International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management Vol. 18 2018 1

1Corresponding author - e-mail: poul@plan.aau.dk

International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management Vol. 18 2018 01–02

ABSTRACT

This editorial introduces the 18th volume of the International Journal of Sustainable Energy 
Planning and Management, which addresses the energy mix of Indonesia, the water-energy nexus 
in the Drina River Basin, the effects of economic crises on electric utilities, the potential for 
biogas production in Ukraine and the organisation and ownership of community energy projects.

1. Contents

In this volume, Almulla et al.[1] probe into the water-
energy nexus of rivers through analyses of the impacts on 
water availability and hydropower. Based on analyses of 
the river Drina (running through Montenegro, Serbia and 
Bosnia-Hercegovina until flowing into Sava) using the 
Open Source energy Modeling System (OSeMOSYS), the 
authors investigate hydropower and untapped potentials – 
potentials that do not compromise upstream plants. In turn 
the authors also investigate the effects hydropower may 
have on the regional electricity landscape. 

In [2], Sani et al. looks at the widening gap between 
energy demand and supply in Indonesia, and investigate 
the historical evolution in this as well as in the energy 
mix with a view to providing inputs for an Indonesian 
energy vision. Using System Dynamics, they model the 
energy mix. They find, that unfortunately, oil and other 
fossil fuel resources in Indonesia are prioritized ahead 
of renewables. On the positive side, scenario modelling 
shows there is room for improvement. 

Mota et al. [3] also turns to investigations of historical 
data to explain developments. Taking a starting point in 
the global financial crisis (2008–2009), the debt crisis 
(2010–12) and the commodity price realignment 
(2014–2016) they investigate the effects on European 
electric utilities. At the same time of the crises, these 
were subjected to increasingly higher greenhouse gas 
reduction requirements. This contribution is a virtual 
contribution to the Special Issue on the 2017 Conference 
on Energy & Environment [4].

Kurbatova [5] investigate the potential for biogas 
generation in Ukraine based on animal manure. At 
present, the utilisation rate is negligible, and one of the 
issues facing biogas utilisation in Ukraine is that nearly 
half the animals are on farms too small for biogas plants. 
Thus, in order to exploit the potential, common biogas 
systems are required. In fact, the economic feasibility of 
building these is favourable, with pay-back-times below 
five years

Finally, Tricarico [6] follows up on the perspective of 
community projects – not from biogas but for the general 

Editorial – International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and 
Management Vol 18

Poul Alberg Østergaard*

Department of Planning, Aalborg University, Rendsburggade 14, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark 

Keywords:

Water-energy nexus;
Indonesia;
Crises and electric utilities;
Biogas in Ukraine;
Community projects;

URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.18.1

http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.18.1


2 International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management Vol. 18 2018

Editorial – International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management Vol 18

exploitation of distributed energy sources, where 
organisation and ownership may play an important role. 

References

[1]  Almulla Y. The role of Energy-Water nexus to motivate 

transboundary cooperation. Int J Sustain Energy Plan Manag 

2018;18. http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.18.2

[2]  Sani K, Siallagan M, Putro US, Mangkusubroto K. Indonesia 

Energy Mix Modelling Using System Dynamics. Int J Sustain 

Energy Plan Manag 2018;18. http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/

ijsepm.2018.18.3

[3]  Mota MM, Aquino TC, Soares I. Financial crisis: Understanding 

effects on European electric utilities performance. Int J Sustain 

Energy Plan Manag 2018;18. http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/

ijsepm.2018.18.4

[4]  Soares I, Ferreira P, Østergaard PA. Energy markets, financing 

and accounting — Special issue from 2017 International 

Conference on Energy & Environment. Int J Sustain Energy 

Plan Manag 2018;15. http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.15.1

[5]  Kurbatova T. Economic benefits from production of biogas 

based on animal waste within energy co-operatives in Ukraine. 

Int J Sustain Energy Plan Manag 2018;18. http://dx.doi.

org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.18.5

[6]  Tricarico L. Community Energy Enterprises in the Distributed 

Energy Geography. Int J Sustain Energy Plan Manag 2018;18. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.18.6

http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.18.2
http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.18.3
http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.18.3
http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.18.4
http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.18.4
http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.15.1
http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.18.5
http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.18.5
http://dx.doi.org/10.5278/ijsepm.2018.18.6