Advances in Solar Concentration Energy, Thermal Storage, and Hybrid Plants

Dear Colleagues,

The transition to a low-carbon energy system requires technologies that deliver reliable and flexible renewable power. Concentrated solar power (CSP) combined with thermal energy storage (TES) offers a unique advantage by enabling dispatchable solar electricity. This Special Issue focuses on recent advances in solar concentration technologies, thermal storage solutions, and the integration of hybrid plants combining CSP with other energy sources such as photovoltaics, biomass, or conventional backup systems.

Key topics include innovations in solar field design, optical efficiency, and receiver technologies, as well as breakthroughs in TES materials and configurations, including molten salts, phase-change materials, and thermochemical storage. These developments aim to improve energy density, reduce thermal losses, and enhance operational flexibility. Contributions addressing hybridization strategies, control systems, and optimization approaches are particularly encouraged, as hybrid plants can significantly improve reliability and reduce costs.

Beyond technical aspects, this issue will also consider research on techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and environmental impacts, providing a comprehensive perspective on CSP and TES deployment. Studies on grid integration, sector coupling, and policy frameworks that support hybrid renewable systems are also relevant, as these factors are critical for large-scale implementation.

By gathering cutting-edge research and practical insights, this Special Issue aims to accelerate the development of CSP and hybrid plants as key solutions for sustainable energy. We invite the submission of original research articles, reviews, and case studies that advance the state of the art in solar concentration, thermal storage, and hybrid energy systems.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies for electricity or process heat;
• Thermal energy storage (TES) systems and materials;
• Hybrid plant configurations combining CSP with PV, biomass, or conventional backup;
• System modeling, simulation, and performance optimization;
• Advanced receiver designs and heat transfer fluids;
• Novel materials for high-temperature applications;
• Techno-economic analysis and cost reduction strategies;
• Life cycle assessment and environmental impact studies;
• Grid integration and sector coupling;
• Case studies and demonstration projects.

Dr. Alaric Christian Montenon
Dr. Diogo Canhão de Sousa Canavarro
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Energies 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 2600 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.