Interrelationship between decentralization of energy sources and their renewability: A bibliometric analysis of research trends and thematic evolution
-
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ee.16(3).2025.04
-
Article InfoVolume 16 2025, Issue #3, pp. 41-66
- 40 Views
-
5 Downloads
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Type of the article: Research Article
Abstract
Decentralization and renewable energy have gained significant global attention due to their potential to enhance energy security, promote sustainability, and democratize energy access. This study aims to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research trends, key contributors, and thematic developments in the field of the decentralization of energy sources and their renewability. The research methodology involves a bibliometric analysis based on data extracted from the Scopus database, covering publications from 1973 to 2025. The analysis reveals exponential growth in research output, particularly after 2014, with over 3,700 publications recorded in 2023 alone. Citation trends indicate that foundational studies on decentralized microgrids and distributed energy systems remain highly influential, while recent works on blockchain-based energy trading and AI-driven energy management are gaining prominence. The study identifies China (11.7% of total publications), the United States (6.5%), and India (5.7%) as the leading contributors, with significant research activity also observed in European countries. Additionally, journals such as Applied Energy, Renewable Energy, and Energies serve as the primary publication platforms in this domain. Thematic analysis highlights a shift from bioenergy and land-use studies toward smart grids, energy storage, artificial intelligence, and decentralized finance for energy markets. Furthermore, co-authorship and international collaboration have increased significantly, with 25% of papers involving multi-country research efforts. Keyword analysis indicates growing research interest in emerging topics such as hydrogen energy, demand-side management, and digitalization in decentralized energy systems. These findings underscore the increasing interdisciplinary nature of decentralized energy research, integrating technological, economic, and policy dimensions.
Acknowledgment
This study was prepared as part of the project IZURZ1_224119/1 (Swiss National Science Foundation).
- Keywords
-
JEL Classification (Paper profile tab)O13, Q20, Q42, Q48
-
References56
-
Tables7
-
Figures11
-
- Figure 1. Annual scientific production of scientific publications related to the decentralization of energy sources and their renewability
- Figure 2. Bibliometric indicators related to citation trends for research on the decentralization of energy sources and their renewability over time
- Figure 3. Core sources, according to Bradford’s Law, publishing the most research on decentralization of energy sources and their renewability
- Figure 4. Ten of the most cited references within the analyzed dataset, dedicated to energy sources’ decentralization and renewability
- Figure 5. Evolution of key research terms in the field of decentralization of energy sources and their renewability over time
- Figure 6. Thematic evolution of core topics in decentralization and renewable energy
- Figure 7. Fractal multidimensional analysis of the relationship between key research topics in decentralization of energy sources and their renewability
- Figure B1. Thematic map of key research themes related to the decentralization of energy sources and their renewability during 1973–2000
- Figure B2. Thematic map of key research themes related to the decentralization of energy sources and their renewability during 2001–2013
- Figure B3. Thematic map of key research themes related to the decentralization of energy sources and their renewability during 2014–2024
- Figure B4. Thematic map of key research themes related to the decentralization of energy sources and their renewability during 2025–2025
-
- Table 1. Completeness of metadata of the sample of documents related to the interaction between the decentralization of energy sources and their renewability
- Table A1. Key bibliometric indicators for top academic journals publishing research on decentralization and renewable energy sources
- Table A2. Key bibliometric indicators for the most influential authors in decentralization and renewable energy research
- Table A3. List of institutions with 100 or more publications related to the decentralization of energy sources and their renewability
- Table A4. Most active countries in research output on the decentralization of energy sources and their renewability
- Table A5. Top 10 most globally cited documents focus on the decentralization of energy sources and their renewability
- Table A6. Top 10 most locally cited documents focus on the decentralization of energy sources and their renewability
-
- Arena, U. (2012). Process and technological aspects of municipal solid waste gasification. A review. Waste Management, 32(4), 625-639.
- Artyukhov, A., Yeremenko, O., Artyukhova, N., Lapidus, A., Churikanova, O., & Bliumska-Danko, K. (2024). Investment Patterns in Diverse Economies: A Bibliometric Study of Global Transformations. Financial Markets, Institutions and Risks, 8(3), 163-186.
- Badreddine, A., & Larbi Cherif, H. (2024). Public health improvement by reducing air pollution: A strategy for the transition to renewable energy. Health Economics and Management Review, 5(1), 1-14.
- Boyd, S., & Vandenberghe, L. (2004). Convex Optimization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Bukar, A. L., Tan, C. W., & Lau, K. Y. (2019). Optimal sizing of an autonomous photovoltaic/wind/battery/diesel generator microgrid using a grasshopper optimization algorithm. Solar Energy, 188, 685-696.
- Chaouachi, A., Kamel, R. M., Andoulsi, R., & Nagasaka, K. (2013). Multiobjective Intelligent Energy Management for a Microgrid. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 60(4), 1688-1699.
- Chen, C.-Y., Yeh, K.-L., Aisyah, R., Lee, D.-J., & Chang, J.-S. (2011). Cultivation, photobioreactor design and harvesting of microalgae for biodiesel production: A critical review. Bioresource Technology, 102(1), 71-81.
- Chygryn, O., Bektas, C., & Havrylenko, O. (2023). Innovation and Management of Smart Transformation Global Energy Sector: Systematic Literature Review. Business Ethics and Leadership, 7(1), 105-112.
- Clarens, A. F., Resurreccion, E. P., White, M. A., & Colosi, L. M. (2010). Environmental Life Cycle Comparison of Algae to Other Bioenergy Feedstocks. Environmental Science & Technology, 44(5), 1813-1819.
- Crawley, D. B., Hand, J. W., Kummert, M., & Griffith, B. T. (2008). Contrasting the capabilities of building energy performance simulation programs. Building and Environment, 43(4), 661-673.
- De Moraes e Soares, R., Morais Nunes, A., Pinheiro, P., Catarina Kaizeler, A., & Martins, V. (2024). Asymmetries in energy consumption: Efficiency of public spending across Portuguese municipalities. Public and Municipal Finance, 13(2), 110-128.
- Delcea, C., Oprea, S.-V., Dima, A. M., Domenteanu, A., Bara, A., & Cotfas, L.-A. (2024). Energy communities: Insights from scientific publications. Oeconomia Copernicana, 15(3), 1101-1155.
- Dobrovolska, O., Schmidtke, K., Krause, J., Matukhno, O., & Cierjacks, A. (2024). Effectiveness of reforms to eliminate obstacles in the development of sustainable energy in different countries of the world. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 22(3), 1-13.
- Dragicevic, T., Guerrero, J. M., Vasquez, J. C., & Skrlec, D. (2014). Supervisory Control of an Adaptive-Droop Regulated DC Microgrid with Battery Management Capability. IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 29(2), 695-706.
- Fairhead, J., Leach, M., & Scoones, I. (2012). Green Grabbing: a new appropriation of nature? Journal of Peasant Studies, 39(2), 237-261.
- Firstová, J., & Vysochyna, A. (2024). Optimisation of socio-economic, environmental and public health determinants of national security for post-pandemic recovery. Health Economics and Management Review, 5(1), 67-79.
- Halynskyi, D., & Telizhenko, O. (2024). Fair Business Leadership: Is Protecting Minority Investors Important to the Development of Start-Ups in Clean and Digital Energy?. Business Ethics and Leadership, 8(4), 57-68.
- He, Y., Chen, W., Li, X., Zhang, Z., Fu, J., Zhao, C., & Xie, E. (2012). Freestanding Three-Dimensional Graphene/MnO2 Composite Networks As Ultralight and Flexible Supercapacitor Electrodes. ACS Nano, 7(1), 174-182.
- Huang, A. Q., Crow, M. L., Heydt, G. T., Zheng, J. P., & Dale, S. J. (2011). The Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) System: The Energy Internet. Proceedings of the IEEE, 99(1), 133-148.
- Juracka, D., Valaskova, K., & Nica, E. (2024). Sustainable public policy instruments: revealing global interest in circular economy and eco-innovations. Administratie si Management Public, 43(43), 6-24.
- Kanchev, H., Lu, D., Colas, F., Lazarov, V., & Francois, B. (2011). Energy Management and Operational Planning of a Microgrid with a PV-Based Active Generator for Smart Grid Applications. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 58(10), 4583-4592.
- Koilo, V. (2024). Macroeconomic and energy impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: A comparative analysis across countries. Geopolitics under Globalization, 5(1), 19-34.
- Kostyuchenko, N., Reidl, K., & Wüstenhagen, R. (2024). Does citizen participation improve acceptance of a Green Deal? Evidence from choice experiments in Ukraine and Switzerland. Energy Policy, 189, 114106.
- Krause J., Myroshnychenko, I., Tiutiunyk, S., & Latysh, D. (2024). Financial Instruments of the Green Energy Transition: Research Landscape Analysis. Financial Markets, Institutions and Risks, 8(2), 198-212.
- Kundur, P. (2007). Power system stability and control, McGraw-Hill Inc.
- Lewandowski, I., Scurlock, J. M. O., Lindvall, E., & Christou, M. (2003). The development and current status of perennial rhizomatous grasses as energy crops in the US and Europe. Biomass and Bioenergy, 25(4), 335-361.
- Lyeonov, S. (2025). Search query in Scopus database. Zenodo.
- Makarenko, I., Bilan, Y., Streimikiene, D., & Rybina, L. (2023). Investments support for Sustainable Development Goal 7: Research gaps in the context of post-COVID-19 recovery. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 20(1), 151-173.
- Matvieieva, Yu., Sulym, V., Rosokhata, A., & Jasnikowski, A. (2023). Influence of Waste Incineration and Obtaining Energy from it to the Public Health for Certain Territories: A Bibliometric and Substantive Study. Health Economics and Management Review, 4(1), 71-80.
- Mentel, G., Vasilyeva, T., Samusevych, Y., Vysochyna, A., Karbach, R., & Streimikis, J. (2020). The evaluation of economic, environmental and energy security: composite approach. International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 19(1-3), 177-195.
- Merabet, A., Tawfique Ahmed, K., Ibrahim, H., Beguenane, R., & Ghias, A. M. Y. M. (2017). Energy Management and Control System for Laboratory Scale Microgrid Based Wind-PV-Battery. IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, 8(1), 145-154.
- Moghaddam, A. A., Seifi, A., Niknam, T., & Alizadeh Pahlavani, M. R. (2011). Multi-objective operation management of a renewable MG (micro-grid) with back-up micro-turbine/fuel cell/battery hybrid power source. Energy, 36(11), 6490-6507.
- Moroz, A., & Lyeonov, S. (2024). Stimulating Financial-Fiscal Instruments of Supporting Development of Renewable Energy Sources: Bibliometric Analysis. Financial Markets, Institutions and Risks, 8(4), 179-203.
- Mukhtarov, S., Aliyev, J., Borowski, P. F., & Disli, M. (2023). Institutional quality and renewable energy transition: Empirical evidence from Poland. Journal of International Studies, 16(3), 208-218.
- Myroshnychenko, I., Podosynnikov, S., Halynskyi, D., Ushkalov, M., & Chuhai, O. (2024). Regulatory Barriers for Entrepreneurship and Start-Ups in Renewable Energy: Bibliometric Analysis. SocioEconomic Challenges, 8(3), 181-210.
- Nihal, A., Areche, F. O., López, J. M. M., Araujo, V. G. o. S., Cárdenas, J. A. L., & Ober, J. (2024). Synergistic evaluation of energy security and environmental sustainability in BRICS geo-political entities: An integrated index framework. Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy, 19(3), 793-839.
- Niknam, T., Azizipanah-Abarghooee, R., & Narimani, M. R. (2012). An efficient scenario-based stochastic programming framework for multi-objective optimal micro-grid operation. Applied Energy, 99, 455-470.
- Olzhebayeva, G., Buldybayev T., Pavalkis D., Kireyeva, A., & Micekiene, A. (2023). Is there interest in green deal research in Central Asia? Economics and Sociology, 16(3), 302-322.
- Palma-Behnke, R., Benavides, C., Lanas, F., Severino, B., Reyes, L., Llanos, J., & Saez, D. (2013). A Microgrid Energy Management System Based on the Rolling Horizon Strategy. IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 4(2), 996-1006.
- Patton Jr. J. A., Fife P. K., Yelverton Ch. A., Slosson J. E., Hauge C. J., Spangle W. E., Mader G. G., Leighton F. B., Zion W. R., Henderson R., & Heath E. G. (1973). Geology, seismicity, and environmental impact. Proceedings of the 16th Annual Meeting of the Association of Engineering Geologists in Hollywood, October 1973. California.
- Prengaman, P. (2024). Ukraine has seen success in building clean energy, which is harder for Russia to destroy. AP News.
- Ray, D. K., Ramankutty, N., Mueller, N. D., West, P. C., & Foley, J. A. (2021). Recent patterns of crop yield growth and stagnation. Nature Communications, 3(1), 1293.
- Roberts, K. G., Gloy, B. A., Joseph, S., Scott, N. R., & Lehmann, J. (2010). Life Cycle Assessment of Biochar Systems: Estimating the Energetic, Economic, and Climate Change Potential. Environmental Science & Technology, 44(2), 827-83.
- Sedmíková, E., Vasylieva, T., Tiutiunyk, I., & Navickas, M. (2021). Energy Consumption in Assessment of the Shadow Economy. European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 13(2), 47-64.
- Sotnyk, I., Kurbatova, T., Trypolska, G., Sokhan, I., & Koshel, V. (2023). Research trends on development of energy efficiency and renewable energy in households: A bibliometric analysis. Environmental Economics, 14(2), 13-27.
- Štreimikienė, D. (2024). Renewable energy penetration in Nordic and Baltic countries of the EU. Journal of International Studies, 17(1), 97-107.
- Streimikiene, D., Mikalauskas, I., Lėckienė, V., Pisula, T., & Mikalauskiene, A. (2024). The role of sustainable finance in the context of the European green course. Economics and Sociology, 17(1), 54-79.
- Uddin, G. S., Abdullah-Al-Baki, C., Donghyun, P., Ahmed, A., & Shu, T. (2023). Social benefits of solar energy: Evidence from Bangladesh. Oeconomia Copernicana, 14(3), 861-897.
- Vakulenko, I., Saher, L., & Shymoshenko, A. (2023). Systematic literature review of сarbon-neutral economy concept. SocioEconomic Challenges, 7(1), 139-148.
- Vasa, L., Kubatko, O., Sotnyk, I., Piven, V., Trypolska, G., & Pysmenna, U. (2024). Economic and environmental drivers of renewable energy transition in the EU. Environmental Economics, 15(2), 232-245.
- Vuichard, P., Broughel, A., Wüstenhagen, R., Tabi, A., & Knauf, J. (2022). Keep it local and bird-friendly: Exploring the social acceptance of wind energy in Switzerland, Estonia, and Ukraine. Energy Research & Social Science, 88, 102508.
- Walker, G., & Devine-Wright, P. (2008). Community renewable energy: What should it mean? Energy Policy, 36(2), 497-500.
- Wołowiec, T., Kolosok, S., Vasylieva, T., Artyukhov, A., Skowron, Ł., Dluhopolskyi, O., & Sergiienko, L. (2022). Sustainable Governance, Energy Security, and Energy Losses of Europe in Turbulent Times. Energies, 15(23), 8857.
- Wüstenhagen, R., & Menichetti, E. (2012). Strategic choices for renewable energy investment: Conceptual framework and opportunities for further research. Energy Policy, 40, 1-10.
- Zhang, Y., Gatsis, N., & Giannakis, G. B. (2013). Robust Energy Management for Microgrids with High-Penetration Renewables. IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, 4(4), 944-953.
- Ziabina, Y., Iskakov, A., & Senyah, M. M. (2023). Waste management system: key determinants of green development and energy balance transformation. SocioEconomic Challenges, 7(2), 161-172.