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Transition of Renewable Energy Towards Climate Neutrality and Sustainability

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 May 2026 | Viewed by 880

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Management, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Interests: energy economics and environmental management; driving mechanisms of energy transition; processes of low-carbon technological innovation; low-carbon development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the global climate crisis becomes increasingly severe, the transition to renewable energy has emerged as a crucial pathway to achieving climate neutrality and sustainable development. The burning of fossil fuels has led to a dramatic increase in greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global warming, extreme weather events, and deteriorating environmental conditions. In response, nations around the world are setting ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions and shifting toward cleaner energy sources. The urgency of this transition is underscored by international agreements such as the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global temperature rise and promote sustainable practices across all sectors.

Governments, businesses, and academic institutions are actively exploring innovative solutions and technologies to harness renewable energy sources such as the sun, wind, water, and biomass. These energy sources not only help reduce dependency on fossil fuels, but also contribute to job creation, energy security, and economic growth. The integration of renewable energy into existing energy systems requires a multifaceted approach that involves technological innovation, regulatory frameworks, and public engagement. Additionally, the successful transition to renewable energy does not only involve technological advancements; it also involves addressing social, economic, and environmental factors that can facilitate or hinder progress.

This Special Issue aims to present research findings and experiences from various fields to provide theoretical support and practical guidance for the transition to renewable energy. By bringing together a diverse array of perspectives, we hope to illuminate the pathways toward a low-carbon future. Our goal is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and community advocates, to catalyze action and drive meaningful change in the energy landscape.

This Special Issue focuses on renewable energy as a key factor in achieving climate neutrality and sustainable development goals, as well as the challenges it faces. By presenting a diverse range of research topics, we hope to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, thereby promoting advancements in and broader application of renewable energy technologies.

Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Renewable Energy Policies and their Economic Impacts: Analyzing the renewable energy policies of different countries and regions and their economic implications.
  2. Innovation in and Applications of Solar Energy Technologies: Exploring the research and development of emerging solar energy technologies and their application in various contexts.
  3. Development and Utilization of Wind Energy: Investigating the potential for wind energy resources and their application in urban and rural settings.
  4. Bioenergy and Renewable Energy Management: Discussing the technologies for producing biomass energy and their contributions to resource recycling.
  5. Energy Storage Technologies in Renewable Energy Systems: Evaluating the significance and economic viability of various energy storage technologies within renewable energy systems.
  6. Smart Grids and Energy Management: Examining how smart grid technologies can optimize the management and distribution of renewable energy.
  7. Global Climate Change and Its Relationship with Renewable Energy: Analyzing the impacts of climate change on the renewable energy market and strategies for adaptation.
  8. Social Acceptance and Implementation of Renewable Energy Projects: Researching public acceptance of renewable energy projects and the factors influencing their implementation.
  9. Integration of Renewable Energy into Existing Infrastructures: Investigating challenges and strategies for integrating renewable energy sources into current energy infrastructures.
  10. Technological Innovations in Renewable Energy: Highlighting cutting-edge innovations that enhance the efficiency and scalability of renewable energy technologies.

Dr. Guanglei Yang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • renewable energy
  • climate neutrality
  • sustainability
  • energy transition
  • policy analysis
  • technological innovation
  • energy management
  • public acceptance

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 1309 KB  
Article
A Financial Assessment of Offshore Wind Viability in Brazil: The Role of Capital Cost, Financing Structure and Policy Design
by Zenisha Chouhan, William Alexander Iremonger Collier and Vivien Foster
Energies 2026, 19(10), 2322; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19102322 - 12 May 2026
Viewed by 198
Abstract
Brazil possesses globally competitive offshore wind resources; however, financial viability is constrained by high capital expenditure (CAPEX) and industry risk. This study evaluates the investment feasibility of a 1 GW offshore wind project in northeast Brazil using a discounted cash flow (DCF) model. [...] Read more.
Brazil possesses globally competitive offshore wind resources; however, financial viability is constrained by high capital expenditure (CAPEX) and industry risk. This study evaluates the investment feasibility of a 1 GW offshore wind project in northeast Brazil using a discounted cash flow (DCF) model. For the key parameter of CAPEX, a Baseline Case was established, assuming a 1.53% commodity price escalation from 2021 until the Financial Investment Decision (FID) date of 2027, and was sensitivity tested against an Optimistic Case, assuming 0% cost escalation and a Stress Case based on twice the commodity price escalation of 3.06% up to 2027. Each CAPEX Case was evaluated against 12 financing scenarios involving varying levels of public support through a blend of concessional debt and grants. Financial performance was measured using net present value (NPV) and Equity Internal Rate of Return (EIRR). Results indicate that project financial viability is achieved under the Baseline Case only with levels of grant funding and concessional debt that exceed realistic thresholds, unless PPA tariffs are raised by about 50% relative to current market benchmarks. The Optimistic Case is viable at current tariffs under more realistic financing structures but represents an unattainable degree of capital cost containment. The Stress Case is not viable at all without a doubling of current PPA tariffs. Sensitivity analysis further demonstrates that even the most promising financial scenarios are vulnerable to any shortening of the 20-year PPA contracting period, leading to greater merchant risk exposure. The paper concludes that catalysing Brazil’s nascent offshore wind market will therefore call for a combination of policy measures that: permit (and recoup) a transitional premium over current PPA prices; adopt structural measures to reduce associated CAPEX through local supply chain development; combine public and private sources of capital to soften financial terms; and incorporate price risk mitigation measures. Full article
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19 pages, 725 KB  
Article
The Impact of New Energy Transition Policies on Synergy Between Corporate Pollution Reduction and Carbon Mitigation
by Yushu Qin and Zhicheng Duan
Energies 2026, 19(5), 1304; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19051304 - 5 Mar 2026
Viewed by 399
Abstract
Under the constraints of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets, corporate emission reduction is shifting from fragmented governance toward integrated governance that aligns pollution control with carbon reduction and long-term sustainable development. New energy transition policies have become a key instrument for restructuring [...] Read more.
Under the constraints of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets, corporate emission reduction is shifting from fragmented governance toward integrated governance that aligns pollution control with carbon reduction and long-term sustainable development. New energy transition policies have become a key instrument for restructuring urban energy, environmental, and economic systems, yet it remains unclear how these macro-level policies reshape firms’ marginal abatement cost–benefit structures and under what governance conditions they generate the synergy within corporate pollution reduction, rather than merely shifting burdens. It is valuable to identify whether, how, and under which governance conditions new energy demonstration city policies enhance the synergy between corporate pollution reduction and carbon mitigation. Guided by system synergy theory and a marginal abatement cost perspective, we use panel data on listed firms to construct a synergy index that jointly reflects multiple pollutant emissions and abatement costs, capturing both environmental effectiveness and economic efficiency. A DID model based on the staggered rollout of new energy demonstration cities is then employed to estimate the policy’s impact on the synergy between corporate pollution reduction and carbon mitigation and its contextual conditions. The results show the following: (1) Inclusion in a new energy demonstration city significantly increases the synergy within corporate pollution reduction. (2) Mechanism analysis indicates that higher municipal attention to green and environmental development and higher corporate ESG (environmental, social, and governance) performance strengthen the positive policy influence. (3) Heterogeneous effects are mainly concentrated in non-energy intensive industries, state-owned enterprises, and small firms, which indicates structural divergence in policy incentives across different types of firms. Overall, this study enriches the studies about the synergy between pollution reduction and carbon mitigation to the firm level, embeds a marginal abatement cost perspective into synergy measurement, and provides an evaluative framework that is consistent with how firms balance environmental and financial objectives. The findings contribute to the sustainability literature by informing the design and assessment of energy transition policies and by offering evidence to refine new energy demonstration city programs so that limited governance resources are directed toward more cost-effective joint gains. Full article
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