Trends and research progress in sustainable and green energy management: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of research trends and advancements in the field of sustainable and green energy management. The depletion of fossil fuels and the threats posed by increasing carbon emissions to global energy security have made the need for sustainable energy solutions more urgent. The analysis, conducted on articles published between 2008 and 2024 in the Web of Science (WoS) database, reveals that energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainability, and green energy are the most frequently researched topics in the literature. Key themes include green energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, and energy performance evaluation, with increasing interest in the role of policy and technological innovations in sustainable energy in recent years. The findings of the study demonstrate a strong research network in the energy management literature, but also highlight that some niche topics remain underexplored. The thematic map analysis shows that energy management, machine learning, and green energy efficiency are central topics, while less-researched areas are limited in the literature. This indicates the need for further expansion of research in new areas within the field of sustainable energy management. This bibliometric study reveals current research trends in sustainable energy management and offers strategic insights for future studies, providing important recommendations for addressing gaps in the field.