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Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Light of Energy Transition Processes—3rd Edition

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A: Sustainable Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 June 2026 | Viewed by 4028

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Bartłomiej Igliński

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Interests: renewable energy; environmental conservation; sustainable energy; pro-ecological technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Michał Bernard Pietrzak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Statistics and Econometrics, Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdansk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Interests: renewable energy; sustainable development; low-emission economy; regional analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The subject of this Special Issue is the processes of the global energy transition and the related issues of energy use and production. It should be emphasized that energy in the framework of the energy transition is understood as a fundamental engine of economic development and a factor in improving the quality of life. Reliable access to energy is a key element in economic and social development. Conventional fuel resources are limited and non-renewable, and their use contributes to atmospheric pollution by the emission of greenhouse gases, resulting in ever-increasing global warming. Therefore, it is necessary to intensify the production of energy from renewable energy (RE) sources. Importantly, any type of RE should be sourced sustainably, as this is the only way to achieve the energy transition. The development of RE promotes the creation of a decentralized society, powered by a network of smaller and safer power plants, and the strengthening of local communities.

This Special Issue addresses the current status, potential and prospects for renewable and sustainable energy development in light of energy transition processes. Research is being conducted around the world to improve the various RE sectors. As a result, technologies related to RE production are characterized by increasing energy efficiency, with decreasing costs for their purchase and installation. There are also beneficial socioeconomic aspects of scientific and technological development, such as improved quality of life and new jobs. This Special Issue will present the latest scientific, technical and economic developments in problems of energy transition and renewable and sustainable energy.

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

  • Energy transition and determinants of the energy transition processes;
  • Energy production, heat, transportation, transformation of economies and social changes;
  • Primary fuels, energy, and the renewable energy market;
  • Possibilities of RE development;
  • Institutional determinants of the RE sector;
  • Biomass technology and biofuels applications;
  • Biogas and biomethane production;
  • Wind energy technology;
  • Solar, thermal and photovoltaic technology;
  • Hydropower technology, wave, tide, and ocean thermal energies;
  • Geothermal technology;
  • Hydrogen production and fuel cells;
  • Proecological aspects in the energy sector;
  • Low-emission economy, decarbonization strategy, prosumers;
  • Socio-economic consequences of the development of the RE sector.

Dr. Bartłomiej Igliński
Dr. Michał Bernard Pietrzak
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.

Keywords

  • energy transition
  • renewable and sustainable energy
  • renewable energy sources
  • energy conversion
  • proecological technologies
  • low-emission economy
  • sustainable heating

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Related Special Issues

Published Papers (7 papers)

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15 pages, 3058 KB  
Article
Exergy-Based Performance Evaluation of a Multi-Unit Hydropower System: A Case Study of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project in Nepal
by Sharad Kumar Oli, Mohammad G. Rasul and Arjun Neupane
Energies 2026, 19(10), 2255; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19102255 - 7 May 2026
Viewed by 331
Abstract
The objective of this work is to present sustainability analysis and performance evaluation of six hydropower units through exergy-based indices. The method of exergy analysis, based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics, was utilized to evaluate system irreversibility and environmental impact. [...] Read more.
The objective of this work is to present sustainability analysis and performance evaluation of six hydropower units through exergy-based indices. The method of exergy analysis, based on the first and second laws of thermodynamics, was utilized to evaluate system irreversibility and environmental impact. The Exergy Efficiency, Sustainability Efficiency Index (SEI), and Exergy Ecological Index (ECEI) were determined and plotted in MATLAB. The efficiency and exergy performance results show that Unit 6 had the highest exergy efficiency at 89.3%, and Unit 1 had the least at 82.1%. The values of SEI and ECEI showed that elevated exergy efficiency contributes to increasing sustainability and ecological performance in parallel. The results demonstrate that exergy analysis can provide a broader and more accurate measure of system performance than energy analysis in hydroelectric power systems. The approach shows that local reference environmental conditions must be incorporated to establish system equilibrium. It also suggests that exergy analysis should be used as a standard tool for the optimization and performance management of hydropower plants. Its integration would help the operators take measures against malfunction, minimize losses and improve the environmental and thermodynamic sustainability of energy systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Light of Energy Transition Processes—3rd Edition)
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28 pages, 7581 KB  
Article
Fuel Switching Strategies for Decarbonising the Glass Industry Using Renewable Energy and Hydrogen-Based Solutions
by Lorenzo Miserocchi and Alessandro Franco
Energies 2026, 19(6), 1529; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19061529 - 19 Mar 2026
Viewed by 468
Abstract
This study addresses the decarbonisation of the glass industry from an integrated energy system perspective, analysing the role of renewable electricity, furnace electrification, and hydrogen in meeting the high and continuous thermal demands of glass melting. While direct electrification represents the most energy-efficient [...] Read more.
This study addresses the decarbonisation of the glass industry from an integrated energy system perspective, analysing the role of renewable electricity, furnace electrification, and hydrogen in meeting the high and continuous thermal demands of glass melting. While direct electrification represents the most energy-efficient option, its implementation is challenged by the intermittent nature and limited operating hours of renewable generation, scale constraints, and technological limitations in replacing fossil-based processes, highlighting a potential complementary role for hydrogen. A general methodological framework is first developed and then applied to a representative oxyfuel glass furnace using mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) optimisation that minimises melting costs while accounting for variable solar and wind generation, battery storage, and hydrogen production and storage. The results show that high levels of furnace electrification combined with wind-dominated renewable supply yield the lowest decarbonisation costs, which can become negative at moderate decarbonisation levels. Under the current solar–wind capacity expansion mix, the integration of battery and hydrogen storage extends achievable emission reductions from around 50% to 80%, with hydrogen acting as a complementary solution to electrification. Sensitivity analysis of energy and carbon prices, as well as technology investment costs, identifies the economic conditions in which storage-based solutions become cost-effective, highlighting the strategic role of hydrogen under conditions of low electricity prices and high fuel prices. The findings demonstrate viable pathways for deep decarbonisation of the glass sector and provide a transferable methodological framework for optimal renewable energy integration in other hard-to-abate industrial sectors facing similar constraints. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Light of Energy Transition Processes—3rd Edition)
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28 pages, 679 KB  
Article
Green or Greenwashing: The Nonlinear Effect of Green Finance on Hydropower Resource Misallocation
by Ruirui Shi, Yuxuan Wu, Chaofan Qiao, Jiayao Xue, Wenjie Pan, Yu Zhang, Fangming Xie and Huimin Ma
Energies 2026, 19(6), 1451; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19061451 - 13 Mar 2026
Viewed by 480
Abstract
Enhancing the allocation efficiency of hydropower resources is critical to achieving China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Based on panel data of 29 Chinese regions from 2001 to 2020, this study first measures the degree of hydropower resource misallocation via a counterfactual [...] Read more.
Enhancing the allocation efficiency of hydropower resources is critical to achieving China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Based on panel data of 29 Chinese regions from 2001 to 2020, this study first measures the degree of hydropower resource misallocation via a counterfactual decomposition approach, and then adopts a threshold model to explore the impact of green finance on hydropower resource misallocation. The results show that: (1) Western and southwestern regions with abundant hydropower resources yet insufficient economic absorption capacity suffer from hydropower oversupply, while eastern coastal and central regions with advanced economies and intensive industries face hydropower undersupply. The inverse spatial distribution pattern of hydropower supply and demand cores reflects prominent hydropower resource misallocation. (2) Green finance has an inverted U-shaped nonlinear relationship with hydropower resource misallocation. Moderate development of green finance can improve hydropower resource allocation efficiency, yet exceeding the optimal threshold may trigger problems including greenwashing and thus exacerbate hydropower resource misallocation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Light of Energy Transition Processes—3rd Edition)
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28 pages, 5381 KB  
Article
The Role of Hydropower in Climate-Resilient Energy Systems: Case Study of the Jeziorsko Reservoir (Poland)
by Mateusz Hämmerling, Tomasz Kałuża, Agnieszka A. Pilarska, Dariusz Graczyk and Kacper Konieczny
Energies 2026, 19(5), 1359; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19051359 - 7 Mar 2026
Viewed by 569
Abstract
Hydropower supports the energy transition by providing flexible, low-carbon generation, yet its performance is increasingly constrained by climate-driven variability in water availability. This study quantifies long-term hydroclimatic changes in the Warta River–Jeziorsko reservoir system (central Poland) and assess their implications for water resources, [...] Read more.
Hydropower supports the energy transition by providing flexible, low-carbon generation, yet its performance is increasingly constrained by climate-driven variability in water availability. This study quantifies long-term hydroclimatic changes in the Warta River–Jeziorsko reservoir system (central Poland) and assess their implications for water resources, hydropower generation, and reservoir operation. The analysis combines multi-decadal meteorological observations, daily river flows at the Sieradz gauge (1951–2022), and reservoir and plant operational records, with electricity production evaluated for 1995–2022. The results indicate significant warming and shorter snow-cover duration, while annual precipitation shows no consistent long-term trend. Hydrological drought has intensified, reflected by lower mean flows in recent decades and a strong increase in days with discharge below SNQ, particularly after 2015. Electricity production is highly variable and shows a significant downward trend, amplified by reduced usable storage following operating-rule changes. By linking long-term hydroclimatic indicators with site-specific operational and production data for a lowland multi-purpose reservoir under environmental constraints, this study provides evidence to support adaptive reservoir management balancing water security and hydropower reliability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Light of Energy Transition Processes—3rd Edition)
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17 pages, 3327 KB  
Article
Coordinated Inertia Synthesis and Stability Design for PV Systems Utilizing DC-Link Capacitors
by Qi Hua, Lunbo Deng, Qiao Peng and Yongheng Yang
Energies 2026, 19(4), 1100; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19041100 - 22 Feb 2026
Viewed by 458
Abstract
The increasing penetration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) has been reducing system inertia and intensifying frequency stability challenges. Hence, various grid demands have been imposed on grid-connected systems, e.g., requiring the provision of an auxiliary service to the grid. In this context, this paper [...] Read more.
The increasing penetration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) has been reducing system inertia and intensifying frequency stability challenges. Hence, various grid demands have been imposed on grid-connected systems, e.g., requiring the provision of an auxiliary service to the grid. In this context, this paper investigates the provision of synthesized inertia from the DC-link capacitors in grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems. For this configuration, the PV converter adopts a frequency–voltage droop control (FVDC) strategy, while a virtual synchronous generator (VSG) is employed on the grid side to emulate a synchronous generator, to enable the DC-link energy to contribute to primary frequency support. To quantify the virtual inertia and evaluate the closed-loop stability, a small-signal model of the inverter system is established. An eigenvalue analysis reveals that while increasing the DC-link voltage or capacitance enhances the achievable virtual inertia, it simultaneously narrows the stability margin. As such, comparative stability assessments under different parameter settings are performed, highlighting the distinct impacts of the DC-link voltages and capacitances on the emulated inertia and stability margins. The study provides insights into the maximum virtual inertia achievable via DC-link capacitors and offers practical guidelines for coordinating the controller and DC-link design to enhance frequency robustness in low-inertia power systems. Real-time hardware-in-the-loop (RT-HIL) tests validate the analytical findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Light of Energy Transition Processes—3rd Edition)
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21 pages, 2115 KB  
Article
Symbiosis of Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen at the Regional Level: The Example of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship in Poland
by Bartłomiej Igliński, Krzysztof Mazurek, Sebastian Drużyński, Michał Bernard Pietrzak, Urszula Kiełkowska, Mateusz Skrzatek and Jarosław Krajewski
Energies 2026, 19(4), 1055; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19041055 - 18 Feb 2026
Viewed by 537
Abstract
Both the energy sector transition processes and the industry transformation processes should in the future be based on the use of green hydrogen (GH) obtained using renewable energy sources (RES). It is the symbiosis of RES and GH that will allow for a [...] Read more.
Both the energy sector transition processes and the industry transformation processes should in the future be based on the use of green hydrogen (GH) obtained using renewable energy sources (RES). It is the symbiosis of RES and GH that will allow for a sustainable energy transformation of the entire economy. The calculated amount of RES in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship (Poland) is 18 TWh—this would provide 4.2 billion m3 (under normal conditions) (0.38 million tons) of GH. The amount of GH produced from RES surpluses in the voivodeship is about 30% of the current production of GH from fossil fuels in Poland. The calculated GH would power 2.64 million cars. The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship has numerous salt caverns where GH can be stored. The most important barrier in the context of GH production remains the effective construction of a hydrogen economy chain, which requires a simultaneous costly transformation of the supply and demand sides. In order to implement GH technology, it is necessary to reduce the costs associated with its production, storage and transmission. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Light of Energy Transition Processes—3rd Edition)
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55 pages, 3802 KB  
Systematic Review
Harvesting Solar Energy for Green Buildings Through Plastic Optical-Fibre Daylighting Systems: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Raheel Tariq, Simon P. Philbin, Nadia Touileb Djaid and Kevin J. Munisami
Energies 2026, 19(8), 1857; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19081857 - 10 Apr 2026
Viewed by 501
Abstract
Optical-fibre daylighting systems (OFDS) harvest solar energy as a renewable lighting resource by delivering sunlight deep into green buildings. This emerging technology for sustainable infrastructure reduces electric-lighting demand; however, reported performance is difficult to compare across heterogeneous designs, metrics, and validation practices. Therefore, [...] Read more.
Optical-fibre daylighting systems (OFDS) harvest solar energy as a renewable lighting resource by delivering sunlight deep into green buildings. This emerging technology for sustainable infrastructure reduces electric-lighting demand; however, reported performance is difficult to compare across heterogeneous designs, metrics, and validation practices. Therefore, a PRISMA 2020–reported systematic literature review (SLR) of OFDS studies from three databases (Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science; 2000–2025) was conducted, synthesising primary research that quantifies system- or component-level performance, with a focus on (i) plastic optical fibre (POF) transmission characteristics; and (ii) POF-based illuminance model validation. After de-duplication and screening, 106 primary studies were included, and two meta-analyses were performed where data were harmonised from 29 studies in total. Across reported POF configurations, attenuation ranged from 150 to 800 dB/km with a pooled mean of 332.8 dB/km, corresponding to a mean 1 m transmission of 92.7% and median design length scales of ∼3.7 m for 80% transmission and ∼11.6 m to half-power. Across illuminance validation datasets, models showed high linear agreement with experimental measurements (coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.99; slope = 0.99) but typically underpredicted illuminance (geometric mean ratio = 1.16; mean absolute error (MAE) = 27.3 lux; mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) = 17.6%). These findings underscore the need for a standardised evaluation framework, including consistent metric definitions, robust uncertainty reporting, and reusable validation datasets to enable variance-weighted synthesis, while also identifying short-run POF routing as a key lever for improving system efficiency. In addition to providing the OFDS research agenda, this study serves as a roadmap for the industrial development of daylighting systems for green buildings based on harvesting solar energy, with its novelty lying in the PRISMA-guided evidence synthesis and quantitative meta-analytic consolidation of POF transmission and illuminance-validation performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable and Sustainable Energy in Light of Energy Transition Processes—3rd Edition)
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