Advances in Waste-to-Energy Technologies

Dear Colleagues,

The growing global demand for sustainable energy solutions, coupled with the urgent need to minimize waste generation and mitigate climate change, has placed waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies at the forefront of modern energy and environmental research. This Special Issue, “Advances in Waste-to-Energy Technologies”, aims to present the latest scientific and technological advancements, innovative processes, and integrated approaches that transform various waste streams into valuable energy resources. It seeks to serve as a multidisciplinary platform connecting researchers, engineers, policymakers, and industry practitioners working toward a circular, low-carbon economy.

Traditional waste-to-energy methods such as incineration, gasification, and pyrolysis have evolved significantly in recent years, driven by improvements in conversion efficiency, emission control, and feedstock flexibility. In addition, emerging technologies such as plasma gasification, hydrothermal liquefaction, anaerobic digestion, and microbial electrochemical systems are expanding the possibilities for energy recovery from municipal solid waste, agricultural residues, industrial by-products, and wastewater. However, many technical, economic, and environmental challenges remain to be addressed before large-scale, sustainable deployment can be achieved.

This Special Issue welcomes original research papers, comprehensive reviews, and case studies that contribute to the understanding, optimization, and application of advanced waste-to-energy systems. Submissions should emphasize innovation, environmental performance, technoeconomic feasibility, and integration with broader waste management and renewable energy strategies. Contributions that provide insights into circular economy frameworks, policy implications, or digital and AI-driven optimization tools are also highly encouraged.

Scope and Topics of Interest

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

Thermochemical Conversion Technologies:

• Advanced gasification, pyrolysis, plasma gasification, and torrefaction processes.
• Co-processing of waste with biomass or fossil fuels for enhanced energy yield.
• Integration of waste-to-energy technology with energy storage systems.

Biochemical and Biological Processes:

• Anaerobic digestion, fermentation, and biohydrogen production.
• Algae-based energy recovery systems.
• Integration of biorefineries for waste valorization.

Hybrid and Integrated Systems:

• Combined thermal–biochemical conversion approaches.
• Integration of WtE plants with carbon capture and utilization (CCU) or renewable energy systems.
• Smart grid and district heating integration of WtE facilities.

Process Modeling, Optimization, and Digitalization:

• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), life-cycle assessment (LCA), and technoeconomic analysis.
• Application of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and data-driven control systems in WtE operations.

Environmental and Sustainability Aspects:

• Emission mitigation and residue management.
• Resource recovery from ash, char, or digestate.
• Global policy frameworks for WtE adoption and WtE energy security.

Case Studies and Industrial Applications:

• Pilot-scale and commercial WtE plants.
• Regional and national strategies for energy recovery from waste.
• Socioeconomic assessments and barriers to WtE implementation.

Dr. Mohammed Abushammala
Guest Editor

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.

• waste-to-energy (WtE)
• energy recovery
• circular economy
• sustainable waste management
• thermochemical conversion
• pyrolysis
• gasification
• plasma gasification
• hydrothermal liquefaction
• anaerobic digestion
• biogas and biohydrogen production
• bioenergy
• biomass valorization
• catalytic conversion
• carbon capture and utilization (CCU)
• life cycle assessment (LCA)
• technoeconomic analysis (TEA)
• process optimization
• artificial intelligence (AI) in energy systems
• digitalization and smart control
• hybrid and integrated energy systems
• emission reduction technologies
• residue and resource recovery
• renewable energy integration
• circular bioeconomy
• sustainable development goals (SDGs)
• policy and socioeconomic aspects of WtE