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This study's main goal is to evaluate how the research will look at the impact of geothermal energy production on the quality of the subterranean in the 27 European nations from 1990 to 2021. A considerable decline in the subterranean water supply can occur in EU14 emerging nations employing geothermal energy growth compared to EU13 emerging economies, according to research that uses the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL). Fossil fuel use, population growth, and economic expansion are some factors that have a more detrimental effect on the subterranean water supply in EU14 emerging economies than in EU13 emerging nations. In contrast, the study's findings indicate that EU13 emerging nations may be better able to enhance their underground water supply than EU14 emerging economies because of more effective institutional qualities. The findings so indicate that increasing the amount of geothermal energy generation among the 27 European Union countries can accelerate subsurface water degradation at a high capacity and help achieve unionism's 2030 energy-related goals. When this is achieved, climate change will be put to check, as pollution of the environment. All calculations projected were seen to be of a good level of validity, and this is ascertained through three estimators considered in this study.

There are many advantages of geothermal energy as an environmentally friendly resource; however, there are quite a several challenges that need to be overcome to completely harness sustainable and renewable energy that is also natural. The primary aim of this study is to examine what influence geothermal energy will have on land use changes among the considered 27 states in the European Union from the time being 1990 to 2021. The study adopts the auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL); the findings show that geothermal energy growth could be leveraged to achieve remarkable growth in land use change among the 13 European developing economies than among the 14 EU developed economies. On the other hand, results from analysis further show that a remarkable decrease in land use change could be better attained among the 14 EU developed economies that among the 13 EU developing economies as a result of institutional quality. Furthermore, the result suggests that through economic growth, there could be a remarkable increase in land use change among the 14 EU developed economies than among the 13 EU developing economies. It was further revealed by the study that the level of land use change among the 27 EU nations could be remarkably increased, boosting the level of geothermal energy production that will assist in attaining the aims behind the 2030 energy union. This will eventually help in curbing the incidence of climate change and pollution in the environment; the projected calculations are observed to be valid, as confirmed through the chosen three estimators for this research. The chosen estimators are the pooled mean group, mean group, and dynamic fixed effect. The regulations and governors in 27 European Union countries should give priority to using geothermal in their renewable energy mix to reduce the incidence of changes in land structures. Also, an increased level of efficiency and effectiveness should be made to the generation of geothermal energy by state actors and investors to prompt sustainability and attainability with no further depreciation in agricultural and forest natural states.

There are many advantages of the hydropower industry, as an environmentally friendly resource, and also some challenges that need to be overcome to fully exploit this sustainable and renewable natural resource. The primary objective of this study is to find out the impact of hydropower factors and economic growth on the agriculture industry output among the EU27 nations within the time factor 1990 to 2021. Adopting the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL), the findings show a significant positive effect could occur in agriculture industry growth of the European Union (EU13)-emerging economies using hydropower factors than in EU14-emerged economies. On one hand, among additional factors, economic growth and institutional quality contribute more positively to agriculture growth in EU13 economies than in EU14 economies. On the other hand, population density contributes more negatively to agriculture growth in EU13 economies than in EU14 economies. The findings show there can be a positive significant growth increase in the EU13 agriculture industry using fossil fuel output than in EU14 economies. The results show that growth could be sustained in the agricultural industry of the European nations by increasing the level of hydropower production as this will help in attaining sustainable development by the year 2030. This will therefore help in mitigating the effect of climatic changes due to environmental pollution. The projected calculations were seen to be reliable and valid and this was attested to by the three estimators used in the study (pooled mean group, mean group, and dynamic fixed effect). This study recommended that European nations could leverage hydroelectricity to achieve sustainable growth and development. The legislative arms of the government of these European nations should as well show more interest in green energy to achieve security and sustainable development in hydroelectricity production. Decision-makers in the EU nations should buttress more emphasis on sustainable means through which hydropower could be used to attain sustainable irrigation systems for the agriculture industry and thus minimize the demand for fossil fuels and reduce CO2-related emissions in the future tine ahead.

As a substantially capital-intensive venture, the distribution network of the geothermal business is disproportionately clustered around the project designing phase. The profound geothermal industry is broad, and consequently the geothermal economy differs substantially from one place to another. The primary goal of this study is to analyze the effect of factors relating to global competitiveness along with economic growth on the sustainability of geothermal energy among European 27 countries. Employing auto regressive distributing lag (ARDL), the major findings suggest that a significant rise in the geothermal power production sustainable development can occur in the 14 European Union emerged economies applying global competitiveness criteria than in EU13 developing economies. Among additional criteria, a conducive environment, intellectual capital, market shares, as well as an innovation ecosystem contributes more significantly to the sustainability of geothermal energy among the 14 classed as established in this research than the 13 emerging economies. The results suggest that geothermal power sustainability among the European countries regions could attain a sustainable increased level of geothermal energy generation by putting in place the necessary global competitiveness determinants for the EU 2030 Energy Union goals to be achieved. The attainment of these Energy Union goals will assist in combating climate change and fighting environmental pollution. Three estimators were adopted to confirm that all calculated projections made in the study are said to be valid. The global competitiveness measures should be made better effective by the EU nations and this will help in achieving a pollution-free society and environment. Authorities in charge of policy and law-making in the EU regions should participate more in global competitiveness for geothermal energy production to become sustainable. Cointegrated strategies that will promote sustainability should be stressed by policymakers in the EU. This will go a long way in reducing the level of carbon dioxide emissions and also in promoting sustainability in the area of geothermal power generation.

This research explores the impact of hydropower growth on fish supply in European Union Region nations from 1990 to 2019. Using the panel fully modified ordinary least squares, the outcome exhibits the reduced fish supply with the growth in hydropower production. Also, human population density and growth economics were found to be decreasing fish supply and their habitats. While institutional quality and expenditure were found to be increasing fish species and numbers, the finding implies that fish supply in the European Union Region could efficiently be minimized by boosting the quantity of hydropower production with operational procedures. This can ultimately add more burden on an already degraded natural resource and negative environmental impacts. The predicted outcomes are confirmed by dummy panel ordinary least squares and pooled ordinary least squares thus, thought to be valid. The research advised the European Union nations to develop the efficiency and productivity of hydropower in the energy mix to lessen the carbon dioxide releases. The authorities from these nations should further participate in the sustainability of hydropower industry growth by exploring the probability of the unified river managing structures to resolve conflicting economic, political, and ecological benefits. The government of the said nations can similarly stress the sustainability of the hydropower output to reach energy certainty and conservation of fish resources to achieve food security.

This research investigates the effect of hydropower yields on water quality in European Union participating nations from 1990 to 2019. Integrating the panel fully modified ordinary least squares, the outcomes show that water quality degradation increase with a rise in hydropower production growth. Similarly, fossil fuel, economic growth and population density are found to be increasing water resource pollution. While institutional quality is found to decrease water quality degradation and water resource pollution. The finding implies that water quality degradation in the EU27 region can be effectively increased by increasing the amount of hydropower production in sustainability procedures. This will increasingly influence the status of climate change. The evaluated outcomes are observed to be valid as they were authenticated with the panel dynamic ordinary least square and pooled ordinary least square. Therefore, it attests to the paper's uniqueness, input to the body of knowledge and novelty. The research suggests that for EU27 nations have to enhance the role of the hydropower industry in their energy mix to achieve Energy Union objectives taking into consideration the water resources pollution factor. Authorities in these nations must also focus more on investing in the growth of the hydropower industry to add more to its production and availability of renewable energy and decrease water quality degradation. The government of these nations can similarly stress the competence and sustainability of hydropower production and water resource conservation to reach energy security and reduce water quality degradation.

This investigation intends to answer the question of whether worldwide governance indicators have an impact on the improvement of the hydropower industry in 28 European Union (EU) countries from 1996 until 2018. Applying the panel fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), the outcomes demonstrate the inclined hydropower industry growth and an increase in worldwide governance indicators. While opinions and responsibilities, governmental steadiness, effective governance, judicial enforcement, quality administration, and control of fraudulent conduct were found to expand the hydropower industry growth. The results illustrate that hydropower industry growth in EU28 states is well increased by improving the quality of worldwide governance indicators in production and operation procedures. Ultimately, it will help in the global warming discussions. The evaluated outcomes are believed to be justifiably validated by panel dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and pooled ordinary least squares (OLS). The paper endorsed in the EU28 region to expand the role hydropower industry in worldwide governance to achieve hydropower growth and lessen CO2 releases. The authorities in the EU28 region should have more financial aid in hydropower governance to improve its hydroelectricity production and availability. The EU28 region administrations can focus on the efficacy of hydropower governance to attain hydroelectricity guarantee, sustainability, and to lessen traditional oil dependency, correspondingly.

The bioenergy industry is a proven option to replace fossil fuels in the heat supply and partly in the transport sector and generation of electricity. The study aims to investigate the empirical model of whether bioenergy use and institutional quality increase forest destruction in the European Union 28 countries covering the period 1990–2018, using the pooled ordinary least squares (pooled OLS), fixed effect, random effect, and least square dummy variable corrected. The findings indicate that bioenergy use within an institutional framework significantly contributes to a reduction in forest degradation regardless of the development status of countries in the region. This shows that efficient institutions and governments can significantly contribute to reducing forest degradation in the region especially in developed countries. Thus, policy-makers should stimulate the sustainability criteria of bioenergy application end-uses, intensify the quality of institutions, and ensure bioenergy use under effective governance.

This research analyzes the influence of bioenergy use on food supply in the 28 European Union (EU) countries under the governance quality system in 1990–2018. We used the pooled ordinary least squares technique and found that bioenergy growth (under the quality governance system), fossil fuel, and gross domestic product appears to increase food supply more in 13 European Union (EU13) underdeveloped countries. On the other hands, governance quality and population density have greatly affected food supply in 15 European Union developed countries (EU15) compared with EU13 European countries. These findings imply that the number of bioenergy resources which could be used directly in agricultural food chain end-use sectors will effectively increase food supply and thus contribute to the global warming objective. The results were verified by the pooled least squares (Pooled OLS) and fixed effect methods. The study recommends that the Member States of the European Union increase bioenergy in the energy mix to improve food supply, as systematic output does not compete with food-producing resources. The authorities should illustrate organized food supply and bioenergy policy by developing alternative strategies for reducing fossil fuel power and related CO2 emissions, according to the unique characteristics of both developed and developing countries in the EU.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the profit efficiency of bioenergy industry and its determinants in EU28 region roadmaps for the transition towards energy efficiency which is increasingly perceived by stakeholders, researchers and the public as a pathway to bring dependency on fossil resources to a significant reduction. Many studies overlooked the importance of profit efficiency as a factor for bioenergy industry business improvement. More so, external environmental variables can play a key role in achieving profit efficiency in the industry. Design/methodology/approach This paper seeks to answer the questions on the following: (1) the profit efficiency level using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach in the EU28 region during the period between 1990 and 2018; and (2) to explore the impacts of external environmental variables on the profit efficiency level using panel regression model in the EU28 region during the period between 1990 and 2018. Findings Results revealed that gross domestic product, size of biomass and investment are essential for the development of the bioenergy industry and positively influence on profit efficiency level. The increase in temperature change decreased the profit efficiency level during 1990–2018. Research limitations/implications For those profit-inefficient bioenergy industries in countries such as Cyprus and Ireland, participation in innovative programs, expanding a knowledge-based economic system and implementation of support policy for bioenergy technologies, by investing in biomass sources that are suitable for their respective renewable energy development will enhance specialization, resource efficiency and improved profitability can be expected in future. Originality/value Unlike other previous studies, this study investigated the profit efficiency by applying the DEA statistical method. Moreover, the authors have applied a second regression analysis to estimate the impacts of macroeconomic and microeconomic variables on the profit efficiency level. This study has focused on the EU28 region, including both developed and developing countries, to compare the level of profit efficiency levels in the selected sample. The authors have applied data panel analysis for the period from 1990 to 2018. No previous study has applied the methods, samples and periods as those used in this study. Therefore, this study contributes significantly to the bioenergy industry specifically and the renewable energy industry in general and to the associated extant research.

PurposeThis research explores the effect of bioenergy use on carbon dioxide releases in 28 European Union (EU-28) affiliated members starting from 1990 to 2018.Design/methodology/approachApplying panels' fixed effect (FE) estimator and random effect (RE) estimator, the regressed findings are highly validated as they were robust by panel least square dummy variable corrected (LSDVC) and pooled ordinary least square (Pooled OLS) estimators.FindingsThe findings claimed that carbon dioxide releases decrease with an incline in bioenergy use and trade openness. On the other hand, fossil-fuel and economic growth indicators mounting carbon dioxide releases. The result implies that carbon dioxide releases in EU-28 region members can be mitigated significantly by mounting the quantity bioenergy use in generation channel. This will mostly participate in combating environmental pollution.Practical implicationsThe study suggests for EU28 region members to enhance the portion of bioenergy in their fuel access to decrease emitted carbon dioxide. Governors in EU28 members should mainly encourage bioenergy expansion to raise its security and availability. The politicians of the EU28 members must assert on efficacy and productivity of bioenergy production to achieve energy accessibility and decrease dependency on conventional energy.Originality/valueThis research applies the recently improved model, the panel data analysis approach, which considered for the first-class impacts of estimators on the dependent variable and deals with the several problems of the common Pooled OLS estimator's manner and performance. Finally, this research contributes to the previous studies on ecological sustainability by examining the presence correlation among carbon dioxide emissions, bioenergy sustainability, trade openness, fossil fuel and gross domestic product in the EU28 region. Hence, it proves our research novelty, originality and contribution to the body of knowledge.

Water is an essential component of agriculture-food production. As the biomass and biofuel are known excellent sources of renewable and sustainable energy, cultivating process consumes significant quantities of water. Without sufficient, good-quality and easily accessible water, the European agriculture-food production could thus be under threat. This research analyses the impact of the water supply on the bioenergy production in the 28 European Union countries, for the 1990-2018 period within the pathway of the European Union 2030 agenda for sustainable development. The findings using the generalised least squares (GLS) technique show that bioenergy production and population density appear to decrease water supply. Precisely, the magnitude of the effects is - 0.224 and - 0.136 for developing countries and developed countries in the EU, respectively. This indicates that a serious reduction of water security is more likely to happen in developed countries than in developing countries as a result of the increase in bioenergy consumption. In the meantime, fossil fuel, income generation activities and institutional quality have already positively affected water supply. Thus, these findings implied that water scarcity is becoming one of the main obstacles for bioenergy expansion and growth. The results were also further verified by the random effect and pooled oriented least squares method. This study recommends that the Member of the European Union States should continue to increase bioenergy production in the energy mix efforts without any strenuous water security issues. Notwithstanding, there are several situations where a developing bioenergy industry is unlikely to be constrained by water shortage, and with the drive of bioenergy demand, the efforts might unlock new opportunities to adapt to water-related challenges and to improve water usage efficiencies. The authorities should illustrate organised water security and sustainable bioenergy policy by way of developing alternative strategies in reducing fossil fuel power and related CO2 emissions, accordingly to the unique characteristics of both developed and developing countries in the EU.

There are many advantages of geothermal energy, as an environmental friend resource. This heat radiation emanating from beneath the earth's surface presents man with good opportunities to harness it and makes a good level of agricultural food production and its processing in the EU region. The primary objective of this research is to examine the impact of geothermal energy on agri-food supply among the 27 European countries (EU27), within the time frame 1990 to 2021. The study adopted the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL), and the findings from this study revealed that agri-food supply can increase significantly among the 13 European countries (EU13 emerging economies), leveraging on geothermal energy and economic growth variables than in the EU14 emerged economies. Furthermore, the outcome of this study showed that there could be a significant decrease in the food products coming from agricultural practices among the 13 European countries (EU13 emerging economies), due to an ineffective population density than in EU14 emerged economies. Furthermore, fossil fuel and institutional quality contribute more positively to the agri-food supply in the EU14 emerged economies than in the EU13 emerging economies. This results in an outcome that means that the agri-food supply among the EU13 emerging economies could be greatly boosted by replacing fossil fuel consumption with geothermal energy, and this facilitates the attainment of the European energy goals by the year 2030. Substituting fossil fuels with geothermal will also assist in minimizing the risks of environmental pollution and climate change. All projected calculations were seen as valid in this study, and this was confirmed by the three estimators adopted which are the pooled mean group, the mean group, and the dynamic fixed effect. This study, therefore, recommends that the 27 European countries should lay more emphasis on geothermal energy production as this will help in ensuring food security in the region. Policymakers and other government authorities as well as local and foreign investors should make more investments in geothermal energy resources as this study has proven that this will lead to agri-food security and sustainability. Not only this, it will as well curb the incidence of climate change and environmental pollution.

There are many advantages of geothermal energy, as an environmentally friendly resource, with some other problems to be addressed before the full potential of this sustainable and renewable resource, which is natural, could be harnessed. This research will aim to examine what effect ICT, that is, information and communication technology factors with sustainability in the economy, has on geothermal energy output among the considered 27 EU nations within the time frame 1990 to 2021. The novelty of this research is the ability to clarify the role of ICT toward geothermal power sustainability in the EU27 region. As well as the magnitude of effects of ICT on the geothermal power sustainability in EU13 developing countries and EU14 developed countries using the ARDL estimator. Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) was adopted, and the findings show that a significant increase in the geothermal energy industry sustainability can occur in EU14 emerged economies using ICT factors than among the 13 emerging economies. Among additional factors, human capital, economic sustainability, and institutional quality contribute more positively to geothermal energy sustainability in EU14 emerging economies than in EU13 emerging economies. Similarly, further results show that a remarkable decrease in carbon dioxide emissions can occur in EU13 emerging economies using geothermal energy output than in EU14 emerged economies. All these results outputs are an indication that geothermal power sustainability among the European Union countries could be remarkably boosted by increasing the level of ICT determinants to attain the 2030 energy union goals. This study recommends that the considered European countries should prioritize the good functionality of ICT indicators in attaining societal objectives and that of the environment as well.

This study aims to investigate the impacts of information, communication, and technology (ICT) factors and economic growth on the hydropower output in the European Union (EU) states from 1990 to 2021. Adopting the autoregressive distributed lag, findings from this study revealed that there could be a significant increase in the hydropower industry growth in EU14 emerging economies using ICT factors than in EU13 emerging economies. It was also discovered that economic growth makes more of a significant contribution to hydropower growth in EU13 emerging economies than in EU14 emerging economies. Findings from this study further revealed that there could be a significant decrease in the carbon dioxide emissions among the EU14 emerged economies using hydropower output than in EU13 emerging economies. This points to the fact that hydropower growth in EU region countries could significantly be enhanced by increasing the level of ICT determinants to achieve Energy Union aims by 2030. This will as well be effective in minimizing or reducing the risk effect of climate change and environmental pollution. Using the pooled mean group, mean group, and dynamic fixed effect methods, the projected calculations are observed to be valid and this study recommended that EU nations should intensify the use of ICT in achieving sustainable environmental and societal goals. The sustainability and security of hydropower production could also be enhanced through legislation. Lawmakers should become active in the green ICT aspects.

Information and communication technology has been ascribed a crucial role in raising resource and energy efficiency and thereby contributing to environmental abatement. This study investigates the effect of information and communication technology on bioenergy industry sustainability in twenty-seven European Union members from 1990 through 2019. Using the panel fully modified ordinary least squares, the outcomes demonstrate that bioenergy industry growth inclines with an increase in information and communication technology input. While the bioenergy industry is found to be decreasing carbon dioxide releases. Economic growth, institutional quality, and human capital are seen to improve the bioenergy industry growth. On the other hand, bioenergy industry development is found to be mitigating carbon dioxide and pollution. The result indicates that bioenergy industry sustainability in EU region members can be well inclined by improving the information and communication technology development in production procedures. This will later help in tackling environmental pollution and climate change. The assessed outcome is viewed to be valid as they were confirmed by panel dynamic ordinary least squares and pooled ordinary least squares. The investigation proposes for European state participants to increase the part of information and communication technology input in their bioenergy industry to increase the growth and sustainability levels. Policymakers in the EU region countries should also invest more in information and communication technology of the bioenergy industry to improve its production and availability. The government of the EU region can similarly focus on technical efficacy, productivity, and sustainability of information and communication technology to achieve bioenergy growth, security, and sustainable development.

The purpose of this research is to examine the correlation between the bioenergy industry and economic outgrowth. This study investigates the growth hypothesis within the setting of conventional Cobb–Douglas production theory from 1990 to 2013 in the EU-28 region. The authors use unit root test approach, panel cointegration analysis, cointegration assessment methods, and heterogeneous panel causality estimation analysis. The study found that bio-energy sector factors (human capital, physical capital and consumption) have a positive and significant impact on economic growth. Also, that there is a long-term stable relation among the bioenergy consumption and economic outgrowth. Heterogeneous panel causality estimations outcomes are consistent with the growth hypothesis in developed countries, feedback hypothesis in European Union area, and neutrality hypothesis in underdeveloped countries. Reference to the panel data set, the three models’ results boost the hypothesis. Given the findings, the study derived that there is a significant influence from the bioenergy industry on economic growth in EU-28 region.

This study contributes to the existing literature by examining bioenergy consumption and related factors in continental European countries (ECC). This study extends the current research through its focus on the ECC, which mainly consists of nationwide studies. This study analyses the determinants of bioenergy consumption in the ECC from 2005-2013, estimates its economic variables and evaluates the influence of each variable on bioenergy consumption and related significance level. A generalised method of moments estimator (GMM) was designed for ECC. The estimated models show that bioenergy capital input (CI) positively impacts bioenergy consumption. The most influential factor on use was the price of bioenergy (PR) followed by investment (INV), then gross domestic product (GDP). These results should be considered and used as a tool to develop legislation and policies that could benefit the bioenergy sector in ECC. The evidence shows that CI, INV, and PR have been the primary keys in improving bioenergy consumption in recent years in ECC countries. Thus, they have advanced the efficiency of bioenergy consumption.

The Treaty of European Union (EU) sets out the EU vision for sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress, and a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment. This led us to ask whether or not social business development stimulates the development of the bioenergy sector in the EU28 countries. Given the increasing rates of energy insecurity, environmental pollution, poverty, and unemployment, countries are switching to alternative energy sources that might promote social business development, climate change, and environmental quality. In this scenario, the bioenergy industry has received the attention of scholars and policymakers alike. The role social business development can play in the growth of the bioenergy industry remains uncertain, therefore, further investigation is necessary. This study, therefore, explores the relationships between the bioenergy industry and social business development indicators related to zero emissions, zero poverty, and zero unemployment for EU28 region countries from 1990 to 2018. Empirical evidence is based on the use of a new economic model, dynamic panel co-integration simulations (Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square, Dynamic Ordinary Least Square, and Pooled Ordinary Least Square). The results reveal a negative relationship between EU28′s bioenergy industry growth and carbon dioxide emissions, vulnerable employment, and unemployment rate, suggesting that bioenergy industry growth helps reduce pollution and unemployment. Likewise, bioenergy industry growth increases food supply, economic growth, and female employment and might be the best alternative to fossil fuels. Necessary policy related to bioenergy industry growth can be formulated, especially in achieving the sustainable development goals for social businesses.

Bioenergy industry is a proven option to replace fossil fuels in the heat supply and partly in the transport sector and generation of electricity. The aim of this study is to investigate the empirical model pertaining whether bioenergy use and institutional quality impact forestry destruction in European Union countries. To achieve this, a selection of 28 European countries covering 1990–2018 was employed. Also, the Pooled OLS, Fixed Effect, Random Effect and Least Square Dummy Variable Corrected approaches were applied to regress the developed model. The findings referred that bioenergy use within institutional framework significantly participated to reduce forest degradation in the European Union countries. In developed countries, institutional quality indicator was negatively pertained to forest degradation. This shows that efficient institutions and governments can add to reducing forest degradation in the developed countries in European Union. The reduction of forest degradation in European Union countries can be achieved by interacting bioenergy use and government effectiveness indicators. Thus, policy makers should (1) stimulate the sustainability criteria of bioenergy application end-uses (2) intensify the quality of institutions, and (3) ensure the bioenergy use under effective governance.

Water is an essential component of agriculture-food production. As the biomass and biofuel are known excellent sources of renewable and sustainable energy, cultivating process consumes significant quantities of water. Without sufficient, good-quality and easily accessible water, the European agriculture-food production could thus be under threat. This research analyses the impact of the water supply on the bioenergy production in the 28 European Union countries, for the 1990-2018 period within the pathway of the European Union 2030 agenda for sustainable development. The findings using the generalised least squares (GLS) technique show that bioenergy production and population density appear to decrease water supply. Precisely, the magnitude of the effects is - 0.224 and - 0.136 for developing countries and developed countries in the EU, respectively. This indicates that a serious reduction of water security is more likely to happen in developed countries than in developing countries as a result of the increase in bioenergy consumption. In the meantime, fossil fuel, income generation activities and institutional quality have already positively affected water supply. Thus, these findings implied that water scarcity is becoming one of the main obstacles for bioenergy expansion and growth. The results were also further verified by the random effect and pooled oriented least squares method. This study recommends that the Member of the European Union States should continue to increase bioenergy production in the energy mix efforts without any strenuous water security issues. Notwithstanding, there are several situations where a developing bioenergy industry is unlikely to be constrained by water shortage, and with the drive of bioenergy demand, the efforts might unlock new opportunities to adapt to water-related challenges and to improve water usage efficiencies. The authorities should illustrate organised water security and sustainable bioenergy policy by way of developing alternative strategies in reducing fossil fuel power and related CO

The objective of this research is to examine the impact of bioenergy usage on health outcomes, especially adult mortality in both developed and underdeveloped countries in the European Union, where the use of solid biomass is growing to generate bioheat, biocool, and biopower. Over the period studied, findings indicate that increased consumption of bioenergy has increased mortality rates in developed and underdeveloped EU28 countries during the period 1990–2018. This feedback proposes, using generalized least squares (GLS), that the resulting death rate from burning biomass-related cases is higher in the EU15 developed countries compared to EU13 underdeveloped countries. There is a need to lower burning biomass in the entire EU15 countries, more importantly its developed region, by critically evaluating the bioenergy production life cycle before it is available for final consumption. However, there is a continuous need to intensify stringent production procedures in the bioenergy industry in EU15 countries, more importantly the imported biomass crops for energy use. There is also a need to be consistent with the campaign on the usage of bioenergy products, i.e., bioheat, bioelectricity, and biofuels, particularly in the rural areas where the use of wood fuels for cooking, heating, and cooling are significant in EU15 developed countries in comparison to EU13 developing countries.

Most previous bioenergy industry studies have focused on how to achieve a specific level of production. However, very few studies concentrate on the cost and the allocative and technical efficiency methods to achieve rational resource utilization. In light of the increase in the bioenergy industry's economic competitiveness within the energy market through proper allocation and utilization of available resources, this article analyzed the impact of country-specific and macroeconomic determinants of cost efficiency rate in the bioenergy industry in the EU28 zone. The fixed effects and random effect models have been used through the unbalanced data panel analysis method to examine the effect of EU28 region countries' development status and external economic determinants on the level of cost efficiency in the bioenergy industry in EU28. The findings show that the cost efficiency rate of the bioenergy industry among developing members are equal to those of developed members. The empirical results appear to suggest that cost efficiency has a different influence on the technical and allocative efficiency levels. It was found that capital cost, labor cost, GDP, inflation and interest rate affect the cost efficiency of the bioenergy industry in EU28 developing and developed members during the period of this study.

This study examined the impact of worldwide governance indicators on the sustainability of the bioenergy industry in selected European countries for the period 1996–2018. Applying the Fixed Effect (FE) Model, the results reveal that the bioenergy industry can significantly grow by improving the quality of worldwide governance indicators in European countries, especially in Western European Countries (WEC). Government effectiveness, rule of law, regulatory quality, and voice and accountability are found to be increasing the growth of the bioenergy industry. Precisely, the results further show that the magnitude of the effect of government effectiveness, voice and accountability, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on bioenergy output is higher in Western European Countries (WEC) as compared to the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). Also, the findings further elaborate that the significant positive impact of regulatory quality and rule of law on bioenergy output is higher in CEEC countries compared to the WEC countries. The finding implies that the growth of the bioenergy industry in European countries can be effectively increased by improving the practice and quality of worldwide governance indicators. The study recommends for European countries to increase the efficiency of worldwide governance in their bioenergy industry to increase the sustainability of bioenergy production and reduce Dioxide Carbon (CO2) emissions. Policymakers in these countries should also invest more in worldwide governance to increase its effectiveness and transparency in the bioenergy industry. The authorities should equally emphasize the effectiveness and transparency of worldwide governance indicators to attain bioenergy security and lessen the dependence on fossil fuels.

This study improves upon and applies a comprehensive panel data simultaneous equation model to the European Union (EU28) region's bioenergy market. The goals are to estimate bioenergy quantities in domestic and international markets for the period from 1990 to 2013 and to apply a forecasting analysis for the EU28's domestic and international bioenergy markets for the period of 2014–2020. The results demonstrate that biomass harvest and the domestic price in a domestic market have a significant influence on the supply function. Additionally, domestic price has a negative relationship with the bioenergy market domestic demand. In international markets, competitive import prices play a primary role in the development of the bioenergy market import demand. Export prices and GDP also have primary influences on the export demand for bioenergy. Moreover, the exchange rate has a positive and significant effect on export demand. The results of a forecasting analysis for the future period of 2014–2020 has predicted slight increases in domestic supply, domestic demand, and import trends. On the other hand, it also predicted a sharp decline in the export demand trend between those same years. This study contributes to the literature by providing policymakers and other energy policy stakeholders a reliable, forward-looking analysis of the potential condition of the domestic and international bioenergy markets in the EU28 region through the end of 2020.

Most previous bioenergy industry research has concentrated on how to implement a certain level of yield. However, few articles have paid attention to rational resource allocation to increase efficiency. To enhance bioenergy production through proper use of available resources, this study identified the effects of internal (country-specific) and external (macroeconomic) determinants of technical efficiency level in the bioenergy industry for the EU28 region. The study was established based on a conceptual framework suggesting a correlation between input use and level of technical efficiency. A panel data analysis method was employed for the analysis and a panel regression analysis framework based on the Fixed Effect (FE) model and Random Effect (RE) model was used to examine the potential determinants of technical efficiency level in the bioenergy industry for the EU28 region for the period between 1990 and 2013. The results indicate that the technical efficiency level of the bioenergy industry in developing countries is higher than in developed countries. The empirical findings also suggest that technical efficiency has greater influence on pure technical efficiency levels. Capital input, labor input, gross domestic product, inflation and interest rate significantly affected the technical efficiency of the bioenergy industry in the developing and developed countries in the EU28 region during the period of this study. The findings clearly call for regulators and decision makers to review the technical efficiency level of the bioenergy industry within the EU28 region. This study also provides better information and guidance to the boards of the bioenergy industry, as they need to have a clear understanding of the influence technical efficiency has on bioenergy production performance. Moreover, the results of this study have implications for investors who focus mainly on profits from their investments.

Under the current European Union (EU) constitution approved in May 2018, EU countries ought to guarantee that estimated greenhouse-gas releases from land use, land-use change, or forestry are entirely compensated by an equivalent accounted removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air during the period between 2021 and 2030. This study investigates the effect of sustainable hydropower production on land-use change in the European Union (EU28) region countries during 1990–2018, using the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS). The results revealed that land-use change incline with an increase in hydropower energy production. In addition, economic growth, carbon dioxide emissions, and population density are found to be increasing land-use changes, while institutional quality is found to be decreasing land-use change significantly. The finding implies that land-use change in EU28 region countries can be significantly increased by mounting the amount of hydropower energy production to achieve Energy Union aims by 2030. This will finally be spread to combat climate change and environmental pollution. The findings are considered robust as they were checked with DOLS and pooled OLS. The research suggests that the EU28 countries pay attention to the share of hydropower in their renewable energy combination to minimize carbon releases. Politicians and investors in the EU28 region ought to invest further in the efficiency and sustainability of hydropower generation to increase its production and accessibility without further degradation of forest and agricultural conditions. The authorities of the EU28 region should emphasize on efficiency and sustainability of hydropower energy with land-use management to achieve the international commitments for climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development, reduce dependence on fossil fuel, and energy insecurity.

Applying the data envelopment approach, this paper computes efficiency change (EFFCH) in terms of its components: pure technical and scale efficiency changes. The least squares dummy variable corrected (LSDVC) method was employed to examine the determinants of efficiency change of bioenergy industry of the EU28 countries covering the period 1990–2013. Results show that the bioenergy industry recorded an average annual rate of progress in efficiency change of 3.8% during the period studied. Interestingly, the region recorded a technical progress with both pure technical efficiency change and scale efficiency change increasing over the study period, however, scale efficiency was the major contributor to efficiency with annual increase of 4.5%. We also found variations in regional performance with EU developing region experiencing a slightly higher increase in efficiency at 3.86% while this figure is at 3.76% for the EU developed countries. Empirical finding show that economic growth, gross fixed capital formation, inflation and size of biomass input affected EFFCH of bioenergy industry of the EU28 region significantly during the period studied. Policy implications of these results are that the bioenergy industry should relentlessly pursue technical progress and aim to improve both technical and scale efficiencies simultaneously through optimal allocation of resources.

This study attempts to find whether the bioenergy industry contributed to the growth of the energy sector in the EU-28 region from 1990 to 2013. This study adopts the framework of the conventional production function to identify the influence of the bioenergy industry on the growth of the energy totality industries in the EU-28 region. To this goal, the authors apply the unit root test, panel cointegration test, cointegration estimate analysis, and heterogeneous panel causality test. The key finding of this study is that the bioenergy industry's determinant consumption and labour and capital inputs have an important and positive effect on the outgrowth of the energy section. This study showed that there is a significant long-run balanced correlation between the bioenergy industry and the outgrowth of the energy sector in the EU-28 region. Heterogeneous panel causality results show that bioenergy consumption and capital input of the bioenergy industry have an important and positive correlation with the growth of the energy sector in EU28. Also, the results show that bioenergy consumption, capital input of bioenergy, and labour input of the bioenergy industry have important and positive relationships with the growth of the energy sector in EU28 developed states. Moreover, heterogeneous panel causality results show that bioenergy consumption and labour input of the bioenergy industry have important and positive correlations with the growth of the energy sector in EU28 developing states. With reference to the studied panel dataset implicating all 3 models, the findings boost the growth hypothesis. The implications of such analysis for the EU energy policy makers are related to competitiveness, sustainable development, and the security of energy supply. The results showed that the bioenergy industry have an important effect on the growth of the energy sector in the EU-28 region.

This paper examines the dynamic effect of the economic determinants on bilateral trade intensity of the European Union (EU) region’s bioenergy industry outputs. The authors adopt the panel co-integration model approach to estimate annual trade intensity data of the EU-28 countries’ bioenergy industry outputs from 1990 to 2013. This study investigated the long-term influence of the rate of real exchange, gross domestic product (GDP), and export price on the trade intensity of bioenergy industry applying fully modified oriented least square (FMOLS), dummy oriented least square (DOLS), and pooled mean group (PMG) models. In the current study, the findings boost the empirical validity of the panel co-integration model through FMOLS, indicating that depreciation has improved the trade intensity. This study has further investigated, through the causality test, a distinct set of countries. FMOLS estimation does find proof of the long run improvement of trade intensity. Thus, the result shows that the gross domestic product (GDP) and the real exchange rate have a positive and noteworthy influence on the EU-28 region trade intensity of the bioenergy industry. Moreover, the export price affects negatively and significantly the trade intensity of the bioenergy industry in the EU-28 countries.