Solar Thermal Energy: Conversion, Storage, and Utilization
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Thermal Engineering".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2025 | Viewed by 2
Special Issue Editors
Interests: solar energy; energy storage; simulations; CFD; raytracing; performance assessment; ES; decarbonisation; industrial heat
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: NZEB; energy efficiency; solar thermal energy; heat pumps
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue aims to present recent advancements and emerging trends in the field of solar thermal energy, focusing on innovative approaches to its conversion, storage, and utilization. Solar thermal technologies play a vital role in the transition toward sustainable and low-carbon energy systems by enabling the direct use of solar radiation for hot water, steam, and power generation.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, and case studies that address, but need not be limited to, the following topics:
- Advanced materials and systems for solar thermal collectors;
- Novel designs and optimization of solar concentrators (e.g., parabolic trough, heliostat, Fresnel, and dish systems);
- Solar thermal energy storage methods (sensible, latent, and thermochemical);
- Integration of solar thermal systems in industrial applications;
- Hybrid systems combining solar thermal with other RESs, such as photovoltaic and biomass;
- Modeling, simulation, and performance analysis of solar thermal systems;
- Environmental and economic assessments of solar thermal technologies.
This Special Issue seeks to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and highlight practical solutions and technological innovations that advance the widespread adoption of solar thermal energy. Contributions that bridge theoretical development with experimental validation and real-world deployment are particularly encouraged.
Dr. Rosa Christodoulaki
Prof. Dr. Irene P. Koronaki
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- solar thermal
- heat storage
- PCM storage
- energy efficiency
- solar heat for industrial applications
- industrial heat
- solar ready buildings
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