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Sustainability assessment is the core instrument for implementing sustainable development targets. The energy sector is playing a crucial role in achieving sustainable development in the country, as energy consumption is the main driver of economic growth; it also has the biggest environmental impact, and therefore sustainability assessment in the energy sector requires special attention. Sustainability Assessment in the Energy Sector consists of seven chapters: in the first chapter, the sustainability concept is described; in the second chapter, sustainability assessment concepts are reviewed and discussed; in the third chapter, sustainability assessment tools and methods are summarized and described; in the fourth chapter, the main problems of sustainable energy development are addressed; in the fifth chapter, externalities in the energy sector are introduced; in the sixth chapter, sustainability assessment tools applicable to the energy sector are categorized; and finally, in the seventh chapter, practical examples of sustainability assessment in the energy sector are provided by covering sustainability assessment of electricity and district heat generation technologies. These methods include the assessment of external costs of electricity generation, sustainability assessment of electricity and transport technologies based on the GHG emission costs and carbon intensities of these technologies. The final chapter also discusses the sustainability assessment of policies and measures for energy sector development scenarios. The book was prepared by summarizing research findings in the field of sustainability assessment in the energy sector, which was conducted by the author of this book over a period of ten years.

The Evaluation of the Impact of Natural Monopolies on the National Economy and Competitiveness provides an original approach and develops an original model for analyzing and evaluating the impact of energy market liberalization on competitiveness of Lithuania. The main scientific objective of this monograph is to develop a model for the assessment of impact of natural monopolies on competitiveness and apply this model in the energy sector. It is the hope of the author to define the best measures for mitigating negative impacts of monopolies in the energy sector. The structure of the monograph is determined by its objectives and consists of four chapters. Chapter One is dedicated to setting the theoretical background and explain the relationship between natural monopolies and countries'competitiveness, analyzing concept, features of natural monopolies and reasons for their regulation, as well as its relation to economic subjects in the country. Chapter Two presents the broad review of the Lithuanian energy sector and natural monopolies in electricity, natural gas and district heat sectors; it discusses their liberalization processes and stages of market opening. Chapter Three analyses and systematizes results of studies dealing with the impacts of the energy market opening on energy prices and competiveness. Chapter Four presents the model for multi-criteria assessments of the impact of energy market liberalization on competitiveness of Lithuania and its empirical testing on the Lithuanian power sector.

This book presents the reader with an original model to evaluate unstable situations in economics worked out on the basis of logistic analysis. It allows for determining the dependence of such situations on the degree of market saturation. The model allows both for the recognition or evaluation of such situations and their efficient management. The book consists of five chapters. Chapter 1 surveys the works of various scholars who investigated unstable situations in the field of economics. Chapter 2 discusses the methods and models of unstable situation identification and introduces the classification of price bubbles and financial pyramids. It gives the substantiation of the price bubble duration cycle and the scheme of the reasons causing price bubble formation. Chapter 3 is devoted to the substantiation of the logistic model. It offers the formalization of the sequence of factors and reasons determining price bubble formation describes the mechanism of price bubble formation and extends a new definition of the price bubble. It also discusses the logistic model which can be successfully used for the evaluation of unstable economic situations that encompasses the logistic models of financial pyramid evaluation. The given model allows evaluating the dependence of unstable economic situations on the degree of market saturation. Chapter 4 discusses the worked out model to evaluate unstable situations in economics applied for the analysis of economic situations. Chapter 5 is devoted to the formalisation of the conception of sustained development as well as management of sustained development with the use of the logistic analytical models.