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Open research questions in Global Energy and Sustainability Research

49 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 904 Global Energy and Sustainability Research papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • The lack of efficient energy storage systems is a major barrier to solar energy adoption. The lack of political commitment is a major barrier to solar energy adoption. The complex task of solar cell disposal is a major barrier to solar energy adoption.

    Exploiting the Barriers to Shifting to Solar Energy Usage in Coal Intensive Industries Through DEMATEL · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies several challenges, including political interference, financial constraints, and resistance from labor unions. The paper highlights the need to balance the transition with the socio-economic implications of phasing out coal. The study emphasizes the importance of addressing the competing discourses between coal and renewable energy proponents.

    Fostering the just energy transition amid competing discourses of coal and renewable energy in South Africa · 2026 · DOI

  • The energy transition is changing labor markets, creating new jobs, causing job losses, and altering job quality. Fossil fuel–dependent areas face employment risks and require targeted support. The distribution of job gains from renewable energy deployment remains uneven across regions.

    Labor Market and Ecological Implications of the Shift from Fossil Fuels to Renewable Energy: A Systematic Literature Review · 2026 · DOI

  • Technological complexity. Multi-level uncertainties. Interdependent socio-economic factors. Technology readiness gap of the BEM unit.

    A Holistic Market Research Analysis of Carbon-Negative Fuel Systems embedding Decision-Making Procedures · 2026 · DOI

  • Regulatory fragmentation and lack of institutional coordination. Limited domestic manufacturing and green finance options. Dependence on imported fossil fuels and vulnerability to global supply disruptions.

    Policy Framework for Achieving Energy Independence in India: Governance, Institutional Reforms, and Strategic Policy Interventions · 2026 · DOI

  • Rapid growth in new capacity from wind and solar power sources. Restrictions on feeding energy into the grid during periods of overproduction. A significant capacity gap in controllable capacity may emerge after 2032.

    Coal and Gas: the Two Pillars of Balancing the National Energy System of Poland by 2040 · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of public statistical data on plant performance. The difficulty of obtaining accurate and reliable data on plant output. The challenge of validating the reconstruction using independent data sources.

    Reconstructing realised first-of-a-kind plant performance from public payment records: a seven-year output trajectory from the NER300 programme · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in the understanding of the 'renewable energy frontier' and its impact on the pace of decarbonization. The study contends that prior work on renewable energy adoption overlooks the insidious individualism of energy transitions.

    Solar Pioneers · 2026 · DOI

  • Examination of the relationships among energy management, resource efficiency, and circular economy principles - Investigation of the impact of Industry 4.0 concepts on energy management

    Global review of the ISO 50001 standard and provision of a framework for improving energy management systems for Iran · 2026 · DOI

  • Lack of funds - Technical competencies - Organizational resistance - Supportive infrastructure

    Global review of the ISO 50001 standard and provision of a framework for improving energy management systems for Iran · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on revising the reserve disclosure to incorporate more deeply into climate-related reporting. Future research should investigate the impact of SEC reserve reporting on investor decision-making in a decarbonizing energy system.

    Resource transparency and energy transition: The role of SEC oil and gas reserve reporting in future energy systems · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in the current SEC reserve reporting system, which does not account for climate-related risks. The paper identifies a gap in the current literature, which does not fully address the role of SEC reserve reporting in a decarbonizing energy system.

    Resource transparency and energy transition: The role of SEC oil and gas reserve reporting in future energy systems · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the understanding of the challenges to solar energy adoption in coal-intensive industries. The study highlights the need for sustainable waste management policies to address the ecological barriers to solar energy adoption.

    Exploiting the Barriers to Shifting to Solar Energy Usage in Coal Intensive Industries Through DEMATEL · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research can build on the study's findings, exploring the implementation of the recommended harmonized approach to the Just Energy Transition in South Africa. Further studies can examine the effectiveness of the proposed bottom-up participatory planning approach in promoting community involvement and participation in the transition process. Research can also investigate the application of the Energy Justice Theoretical Framework in other contexts, promoting sustainable energy systems and transitions.

    Fostering the just energy transition amid competing discourses of coal and renewable energy in South Africa · 2026 · DOI

  • The empirical literature on the relationship between renewable energy and economic growth has yielded mixed, often inconclusive results. There is a need for a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between renewable energy and economic growth across European Union member countries.

    Renewable Energy and Economic Growth: Evidence from European Union Countries · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research can build on the study's findings to inform policy decisions and investment opportunities for a net zero transition. Future research can explore the application of the Trapezoidal Fuzzy DEMATEL methodology to other contexts.

    NET ZERO TRANSITION TOWARDS DECARBONIZATION IN CONTEXT OF ENERGY SECTOR · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for a conceptual approach involving policy, technology, and principles of the circular economy for a net zero transition. There is a lack of understanding of the causal relationships between enablers for a net zero transition.

    NET ZERO TRANSITION TOWARDS DECARBONIZATION IN CONTEXT OF ENERGY SECTOR · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of the labor market and ecological implications of the energy transition. Existing research on labor market implications remains fragmented and incomplete, with a focus on specific regions, technologies, or social dimensions.

    Labor Market and Ecological Implications of the Shift from Fossil Fuels to Renewable Energy: A Systematic Literature Review · 2026 · DOI

  • Future studies can build on the BU-NEP model to explore different energy scenarios and policy interventions. Further research is needed to develop strategies for reducing energy consumption and emissions in Nepal. The study's findings can be used to inform policy decisions and develop plans for achieving Nepal's net-zero emissions target.

    Learning from the past and planning for Nepal’s sustainable energy future: bottom-up modelling in LEAP · 2026 · DOI

  • The study identifies a gap in the existing energy modelling approaches for Nepal. The study highlights the need for a comprehensive assessment of Nepal's energy future, considering both demand and supply sides.

    Learning from the past and planning for Nepal’s sustainable energy future: bottom-up modelling in LEAP · 2026 · DOI

  • The technology readiness gap of the BEM unit. High capital expenditure associated with thermochemical conversion systems.

    A Holistic Market Research Analysis of Carbon-Negative Fuel Systems embedding Decision-Making Procedures · 2026 · DOI

  • The current policy framework lacks a comprehensive approach to energy governance. There is a need for a multidimensional governance framework to address policy gaps and challenges.

    Policy Framework for Achieving Energy Independence in India: Governance, Institutional Reforms, and Strategic Policy Interventions · 2026 · DOI

  • Addressing a gap in the literature on bilateral spillover effects and policy‐responsive modelling, the study introduces a modular dynamic IO framework incorporating competing natural gas and renewable energy stimulus scenarios.

    Opportunities for Australia Amid China's Carbon‐Neutral Transition: Input–Output Approach With Analysis of Australian Renewable Potential · 2026 · DOI

  • A significant capacity gap in controllable capacity may emerge after 2032. The national grid operator was forced to reallocate approximately 1 TWh of energy from weather-dependent sources in 2025.

    Coal and Gas: the Two Pillars of Balancing the National Energy System of Poland by 2040 · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of public statistical data on the performance of first-of-a-kind industrial plants. This lack of data makes it challenging for insurers and lenders to price the risk of such plants. The paper identifies a gap in the current approach to estimating plant performance.

    Reconstructing realised first-of-a-kind plant performance from public payment records: a seven-year output trajectory from the NER300 programme · 2026 · DOI

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49 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 904 Global Energy and Sustainability Research papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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