO 2 , generation from RES and CO 2. These results highlight the nuanced and varied nature of environmental and economic dynamics across various European regions. • Relationship between CO 2 emissions, GDP per capita and electricity production from RES. • Investigating two groups of EU countries located in the North and SE Europe. • Estimations with Fully Modified and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares. • Causality and cointegration between variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Examines the effect of banking performance on renewable energy consumption (REC). • Improved banking performance enhances renewable energy consumption globally. • Heterogenous effect of the relationship between banking performance and REC across income groups. • Market capitalization, asset quality and managerial inefficiency explain REC in HI countries. • Return on asset, market capitalization, asset quality and z-score explain REC in MI and LC countries. • Heterogenous effect of the relationship between banking performance and REC types is observed. To secure future universal access to modern energy, large investments in renewable energy technology are required. This paper estimates the impact of five banking sector performance indicators (return on asset, market capitalisation, asset quality, managerial efficiency and financial stability) on renewable energy consumption for a global panel consisting of 124 countries. The study used two-step system-GMM panel model to handle potential endogeneity and serial correlation. The paper considers three homogenous subpanels which are constructed based on the income group classification (high-, middle-, and low-income countries). Generally, our results show that improved banking sector performance enhances renewable energy consumption, with heterogenous effect across income group classification. For high -income (HI) countries, an increase in bank size together with improved asset quality and managerial efficiency have positive effects on renewable energy consumption. For middle-income (MI) and low-income (LI) countries, a high return on asset, an increase in bank size and financial stability are positive determinants of renewable energy consumption. We also find heterogenous effect of banking performance indicators across various renewable energy consumption types. The results highlight the importance of a well-functioning bank sector to achieve the investment in renewable energy needed to meet future energy demand and simultaneous decrease CO 2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen (H 2) can be a critical factor in achieving a more sustainable society reducing carbon emissions worldwide in the long run. However, there are some challenges to be solved yet. One of these challenges is that, right now, the economical competitiveness of electrolysis production strongly depends on the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) availability. This paper analyzes the economic and environmental implications of complementing the power supply of a H 2 production plant that usually operates using only RES with grid electricity during the time RES are not available. For performing this analysis, we proposed an assessment model that incorporates Alkaline (ALK) and PEM electrolyzer technology features (such as the low dynamic load range of ALK electrolyzers, which is usually ignored when modeling H 2 production). Moreover, we introduce a new metric, named the LCOH&E, which captures the existing trade-off between reducing the Levelized Cost Of Hydrogen (LCOH) with more H 2 production using grid electricity and increasing CO 2 emissions by producing more H 2 with grid electricity. We illustrate the proposed assessment model with a case study based on real data from Chile. Our results show that the optimal fraction of grid electricity to be used in producing H 2 may be different when minimizing the LCOH and when minimizing the LCOH&E because of the LCOH-CO 2 emissions' trade off. Moreover, it is remarkable that using only 10% of grid electricity in an ALK electrolyzer, it is possible to increase the H 2 production in 25.7%, without significantly increasing the CO 2 emission level. • This paper analyzes the value of adding grid electricity to a pure RES H 2 production plant. • The Levelized Cost of Hydrogen and CO 2 emissions are obtained for Alkaline and PEM electrolyzers. • We combine the Levelized Cost of H 2 and the CO 2 emissions in a single cost function to optimize. • The assessment model incorporates crucial ALK and PEM technology features of the H 2 production. • Using only 10% of grid electricity in an ALK electrolyzer, H 2 production can increase 25.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]