Purpose This study analyses the role of private sector involvement in the deployment of mini-grids projects in rural Mozambique. Design/methodology/approach Based on a qualitative phenomenological design and using the Gioia methodology for data analysis, the study analyses data from 13 in-depth interviews with representatives from government institutions, and local companies, the findings show that decision-making authority is concentrated within a small number of public institutions, while coordination mechanisms across actors remains limited. Findings Private engagement occurs mainly through short-term technical contracts with minimal influence over planning, design or long-term operational arrangements. Regulatory gaps, overlapping institutional mandates and the absence of enabling mechanisms such as clear licensing pathways, concession frameworks or structured platforms for public-private interaction further restrict the scope of private participation. Research limitations/implications The study advances understanding of how institutional arrangements shape private sector participation in state-led mini-grid systems. However, the findings are context-specific and based on qualitative evidence, limiting broader generalization. Practical implications Strengthening private sector participation requires greater regulatory clarity, improved coordination mechanisms and governance arrangements that enable broader operational responsibilities. Social implications Enhanced public–private collaboration can improve the sustainability of rural electrification, contributing to better service delivery and expanded energy access for rural communities. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on decentralized electrification by providing empirical grounded insights into how centralized governance structures shape private sector roles and constraints in mini-grid implementation. The findings highlight the need for institutional reforms that strengthen coordination, clarify regulatory procedures and expand opportunities for private actors to engage beyond project execution, supporting a more collaborative and sustainable model for expanding energy access.
Purpose This study aims to examine how economic development and energy prices shape renewable energy adoption in the European Union, with explicit attention to regional heterogeneity and nonlinear effects relevant for European Union climate and cohesion objectives. Design/methodology/approach Using Eurostat data for EU countries over the period 2013–2022, the analysis uses fixed-effects panel models with quadratic specifications. Renewable energy adoption is related to real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, household natural gas prices and household electricity prices. Institutional quality and EU cohesion funding are incorporated as control variables, and dynamic panel models are used as robustness checks. Findings The results reveal a positive but nonlinear relationship between income levels and renewable energy adoption, with particularly robust effects in Northern Europe. The impacts of gas and electricity prices are heterogeneous across regions and specifications, indicating that price signals operate unevenly and are conditioned by institutional and market characteristics. Dynamic estimates confirm strong persistence in renewable energy shares and turn down some static price effects. Social implications Findings stress the importance of policies tailored to regional disparities to ensure both environmental sustainability and social equity in the shift to a low-carbon future. Originality/value Unlike existing studies, which typically examine regional heterogeneity and nonlinear income effects separately, this study jointly analyzes household energy prices, GDP dynamics and institutional conditions across European regional groups, providing evidence directly relevant to differentiated EU cohesion and energy policy.
Purpose Motivated by persistent policy design gaps in SDG-linked energy transitions, this study aims to examine how digital leadership (DL) and transformative innovation policy (TIP) are integrated, positioned or marginalized within global energy transition scholarship. It also considers how their potential alignment may inform future research on adaptive energy governance. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a bibliometric approach as the research questions focus on field-level knowledge structures, conceptual integration, thematic evolution and collaboration patterns. The analysis uses 283 Scopus- and Web of Science-indexed articles published between 2015 and 2025. Keyword co-occurrence, thematic evolution and author-country collaboration analyses are used to map the intellectual structures and relational patterns linking DL, TIP, innovation governance and sustainable energy transition scholarship. Findings The analysis shows that policy mix, sustainability transitions and technology adoption dominate global energy transition research, while DL and TIP remain weakly integrated in policy-oriented studies. Indonesia’s B40 biodiesel program is used as a contextual illustration of how policy implementation may advance faster than explicit DL−TIP alignment. This offers a practice-based reflection rather than empirical validation of the bibliometric patterns. Research limitations/implications This study relies on bibliometric evidence indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. The English language and document-type restrictions may underrepresent regional or practice-oriented policy insights. Future research should incorporate regional databases and combine bibliometric findings with qualitative policy analysis. Further studies may also examine how DL−TIP-informed interventions are designed, implemented and assessed in specific policy settings. Originality/value This study contributes by providing bibliometric evidence of the limited integration between DL and TIP in energy transition scholarship. Rather than proposing a fully developed governance framework, the study positions DL−TIP alignment as an emerging conceptual lens for understanding thematic fragmentation and informing future research on adaptive, SDG-oriented energy governance.
Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of energy diversification on sustainable development for G20 countries. The study uses different proxies of energy diversification to examine this relationship. Design/methodology/approach Using a balanced panel data set for G20 countries from 2000 to 2021, based on data availability. The dependent variable is sustainable development, whereas the independent variables are the three constructed indices. The study uses linear (feasible generalized least squares, panel-corrected standard error, Driscoll−Kraay standard error) as well as nonlinear (method of moments quantile regression and bootstrap quantile regression) models and GMM to check the impact of the energy diversification on sustainable development. Findings This study finds that energy diversification helps in achieving sustainable development across the three developed energy diversification indices, so increasing the infusion of cleaner energy sources helps countries to achieve sustainable development. Originality/value This study constructs three different energy diversification indices to examine the impact of energy diversification on sustainable development in G20 countries, which play a vital role in the sustainable development of the global economy, highlighting that increased infusion of renewable energy sources in the overall energy mix plays a vital role in the path toward sustainability.
Purpose Rising energy demand and disrupted supply chains have continuously intensified worldwide energy-related uncertainty. In this context, developing multiple sources of renewable energy can help mitigate energy uncertainty in emerging and developed economies. Based on this, this study aims to investigate whether diversifying renewable energy development can mitigate such energy uncertainty. Additionally, it introduces innovation as a moderating factor that may strengthen the effect of renewable energy diversification in reducing energy-related uncertainty. Design/methodology/approach The above interrelations are investigated through a comparative study of emerging and developed economies. This study uses two balanced panel samples to explore this nexus: 8 emerging economies and 16 developed economies spanning 1996–2022. In this context, the long-run results from the pooled mean group autoregressive distributed lag method are analysed. For consistency check, the feasible generalized least squares and system generalized method of moments methods are used. Findings Results indicate that renewable energy diversification is more effective at mitigating energy uncertainty in emerging economies than in developed economies. Findings suggest that innovation reduces energy uncertainty in both emerging and developed economies while simultaneously moderating the impact of renewable energy diversification on mitigating energy uncertainty in both groups. Furthermore, it confirms that economic growth and strong institutional quality reduce energy-related uncertainty, while geopolitical risk increases it in both emerging and developed economies. Research limitations/implications The major limitation of this study is limited data availability regarding the energy uncertainty reduces the small sample size of emerging and developed economies. Therefore, it may limit the generalizability of the obtained findings of this study. Practical implications Emerging economies should prioritize a highly diversified renewable energy portfolio, similar to that of developed economies, when facing energy-related uncertainty, and also foster an environment that promotes innovation. Social implications By reducing energy-related uncertainty, diversified renewable energy portfolios can improve the reliability and affordability of energy supply, thereby supporting household welfare and economic stability. The stronger impact observed in emerging economies suggests that renewable energy diversification can contribute to inclusive development and improved living standards. Moreover, innovation facilitates the efficient integration and management of renewable energy systems, creating opportunities for technological advancement and employment. The results further emphasize the importance of institutional quality and economic growth in fostering social well-being and resilience to energy-related shocks. Originality/value This study contributes to the energy economics literature by offering a comprehensive analysis of the nexus between renewable energy diversification, innovation and energy uncertainty in developed and emerging economies. Unlike previous studies that primarily focus on renewable energy adoption, this research examines whether diversification across renewable energy sources can enhance energy market stability and reduce uncertainty. Furthermore, it explores the moderating role of innovation in strengthening the effectiveness of renewable energy diversification. By providing a comparative assessment across different levels of economic development, the study uncovers novel insights into the mechanisms through which diversified renewable energy establish energy security.
Purpose The electric vehicle (EV) industry plays a pivotal role in global sustainability goals; however, its credibility has been undermined by greenwashing, misleading environmental claims that erode consumer trust. This study aims to examine how EV brands can restore trust after greenwashing incidents through four strategic interventions: distrust regulation, trustworthiness demonstration, consumer education and corporate apology. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on resilience theory, this study conceptualizes psychological resilience as a mediator between trust-regaining strategies and restored green trust. This study employed a multiphase methodology. Constructs were validated using confirmatory factor analyses, followed by mediation analysis via PROCESS Macro on data from 269 respondents across six Asian cities. Findings Distrust regulation, trustworthiness demonstration, corporate apology and consumer education significantly restored trust when mediated by psychological resilience. Practical implications The findings offer actionable guidance for EV firms and policymakers to design post-crisis interventions that combine verified sustainability actions with consumer resilience-building initiatives. Originality/value This empirical study integrates resilience theory into post-greenwashing trust recovery in the EV sector. This study advances the green marketing literature by distinguishing between emotionally mediated and cognitively driven recovery strategies.
Purpose This study aims to analyze the multidimensional factors shaping the deployment of non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE) in emerging economies, focusing on how structural conditions, governance systems, financial mechanisms and technological pathways interact to influence transition outcomes. Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review of Web of Science publications (2001–2025) was conducted. This study combines bibliometric mapping, qualitative thematic synthesis and conceptual integration to identify cross-cutting patterns in barriers, strategic responses and forward-looking transition pathways. Findings NCREs expansion is constrained less by technology maturity than by institutional and financial misalignment. Exchange-rate volatility, high capital costs, regulatory fragmentation, infrastructural deficits and socio-behavioral barriers limit adoption, while environmental pressures add further complexity. At the same time, system-level responses are emerging, including green-finance innovation, renewable-energy auctions, institutional decision-support tools, digital governance and participatory mechanisms. Future transitions are characterized by hybrid multi-vector systems, hydrogen value chains, circular-economy integration, AI-enabled planning and platform-based energy business models. Research limitations/implications The review highlights the need for future studies on compound-risk modeling, institutional–financial co-evolution, AI-based system optimization and the integration of behavioral and climate-resilience factors into energy planning. Practical implications Effective transition strategies require coordinated institutional reform, regulatory stability, financial risk-mitigation tools and integrated infrastructure planning. Originality/value This study contributes by advancing an institutional–financial–technological alignment perspective. Rather than treating renewable-energy deployment as a purely technological diffusion process, it conceptualizes transition outcomes as the result of dynamic interactions between governance systems, financial structures and technological pathways in emerging economies.
Purpose This study examines how T & uuml;rkiye's renewable energy transition evolved between 2016 and 2024 under the combined influence of technological change, institutional pressures and external sustainability demands. This study aims to explain how niche, regime and landscape dynamics interacted over time and how coercive, normative and mimetic pressures shaped this process in an emerging economy context.Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a longitudinal qualitative design based on 45 semistructured interviews conducted in three waves between 2016 and 2024. Participants included industrialists, public officials and academics involved in T & uuml;rkiye's renewable energy sector. The data were analyzed thematically using an inductive-deductive strategy supported by NVivo. The analysis was structured through the multilevel perspective (MLP) and institutional theory.Findings The findings identify three transition phases: niche emergence under regulatory ambiguity (2016-2018), regime reconfiguration through state-led incentives (2019-2021) and landscape-driven institutional isomorphism under external sustainability pressures (2022-2024). T & uuml;rkiye's transition did not follow a purely market-led or bottom-up pathway. Instead, it reflected a hybrid pattern shaped by state coordination, export-market pressures and institutional voids. This study shows that technological deployment alone was insufficient; transition outcomes depended on the coevolution of institutional frameworks, policy capacity, financing conditions and legitimacy pressures.Research limitations/implications This study is based on stakeholder perceptions drawn primarily from firms, regulators and academics and does not fully capture the perspectives of grassroots actors or rural communities. Nevertheless, it extends transition research by showing that MLP gains explanatory depth when combined with institutional theory in emerging economy settings marked by uneven regulatory capacity and external compliance pressures.Practical implications The findings suggest the need for streamlined digital licensing, broader domestic access to green finance, stronger academia-industry transition mechanisms and targeted Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism readiness support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). They also indicate that municipalities can play a more active role in local renewable energy experimentation and community-based transition initiatives.Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by integrating the MLP with institutional theory to explain renewable energy transition in a non-Western emerging economy. It shows how state coordination, export-oriented compliance pressure and institutional gaps jointly shape transition pathways and offers a longitudinal account of how these dynamics reconfigure niche, regime and landscape interactions over time.
Purpose The global energy sector is central to the low-carbon transition but remains structurally exposed to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) controversies. This study aims to examine whether greater ESG transparency mitigates - or instead, amplifies - observed controversy risk, and how national institutional quality shapes this relationship across countries.Design/methodology/approach Using an unbalanced panel of 141 listed energy firms (2018-2022), the study estimates dynamic two-step System generalized method of moments (GMM) models to account for persistence and potential endogeneity in controversy outcomes. The study tests whether ESG performance, disclosure modalities - sustainability reporting (SR), integrated reporting (IR) and external assurance - and disclosure standardisation (Global Reporting Initiative [GRI] alignment) are associated with ESG controversies, controlling for country-level governance, legal origin and culture.Findings SR is positively associated with observed controversies, consistent with a transparency-detection mechanism whereby disclosure increases visibility and stakeholder scrutiny. By contrast, disclosure standardisation - particularly GRI-aligned reporting - is associated with lower controversy incidence. Governance indicators linked to monitoring capacity strengthen the positive disclosure-controversy association, whereas stronger control of corruption is associated with fewer controversies.Research limitations/implications Controversy indicators capture only events that are detected and recorded and may therefore understate incidents in less transparent settings. Although the System GMM approach addresses important endogeneity concerns, some pillar-specific models show weaker diagnostics and should be interpreted with caution. In addition, the study does not capture assurance quality in sufficient detail, which may affect the estimated role of assurance mechanisms.Practical implications For managers in carbon-intensive industries, ESG disclosure should be treated as a governance instrument rather than merely a compliance exercise. Expanding disclosure volume without improving its quality may heighten controversy exposure by increasing visibility without strengthening credibility. Firms should therefore prioritise structured, comparable and verifiable ESG reporting, particularly through recognised frameworks such as the GRI, supported by robust materiality assessment, traceable indicators, reliable internal controls and credible external assurance.Social implications The results indicate that ESG controversies are embedded in institutional and regulatory environments rather than being determined solely at the firm level. Regulatory quality, voice and accountability, and corruption control shape whether ESG-related misconduct is detected and publicly reported, which implies that disclosure regulation is effective only when supported by credible monitoring and enforcement.Originality/value The energy sector provides a salient setting given its carbon intensity, regulatory scrutiny and material ESG exposure. Yet prior research has not examined how disclosure quality and standardisation shape controversy incidence across institutional contexts. This study addresses that gap.
Purpose The pursuit of higher economic growth amid rising carbon dioxide emissions has intensified the need to balance development with environmental sustainability. Although several studies show that renewable energy reduces emissions, its impact on specific economic sectors remains unclear. This study investigates the impact of renewable energy on the growth of South Africa’s textile industry, considering the sector’s strategic importance for industrial development and economic growth, alongside its growing adoption of renewable energy technologies to foster sustainable and environmentally responsible production. Design/methodology/approach This study investigates the effect of renewable energy on the development of South Africa’s textiles and clothing industry using World Bank time-series data covering 1995–2022. The fully modified ordinary least squares and canonical cointegrating regression techniques were used to examine the long-run relationship between renewable energy and sectoral growth. More so, to examine whether the relationships between the explanatory variables and the textiles and clothing sector changes over time, the regression model was estimated for two sub-periods pre- and post- 2008 financial crisis periods. Findings The results show that, for the full sample, the long-run growth of the textiles and clothing sector is positively influenced by renewable energy. Natural resources, labour, dependency ratio and financial development also support sectoral growth. However, the sub-period analysis reveals some variations. Renewable energy, dependency ratio and capital have positive effects in both periods, with stronger impacts in the post-2008 financial crisis period. Financial development is insignificant before the crisis but becomes negative afterward. Labour shows a negative effect only in the pre-crisis period, while natural resources exert negative effects in both periods, indicating changing dynamics in the sector over time. Practical implications The results imply that adopting renewable energy to a attain low-carbon economy is unlikely to harm the textiles and clothing industry. This emphasizes the need for the government of South Africa to attract more private investors to invest in the renewable energy sector. This will increase the share of renewable energy in the total electricity generated. Originality/value The study provides evidence of the determinants of the textiles and clothing industry growth at the national level in South Africa. The role of renewable energy in the growth of the textiles and clothing industry is assessed.
Purpose This study aims to examine disruptive decentralized energy models, such as pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar home systems, mini-grids and community-owned renewables, from a strategic management viewpoint. It assesses their potential to simultaneously alleviate energy poverty and accelerate the transition to renewable energy in emerging economies in the Global South.Design/methodology/approach The study synthesizes evidence from 120 publications (2015-2025) via a systematic literature review guided by preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 protocols, drawing from Scopus, web of science and gray literature. This is complemented by purposive case study analysis of the Kenya PAYG ecosystem, Nigeria's mini-grid scale-up and community models in Nepal and Bangladesh, leading to the synthesis of an integrative and diagnostic managerial framework.Findings The analysis reveals that the transformative potential of decentralized models hinges on managing disruption as an integrated phenomenon across three interdependent pillars: technological, financial and socio-institutional. Success requires moving beyond isolated innovations to develop hybrid governance structures that proactively integrate these assets into national energy planning. Key to this is adaptive regulation, strategic utility adaptation and inclusive design that addresses equity gaps.Practical implications Actionable recommendations are provided for core stakeholders: policymakers should design technology-neutral rules and interconnection standards; utilities should evolve toward platform orchestration; investors should build robust local partnerships and risk-sharing models; and donors should prioritize capacity building and performance-based support. These strategies collectively enable emerging economies to leapfrog centralized limitations and transition to resilient, inclusive energy systems.Originality/value The paper's primary contribution is the synthesis of the hybrid energy ecosystem management framework, a layered diagnostic tool that consolidates existing concepts of assets, finance, regulation and governance into a coherent strategic architecture. It equips sector leaders with a practical lens to identify systemic bottlenecks, manage tradeoffs and scale disruption equitably, moving beyond technical or siloed case analyzes.
Purpose Energy efficiency is a cornerstone of green growth in emerging economies. This study aims to explore how green innovation, human capital, financial development and institutional quality shape energy efficiency in the emerging Seven (E7) countries between 1995 and 2019.Design/methodology/approach Using a panel vector autoregression (PVAR) framework, the empirical analysis investigates direct and dynamic linkages. Granger causality tests, variance decomposition and impulse-response functions are used to capture causal directions and the relative importance of the determinants.Findings The results highlight that green innovation and human capital significantly enhance energy efficiency. In contrast, financial development exerts a negative influence, reflecting inefficiencies in channelling of financial resources towards sustainable outcomes. Institutional quality shows only marginal effects, indicating that governance frameworks in E7 economies remain inadequate for supporting deep energy transitions. Causality tests reveal bi-directional links between energy efficiency, human capital and financial development, while the influence of green innovation on efficiency is unidirectional.Practical implications Policies should prioritise strengthening green innovation ecosystems, reorienting financial flows towards clean energy technologies and enhancing institutional frameworks that underpin sustainable energy transitions.Originality/value This study provides novel empirical insights by applying a dynamic systems approach to disentangle the role of green innovation and human capital in improving energy efficiency across emerging economies, thereby offering actionable guidance for policymakers seeking to balance growth with sustainability.
Purpose This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of affordable and clean energy literature. The push for sustainable energy has intensified global focus on renewable investment in vulnerable regions like small island developing states (SIDS). Despite the growing academic interest in UN sustainable development goal (SDG) 7 - “affordable and clean energy”, there remains a lack of comprehensive science mapping that evaluates the intellectual structure, research evolution and thematic trends specifically aligned with UN SDG 7, and more precisely, Target 7.b. Design/methodology/approach This study addresses this gap through rigorous bibliometric analysis of 5,242 peer-reviewed journal articles from Scopus using a meticulously constructed search protocol on renewable energy, economic viability and infrastructural development in SIDS. Biblioshiny (R package) and VOSviewer performed performance analysis, co-occurrence mapping and thematic clustering. Findings There were four key research clusters: (1) advanced renewable energy conversion technologies and efficiency innovations; (2) environmental and socio-ecological contexts of renewable energy deployment; (3) socio-technical governance and community acceptance in renewable energy transitions; and (4) economic structures, financial mechanisms and urban planning for renewable integration. Originality/value This study offers an overview of knowledge domains and provides targeted directions for future research. These insights have implications for researchers, policymakers and stakeholders aiming to advance energy resilience and investment in SIDS to achieve the UN SDG 7 and Target 7.b.
Purpose This study aims to examine the effect of renewable energy on energy justice and the moderating effect of institutional Tquality using a quantile regression (QR) approach. It also aims to analyze whether the impact of renewable energy on energy justice changes across various quantiles of energy justice.Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a sample of 69 developing and developed countries covering the period from 2000 to 2022. The authors adopt a QR approach to examine the impact of our relationships. In addition, they use a quantile-on-quantile regression technique to give a complete and more detailed picture of the renewable energy-energy justice nexus.Findings The results illustrate the positive impact of renewable energy on energy justice. The authors show that this impact is greater in countries with a high quantile of energy justice, suggesting that countries with a high level of energy justice promote renewable energy to protect the environment while integrating a social dimension of the energy transition. In addition, the results suggest that institutional quality reinforces this relationship, meaning that institutional quality plays a key role in helping countries use renewable energy to achieve better energy justice.Originality/value This study extends existing research on renewable energy and energy justice. It gives a complete and more detailed picture of the relationship between renewable energy, institutional quality and energy justice using a non-monotonic methodology, which builds on the insights of the current literature.
Purpose This study aims to develop a new methodology incorporating various perspectives of decision-makers and key renewable energy sustainability criteria based on the seventh sustainable development goal, “Affordable and clean energy.” Design/methodology/approach The study evaluates renewable energy projects across four dimensions, economic, technological, sociopolitical and environmental, using 15 criteria and six sub-criteria drawn from recent literature. The Voting Analytic Hierarchy Process (VAHP) is applied to calculate priority weights, and a sensitivity analysis is conducted to explore potential scenarios. Findings The results show a clear prioritization of the technological dimension, followed by the economic and environmental dimensions, with the sociopolitical dimension being the least prioritized. Levelized cost of energy, technological maturity, ecosystem impact and greenhouse gas emissions emerge as the most influential criteria. Wind power projects rank first, boasting cost competitiveness, followed by hydropower projects with notable technological maturity. Solar photovoltaic projects rank third, excelling in investment costs but lacking source stability, while concentrated solar power and biomass lag behind due to low maturity and high costs. Sensitivity analysis reveals that, in a socially focused context, solar photovoltaic projects rise to the top, emphasizing their potential as strategic employment creators. Practical implications The developed methodology also provides recommendations to assist Moroccan policymakers in shaping policies for the renewable energy sector. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study introduces the first application of the VAHP to energy decision-making by integrating both quantitative and qualitative data.
Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyse the criticality of financial sector development (FD) on green energy (GE) financing for sustainable industrialisation (IND) in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a panel series of 139 developing countries between 1991 and 2024. The countries are disaggregated into low, middle and high-income groups and full samples. The novel two-step-system generalised moment method and fully modified ordinary least squares technique were applied for data analysis. Findings Result shows that FD retard green energy in the low-income group, while it strongly enhances GE in middle, high-income groups and the full sample. However, for all income groups, GE positively affects IND. Similarly, the interactive effect of FD and GE promotes IND across all income groups and the full sample. Research limitations/implications The study used data from 139 countries, each with peculiar geopolitical and country-specific characteristics. The findings from the study may marginally deviate from country-specific conditions. Also, the study did not accommodate the ongoing Middle East conflict, which could have shaped GE and economic stability in most developing countries. Nevertheless, the study’s findings are solid and resonate with the literature. Originality/value Financing GE in developing countries is challenged by inadequate funding and funding channels. Attaining sustainable energy access and economic prosperity requires a huge investment in GE. As a result, the study considers the criticality of FD for green financing to drive sustainable industrialisation in developing nations. No study has interacted FD and GE to support IND in developing countries. Hence, the study contributes to attaining sustainable development goals 7, 13 and 8.
Purpose - This paper aims to investigate sustainable waste management and resource reutilization in China's new energy vehicle industry, focusing on end-of-life battery recycling. It examines how metal price fluctuations and government subsidy schemes influence consumer replacement behavior and recycling company scale and evaluates the integration of reuse ("laddering") into a circular economy. Design/methodology/approach - A mixed-methods framework combines quantitative and qualitative data. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) analyze relationships among metal prices, subsidies, consumer willingness to spend and secondary-battery supply using data from 2019 to 2024. Case studies of leading recyclers and stakeholder surveys inform policy and technology insights, while comparative analysis benchmarks practices in Japan, the USA and Germany. Findings - Results indicate that higher metal prices significantly reduce consumers' willingness to replace batteries (beta = -0.049, p < 0.01), whereas government subsidies positively affect replacement and collection rates (beta = 0.0975, p < 0.01). Recycling efficiency strongly predicts second-life battery supply (beta = 0.874, p < 0.01). Price incentives drive spending more than interaction effects. Comparative benchmarks reveal China's 55% return rate lags Japan's 70% and Germany's 92% recovery. Originality/value - This study uniquely integrates econometric analysis, SEM, case studies and international comparison to provide a holistic view of China's battery recycling ecosystem. It identifies specific artificial intelligence/machine learning innovations such as state-of-health diagnostics and automated sorting that can boost yields by 10%-15% and offers actionable policy recommendations for harmonizing subsidies and enhancing regulatory consistency.
Purpose This study aims to investigate the structural imbalance between basic and applied electric vehicle (EV) research in Brazil through the analytical lens of the multi-level perspective (MLP) on socio-technical transitions. The authors argue that this imbalance is a critical indicator of niche maturity and its potential to disrupt the incumbent internal combustion engine (ICE) regime. Design/methodology/approach A systematic bibliometric analysis was conducted of 408 Brazilian EV articles indexed in Scopus (as of March 2024). Articles were classified as basic or applied research based on journal subject area – a reproducible proxy validated through inter-coder reliability testing. The validation showed fair agreement (κ= 0.34) and, crucially, perfect precision in identifying applied research, confirming the proxy’s utility for large-scale mapping while highlighting the prevalence of use-inspired research in technical outlets. Findings The analysis reveals a stark quantitative imbalance: 307 articles are classified as basic research, compared with only 43 as applied research (approximately 7:1). This disparity signals a research niche that is academically robust but structurally decoupled from the incumbent automotive regime, exhibiting strong technical publication but weak industry-linked, problem-oriented knowledge production. Research limitations/implications Reliance on the Scopus database and journal-level classification may introduce coverage and categorization biases. Future studies should use multi-database approaches and article-level content analysis. Practical implications To rebalance the research portfolio, they propose mission-oriented funding calls that require university-industry collaboration, reforms to academic incentives and industrial policy instruments to stimulate demand for applied EV knowledge. They also suggest specific metrics to monitor progress. Social implications Bridging the basic-applied gap can enhance the societal impact of EV research by supporting sustainable mobility, reducing urban pollution and advancing a more inclusive energy transition in Brazil. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study provides the first quantitative diagnosis of Brazil’s EV research imbalance. Its originality lies in developing and validating a journal-level proxy to classify research orientation in a national EV portfolio; interpreting bibliometric structure through the MLP as a diagnostic of socio-technical transition readiness; and translating these findings into evidence-based, operational policy recommendations and monitoring metrics tailored to Brazil’s MOVER Program.
Purpose This study investigates the impact of energy constraints on firm growth in Vietnam, specifically in terms of sales, capital and labor. By analyzing data from the Vietnam Enterprise Survey (VES) over the 2013–2020 period, this study aims to understand the mechanisms through which energy constraints influence firm performance and explore heterogeneity in these effects across firm sizes, periods, regions and sectors. The study provides actionable insights for policymakers and managers to address energy-related challenges. Design/methodology/approach Energy-related expenditure is used as a proxy to measure energy constraints. The study uses econometric models to evaluate the impact of energy constraints on firm growth, analyzing a comprehensive data set from the VES. This includes assessing direct effects on sales, capital and labor, as well as examining heterogeneity across different firm sizes, geographic regions and industrial sectors. Persistence of these effects over time is also evaluated to provide a deeper understanding of long-term implications. Findings The results reveal that energy constraints significantly hinder firm growth across all dimensions – sales, capital and labor. Firms facing energy constraints tend to shift toward less capital-intensive production processes, which reduces productivity and growth. These effects are persistent over time and vary by firm size, region and sector. Notably, small firms and firms in energy-intensive sectors are disproportionately affected. Practical implications In addition to theoretical advancements, this study offers actionable insights for practitioners and policymakers. First, the findings underscore the need for targeted public investment in energy infrastructure, particularly in regions and sectors most affected by supply constraints. Addressing these gaps can reduce production disruptions and support broader economic development goals. Second, small and medium-sized enterprises and firms in energy-intensive industries face disproportionate challenges. The study supports the design of targeted subsidy programs, concessional financing and energy access guarantees to protect vulnerable segments of the economy. Third, from a managerial perspective, the findings highlight the importance of investing in energy-saving technologies, production optimization and diversification of energy sources. Firms can mitigate energy-related risks and enhance competitiveness by reducing energy intensity. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the long-term and heterogeneous effects of energy constraints on firm growth in Vietnam, an under-researched context. The study highlights the role of energy infrastructure and firm-level efficiency improvements in mitigating these constraints, offering new perspectives for both academic inquiry and practical policy design.
PurposeDespite electric vehicles (EVs) gaining traction among youth, significant barriers such as high initial costs and limited infrastructure hinder widespread adoption. The purpose of this study is to investigate how intrinsic psychological constructs green self-identity, national identity and perceived self-image jointly shape green consumer identity. These factors further influence the willingness to buy EVs. This study also examines the mediating roles of brand trust and consumer attitude and the moderating effects of gender and EV ownership status.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts a multi-stage stratified sampling technique. Responses were collected from 773 participants across India. Multi-group analysis was conducted to explore the moderating impact of gender (male vs female) and EV ownership (owners of non-EVs vs EVs) on the proposed model.FindingsThe findings of this study reveal that green self-identity, national identity and perceived self-image have a great impact on the development of green consumer identity. This identity in turn has a positive impact on consumers' purchase intention of EVs. Brand trust and attitude serve as the partial mediators of the relationship, implying their importance in promoting EV adoption. Multi-group analysis further confirms that both gender and EV ownership moderate the strength of these associations.Originality/valueThe novelty of this study is to provide insights by merging social and psychological dimensions into the EV adoption research. This study extends existing models by highlighting the interplay between consumer identity, trust and attitude and underscores the importance of tailoring policies based on demographic and ownership characteristics to foster sustainable mobility transitions.
