Congratulations to Dr. Doug Arent, Dr. Adam Warren and Prof. Dr. Xiaolei Yang who won the 2024 MDPI Topics Award for their Topic “Advances in Renewable Energy Technologies and Systems Solutions”.

	Name: Dr. Doug Arent Affiliations: 1. NREL Foundation, Golden CO 80401, USA 80401; 2. World Economic Forum, CH-1223 Geneva, Switzerland; 3. Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA Research interests: integration of renewable energy in energy systems; energy system modeling; power market design; energy/food/water/climate change nexus; sustainable development
	Name: Dr. Adam Warren Affiliation: Scientific Computing and Energy Analysis, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401, USA Research interests: strategic planning and techno-economic analysis; resilience of integrated energy systems; accelerated technology adoption and commercialization; decarbonization beyond the power sector; energy and environmental justice
	Name: Prof. Dr. Xiaolei Yang Affiliation: The State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China Research interests: turbulent flows; wind energy; computational fluid dynamics

The following is a short interview with Dr. Doug Arent and Prof. Dr. Xiaolei Yang:

1. Could you please briefly introduce your winning Topic to our readers? What inspired you to lead this Topic?
Dr. Arent: The Topic “Advances in Renewable Energy Technologies and Systems Solutions” was carefully selected to capture the activity in innovations in individual technologies, but also to include broader perspectives of system-level solutions that incorporate multiple technologies, software, smart management, demand-side efforts, and other approaches to advancing modern, reliable, affordable, and resilient energy systems.

Prof. Dr. Yang: This Topic, “Advances in Renewable Energy Technologies and Systems Solutions”, explores the cutting-edge developments shaping a sustainable energy future. It delves into a broad spectrum of research progress, from component-level enhancements in solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, and biofuels to comprehensive system-level integration. The published papers investigate critical areas such as hybrid energy systems, grid integration with storage solutions, advanced power electronics, and market designs for high renewable penetration. Specific research includes optimizing maximum power point tracking for PV systems under partial shading, enhancing the reliability of wind-driven generators, developing efficient green hydrogen production, and assessing the techno-economic feasibility of agrophotovoltaic systems. Furthermore, studies address the operational robustness of renewable-dominant grids, privacy-preserving electricity trading for microgrids, and the potential of marine and geothermal energy. This compilation of 39 articles provides a valuable overview of the multi-faceted approaches required to accelerate the global transition to a resilient, low-carbon energy system.
I was inspired to co-organize this Topic by the unprecedented pace of innovation in renewable energy. It was a great pleasure to collaborate with Dr. Doug Arent and Dr. Adam Warren and to work with MDPI’s editors.

2. What has been your impression of the publishing experience with MDPI Topics?
Dr. Arent: MDPI offers excellent support for Topic Editors.

Prof. Dr. Yang: The dedicated MDPI editorial team was instrumental in managing the process, from initial promotion to manuscript handling, which allowed us to focus on the scientific part.

3. What advice would you offer to young investigators who aspire to achieve similar recognition in their research careers?
Dr. Arent: A career in research and thought leadership is a marathon and a journey. My recommendation is to be thoughtful, mindful, patient, and also very open to working with collaborators and embracing teams of functional researchers to ideate on white space solutions.

Prof. Dr. Yang: First, strive for excellence in your research, as your publications are your primary voice. Second, cultivate an active network, not only within your own field but also across different disciplines and by bridging academia with industry. Third, commit to serving your community through roles such as Topic Editors or event organization.

4. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
Dr. Arent: My main research topics include AI and energy, both on the supply side but also relating to the utilization of AI to help provide unprecedented efficiencies and capabilities in the energy system. Other areas of interest to me include the breakthroughs in materials that can hopefully be theoretically identified and expeditiously developed using AI, machine learning and other techniques. Another topic of interest is the innovation ecosystem needed to bring together innovations, technologies, solutions, and finance at scale, providing creative opportunities.

Prof. Dr. Yang: AI is changing the ways in which we conduct research and advance technologies. Topics on “applications of AI methods in renewable energy systems” will be of interest to the community. 

5. What are your thoughts on the evolution of open access publishing in academia? How do you see it impacting the dissemination of future research?
Dr. Arent: Open access has been a very valuable evolution in the scientific community and process. Hopefully, it continues robustly.

Prof. Dr. Yang: Open access is crucial in academia, but its current funding model may create inequity. Article processing charges can pose a challenge for researchers without a substantial grant. An inclusive funding solution is necessary.