Submit to Energies Review for Energies Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Strategic Management and Process Management in Energy Sector

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A: Sustainable Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 April 2022) | Viewed by 51867

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Wojciech Dyduch

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Entrepreneurship, College of Management, University of Economics in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
Interests: entrepreneurship; strategic management; value creation and capture; creative strategy; intangible assets measurement

Prof. Szymon Cyfert

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Organization and Management, Institute of Management, Poznan University of Economics and Business, Poznan, Poland
Interests: strategic management; process management; organization theory and design; firm theory; Indusrty 4.0; CSR

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The European Union’s Green Deal envisions making Europe climate neutral by 2050, boosting the economy through green technology, creating sustainable industry and transport, as well as cutting pollution. These ambitious goals force countries, organizations and local governments to change existing solutions and shape paths of future development.

The expected transformation processes will influence the activities of energy supply and distribution companies who need to remodel their existing strategies, business architectures, management processes in order to develop green technologies, comply with required emission levels, while sustaining competitiveness at the same time. The Green Deal regulations also challenge local governments to change the way of city functioning by developing smart cities and introducing new technologies to public transportation.

Hence, we are seeking contributions that will help answer the questions: how to model strategies of energy companies, and what are their optimal development strategies? How to fit processes present in energy companies to these new strategies? What are the reference models of process management in energy companies? Which business models in the energy sector be regarded as optimal from the perspective of the forthcoming changes? How will digital transformation change the logic of company functioning? How to include electromobility in the city strategies? What are the strategies of smart cities development? What other challenges in strategic and process management can be identified?

The goal of the special issue on Strategic Management and Process Management in Energy Sector is seeking novel – both conceptual and empirical – works on strategic management and process management in the energy sector: energy supply and distribution companies, industry and transport, as well as local governments. For this special issue we welcome multidisciplinary papers linking various lens on the forthcoming transformation processes towards the 2050 perspective.

Feel invited to submit your paper!

Prof. Wojciech Dyduch
Prof. Szymon Cyfert
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Strategies and business models of energy companies
Perfecting process management in energy companies
Agile management and strategic change in energy companies
Digital transformation in the energy sector
Electromobility and modern transportation in metropolitan development strategies
Strategies of smart cities development and functioning
Contemporary challenges in strategic management and process management in the energy sector

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (8 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 1218 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Energy Company Business Model and the European Green Deal

by Adam Samborski

Energies 2022, 15(11), 4059; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15114059 - 1 Jun 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2101

Abstract

The research problem addressed in this article concerns the formation of a business model in an energy company as a consequence of the European Green Deal. The paper seeks answers to three questions: (1) What is the significance of the European Green Deal for the business model of the examined energy company? (2) Which elements of the business model of the studied energy company take the form of sustainable ones? (3) In what direction is the business model of the analysed energy company evolving? The subject of the study is the business model of the Tauron Capital Group. The business model is analysed in the context of the requirements for climate protection formulated in the European Green Deal. A single case study was used. As a result of the study, two research statements were adopted: (1) Economic regulations in the area of the European Green Deal lead to changes in the business model of the examined energy company. (2) The examined energy company through the implementation of sustainable business practices aims to achieve sustainable production. The current activities of the Tauron Capital Group are focused on improving energy efficiency, circular economy principles and renewable energy sources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Management and Process Management in Energy Sector)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1437 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Management of Energy Enterprises in Zero-Emission Conditions: Bamboo as an Innovative Biomass for the Production of Green Energy by Power Plants

by Piotr F. Borowski

Energies 2022, 15(5), 1928; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15051928 - 7 Mar 2022

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 5070

Abstract

Managing energy-producing companies as well as managing the entire energy sector in the light of legal and environmental requirements requires a new vision, mission, and strategy. The paper analyses the strategies of energy enterprises. It is not enough now to produce energy and deliver it at appropriate, acceptable prices to consumers; it must be generated with the least negative impact on the environment. To achieve that plan, companies should cut the carbon intensity of their products by 20% by 2030, 45% by 2035, and 100% by 2050, using a baseline of 2016. To compared to 1990 levels, the greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2030 should be increased to 55%. Bioenergy will represent 18% of total final energy consumption in 2050. Additionally, this requires the development of a long-term strategy that can force companies to completely reorganize their production or start a new operation and activities. A low-cost strategy or a competition strategy are insufficient, and it is necessary to look for new strategies that combine adaptation to the requirements of the external environment with the use of innovative solutions. The article analyzes the possibilities of implementing an innovative strategy based on biomass, especially bamboo biomass. The reduction in CO₂ emissions of bamboo, taking into account life cycle emissions, can reach up to 85%. The novelty is to show the possibility of producing electricity by a large-scale power plant solely based on bamboo biomass on the example of a power plant located in the Tokushima prefecture, Japan. Another novelty is the fact that this article draws attention to the problem of burning bamboo in a power plant. The problem is that, as a result of burning bamboo, the clinker settles quite quickly. The study analyzes the selected ingredients for co-firing, which improve the combustion parameters of bamboo biomass (e.g., blended 20% bamboo with 80% pine or 30% bamboo with 70% tree bark). The importance of this research lies in the fact that it shows new innovative solutions in the energy sector that will help to achieve emission reductions. In addition, the article proposes to use eco-innovations and pay attention to eco-efficiency. Such solutions are an opportunity for ecological development through the use of bamboo as a fuel, which is classified as a renewable energy source by power plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Management and Process Management in Energy Sector)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 9349 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Dominant Motives of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Energy Sector in Western Europe from the Perspective of Green Economy

by Jerzy Niemczyk, Aleksandra Sus, Kamil Borowski, Bartosz Jasiński and Katarzyna Jasińska

Energies 2022, 15(3), 1065; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15031065 - 31 Jan 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 7107

Abstract

The aim of the research, the results of which are used in this publication, was to identify the motives for mergers and acquisitions in the energy sector after the introduction of green economy elements in Western Europe. The mentioned region is the group of countries where changes related to the move to green energy are most visible (in addition to some countries from other regions, such as Singapore, New Zealand, or countries of the Arabian Peninsula). The research assumed the hypothesis that over the years since the Paris Conference the themes of mergers and acquisitions have changed from motives close to the views related to energy generation in traditional systems (black energy in large, monopolistic systems) to motives close to green energy (the research hypothesis). This was confirmed in the research, as business risk diversification (defined as diversification of the power sources from black to green) was the most popular M&A motive. In addition to emphasizing the direction of changes in the M&A motives, the authors of this study decided to check whether since 2015 (when the Paris Conference was organized) the motives behind the M&A transactions conducted by companies operating in the electrical energy generation sector have changed, making their motives close to the green energy dominant in Western Europe. Apart from verification of the abovementioned hypothesis, the aim of the research was to check whether there are any characteristic directions of changes in M&A motives across companies from particular Western European countries. The motives are changing from positional approaches to motives closer to resource approaches (green economy). The research used a critical analysis of the literature on the subject, a study that used desk research based on openly available sources and our own analytical tool developed for the needs of this analysis, which is the transformation of the concept of analysis of the M&A motives proposed in K. Borowski’s research: “The strategic development of the technology companies. The mergers and acquisitions perspective”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Management and Process Management in Energy Sector)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 4008 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How to Encourage Energy Savings Behaviours? The Most Effective Incentives from the Perspective of European Consumers

by Sylwia Słupik, Joanna Kos-Łabędowicz and Joanna Trzęsiok

Energies 2021, 14(23), 8009; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14238009 - 30 Nov 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3547

Abstract

Ongoing climate change and increasing energy consumption are becoming a serious threat to international development efforts. To ensure a secure and sustainable future, local, national and regional authorities, as well as energy companies, need to be involved in improving energy efficiency and promoting rational energy use. The consumer is always at the centre of interest of policy and energy reduction strategies makers. It is their behaviour, motives and beliefs that can lead to optimised and economical energy management. This paper responds to the need to identify the individual preferences of energy consumers. The presented research fills an existing gap in the literature by analysing the strength of the influence of different types of instruments and external stimuli shaping pro-environmental attitudes of consumers of different behavioural types. The analysis presented in this paper is the result of the next stage of the authors’ research on energy consumers modelling, their segmentation and comprehensive characteristics. The analysis was conducted on a representative sample of N = 4332 respondents from 8 European countries (Czech Republic, France, Greece, Spain, Germany, Poland, Romania, and the United Kingdom). The study used multivariate statistical methods, such as: Correspondence Analysis, Factor Analysis and Kruskal-Wallis test. These methods are adequate to the assumptions of the research procedure and allowed for the identification of 4 latent factors that link the incentives into groups, where the motivation to save energy is based on: information (“Information and Knowledge”), social norms (“Social Influence”), investment funding (“Investments”) and energy price changes (“Energy Price”). In addition, the level of effectiveness of the studied incentives and motivators depends on the behavioural type of energy consumers and increases with rising levels of their intrinsic pro-environmental motivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Management and Process Management in Energy Sector)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 8242 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Mobility and the Smart City: A Vision of the City of the Future: The Case Study of Cracow (Poland)

by Edyta Bielińska-Dusza, Monika Hamerska and Agnieszka Żak

Energies 2021, 14(23), 7936; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14237936 - 26 Nov 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4632

Abstract

The vision of the smart city is inextricably linked with the concepts of intelligent transport, sustainable mobility and managerial decision making. Cities of the future not only entail the use of new technology, but also increasingly the interpenetration of technological and social aspects, with the simultaneous involvement of urban space users in the creation of such technologies. This provides an opportunity to introduce desired changes and create a more balanced space with a higher quality of life and improved energy efficiency. The article discusses the concepts of sustainable development and sustainable mobility with a particular emphasis on issues related to the smart city. The authors reviewed the various smart city solutions that have been implemented in the field of urban transport in Cracow, whose authorities have taken steps over the last few years to make the city smarter and more modern. The aim of the research was to assess the contribution made by smart city solutions to improving the attractiveness and reliability of public transport in Poland’s second-largest city. The undoubted added value of this analysis is the application of the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method to evaluate the implemented solutions. It should be pointed out that such an analysis constitutes a new approach in this area. Until now, these models have been used to assess consumer behavior. The results showed that some of the implemented intelligent solutions increase the attractiveness of public transport in Cracow, but this does not square with users’ assessment of reliability. According to users, ecological solutions have no impact on the attractiveness of public transport. Nor do conveniences such as bus lanes, giving priority to public transport vehicles at intersections, and adjusting traffic light regulation to traffic volume, have a positive impact on perceptions of public transport as a reliable means of getting around the city. The results may be of particular importance for the city’s authorities and other stakeholders engaged in strategic activities and the building of a city of the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Management and Process Management in Energy Sector)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 846 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationships among Social, Environmental, Economic CSR Practices and Digitalization in Polish Energy Companies

by Anna Chwiłkowska-Kubala, Szymon Cyfert, Kamila Malewska, Katarzyna Mierzejewska and Witold Szumowski

Energies 2021, 14(22), 7666; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14227666 - 16 Nov 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3780

Abstract

This paper explores relationships among CSR practices in the social, economic and environmental dimensions and digitization in the Polish energy companies. The study used the CATI method, and the data obtained from 110 companies was analyzed using a set of methods starting with correlation analysis, through regression analysis, including backward stepwise regression. Obtained results led to the formulation of SEM (Structural Equitation Modelling) model that has been tested. Results confirm the influence of social CSR practices on practices in economics and environmental CSR dimensions and on the level of digitalization. Research also suggests that there is essentially no significant impact of the size of the enterprise on the level of digitalization, as well as on any of the analyzed types of CSR practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Management and Process Management in Energy Sector)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

31 pages, 9255 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Digitalized Design Risk Analysis Tool with Machine-Learning Algorithm for EPC Contractor’s Technical Specifications Assessment on Bidding

by Min-Ji Park, Eul-Bum Lee, Seung-Yeab Lee and Jong-Hyun Kim

Energies 2021, 14(18), 5901; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14185901 - 17 Sep 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4714

Abstract

Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) projects span the entire cycle of industrial plants, from bidding to engineering, construction, and start-up operation and maintenance. Most EPC contractors do not have systematic decision-making tools when bidding for the project; therefore, they rely on manual analysis and experience in evaluating the bidding contract documents, including technical specifications. Oftentimes, they miss or underestimate the presence of technical risk clauses or risk severity, potentially create with a low bid price and tight construction schedule, and eventually experience severe cost overrun or/and completion delays. Through this study, two digital modules, Technical Risk Extraction and Design Parameter Extraction, were developed to extract and analyze risks in the project’s technical specifications based on machine learning and AI algorithms. In the Technical Risk Extraction module, technical risk keywords in the bidding technical specifications are collected, lexiconized, and then extracted through phrase matcher technology, a machine learning natural language processing technique. The Design Parameter Extraction module compares the collected engineering standards’ so-called standard design parameters and the plant owner’s technical requirements on the bid so that a contractor’s engineers can detect the difference between them and negotiate them. As described above, through the two modules, the risk clauses of the technical specifications of the project are extracted, and the risks are detected and reconsidered in the bidding or execution of the project, thereby minimizing project risk and providing a theoretical foundation and system for contractors. As a result of the pilot test performed to verify the performance and validity of the two modules, the design risk extraction accuracy of the system module has a relative advantage of 50 percent or more, compared to the risk extraction accuracy of manual evaluation by engineers. In addition, the speed of the automatic extraction and analysis of the system modules are 80 times faster than the engineer’s manual analysis time, thereby minimizing project loss due to errors or omissions due to design risk analysis during the project bidding period with a set deadline. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Management and Process Management in Energy Sector)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 4919 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Digitization, Digital Twins, Blockchain, and Industry 4.0 as Elements of Management Process in Enterprises in the Energy Sector

by Piotr F. Borowski

Energies 2021, 14(7), 1885; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14071885 - 29 Mar 2021

Cited by 237 | Viewed by 18788

Abstract

In the 21st century, it is becoming increasingly clear that human activities and the activities of enterprises affect the environment. Therefore, it is important to learn about the methods in which companies minimize the negative effects of their activities. The article presents the steps taken and innovative actions carried out by enterprises in the energy sector. The article analyzes innovative activities undertaken and implemented by enterprises from the energy sector. The relationships between innovative strategies, including, inter alia, digitization, and Industry 4.0 solutions, in the development of companies and the achieved results concerning sustainable development and environmental impact. Digitization has far exceeded traditional productivity improvement ranges of 3–5% per year, with a clear cost improvement potential of well above 25%. Enterprises on a large scale make attempts to increase energy efficiency by implementing the state-of-the-art innovative technical and technological solutions, which increase reliability and durability (material and mechanical engineering). Digitization of energy companies allows them to reduce operating costs and increases efficiency. With digital advances, the useful life of an energy plant can be increased up to 30%. Advanced technologies, blockchain, and the use of intelligent networks enables the activation of prosumers in the electricity market. Reducing energy consumption in industry and at the same time increasing energy efficiency for which the European Union is fighting in the clean air package for all Europeans have a positive impact on environmental protection, sustainable development, and the implementation of the decarbonization program. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Management and Process Management in Energy Sector)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Strategic Management and Process Management in Energy Sector

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI