Vliv energetické struktury na hospodářský růst zemí Evropské unie v období 2000–2023

This bachelor’s thesis examines the relationship between the energy structure of the economy and the rate of economic growth in the member states of the European Union. The main focus is on the energy intensity of the economy and the share of renewable energy sources in gross final energy consumption. The empirical analysis is conducted using panel data for the 27 EU member states over the period 2004-2023. The dependent variable is the growth rate of real GDP per capita, and the model further includes control variables such as gross capital formation, economic openness, unemployment, and inflation. Methodologically, the study employs panel regression; based on diagnostic tests, a fixed-effects model with cluster-robust standard errors is selected as the main specification. The results show that energy intensity has a positive and statistically significant relationship with the growth rate of real GDP per capita during the period under review, while the share of renewable energy sources exhibits a negative relationship. This result is interpreted as reflecting the difference between the short-term and long-term impacts of the energy transition. In the short term, economic growth may still be associated with more energy- intensive activity, while the growth in the share of renewable energy sources may be accompanied by transitional investment and adaptation costs. The study further shows that energy variables do not act as short-term predictors of growth, but rather as long-term structural factors. The study’s conclusions emphasize the need to link the development of renewable energy sources with reducing energy intensity, supporting investment, and taking into account the differing starting conditions of individual EU member states.