Carbon Emissions in the Energy Sector: Trends, Challenges, and Solutions
A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "B: Energy and Environment".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 22 December 2025 | Viewed by 66
Special Issue Editors
Interests: energy strategy; spatiotemporal distribution of carbon emissions; driving mechanism analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: carbon emission dynamics; decarbonization strategies; artificial intelligence applications in energy system modeling; the design of regulatory pathways for integrating renewable energy sources
Interests: urban metabolism; environmental systems analysis; ecological planning and management
Interests: renewable energy integration; decarbonization strategies; energy sector modelling
Interests: industrial pollution source apportionment; emission characteristics of pahs; driving force mechanisms; environmental chemical kinetics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In the collective global effort to address climate change, the energy sector—as the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions—bears enormous responsibility for emission reduction. The transition from traditional fossil fuels to renewable energy is widely recognized as the core pathway for decarbonizing this sector. This transition not only mitigates climate change but also promotes energy sustainability and security. Governments, businesses, and communities worldwide are increasingly investing in renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. As these technologies become more efficient and cost-effective, the adoption rate is expected to accelerate, further reducing the dependency on fossil fuels and their associated environmental impacts. However, the intermittent and volatile nature of renewable energy introduces significant operational risks to power grids when deployed at scale. Achieving emissions reduction in the power sector while ensuring grid reliability demands urgent academic attention. The aim of this Special Issue is to systematically analyze successful historical decarbonization strategies within the power sector, explore prevailing challenges in energy-related emission mitigation, and identify viable pathways for a resilient, low-carbon energy future.
Our aim is to gather diverse perspectives from researchers, policymakers, and industry experts to comprehensively evaluate past efforts, current trends, and future possibilities. By examining both technological advancements and institutional frameworks, we seek to elucidate the multifaceted nature of decarbonization and its implications for energy security and sustainability. Furthermore, we envision this Special Issue as a catalyst for fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and innovative solutions tailored to address the unique challenges posed by the transition to a low-carbon energy system.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following topics:
The development and application of renewable energy technologies, such as solar, wind, and geothermal power.
Innovative approaches to enhance energy storage solutions for balancing supply and demand in a low-carbon grid.
The analysis of the economic and social impacts of decarbonization strategies on various stakeholders within the power sector.
Policy recommendations and regulatory frameworks that can facilitate the transition to a low-carbon energy system.
Interdisciplinary studies exploring the synergies between energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and grid reliability.
Dr. Lei Chen
Dr. Yongyang Wang
Dr. Linlin Xia
Dr. Feng Liu
Dr. Ruwei Wang
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. 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
- low-carbon energy transition
- variable renewable energy
- flexible resources
- energy sector modelling
- carbon accounting
- fossil energy
- decarbonization strategies
- renewable energy integration
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