Applied Circular Economy for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Management
A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "B: Energy and Environment".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 April 2026 | Viewed by 79
Special Issue Editors
Interests: project management; risk management; green/public procurement; digitalization in energy; e-commerce and sustainability; policy and governance
Interests: renewable energy; public policies; sustainable development; service management; energy management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
“Applied Circular Economy for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Management” is a growing interdisciplinary field focused on integrating circular economy (CE) principles into the sustainable management of energy systems and environmental resources. The circular economy (CE) has become a transversal concept influencing multiple sectors in the energy field. While the concept is widely recognized, its practical dimension, that is, the way the CE reshapes energy systems and environmental systems, remains underexplored.
This Special Issue seeks to advance the debate by focusing on novel applications of CE that deliver measurable benefits: reducing environmental impact, enhancing socio-economic resilience, and fostering innovation in energy and environmental management. We encourage contributions that propose innovative frameworks, apply circularity metrics, or develop comparative case studies that can bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Topics for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Systemic integration of the CE in energy and the environment: How circular practices interconnect multiple sectors (for example, the energy–water–food nexus).
- Societal and environmental impacts: Contributions of the CE to emission reduction, decarbonization, renewable energy transition, and achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) through equitable access to clean energy, green jobs, and consumer behavior change towards conscious consumption of energy.
- Innovative technologies and digital enablers: The role of AI, IoT, blockchain, and digital twins in energy efficiency optimization, renewable systems monitorization, and predictive maintenance for energy infrastructure enhancement, which support the CE, innovation challenges, and environmental practices.
- New business and financial models: Green finance, circular investment strategies, and policy instruments fostering CE transitions are interconnected with the dynamics of the energy sector. They shape the evolution of energy finance and energy markets by supporting investments in renewable resources, energy efficiency, and decarbonization technologies.
- Resilience and risk reduction: CE strategies contribute to reducing vulnerability and enhancing adaptability to energy shocks, climate extremes, and geopolitical disruptions, enhancing energy security using risk management practices.
- Metrics and assessment frameworks: Developing and applying energy circularity indicators, lifecycle evaluation tools, and sustainability performance metrics in order to assess performance, quantify economic savings, and demonstrate the benefits of circular practices across energy and environmental systems.
This Special Issue aims to clarify how the applied circular economy can transform energy and environmental management through systemic integration, innovation, and measurable sustainability outcomes.
Prof. Dr. Cezar-Petre Simion
Prof. Dr. Andreea-Ileana Zamfir
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
- circular economy
- energy management
- environmental management
- cross-sectoral integration and innovative technologies
- circular business models
- metrics and indicators
- societal impacts
- green jobs
- finance and investment
- resilience and risk reduction
- urban metabolism and smart circular cities
- ESG and SDG contribution
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
