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Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Economy

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 July 2026 | Viewed by 752

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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMA), Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy
Interests: mini-grids; off-grid hybrid energy system; load profile and demand assessment; optimization; energy production; sustainable development; water-energy-food nexus; energy services in rural and industrial areas
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on "Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Economy" investigates the most recent advances, problems, and prospects in sustainable development. The focus is on the development and optimization of renewable technologies, the integration of decentralized energy systems, economic and social implications, and policies that promote sustainable practices. Its scope covers a wide range of subjects, providing a detailed venue for experimental, computational, and theoretical study. The purpose is to increase our understanding and promote sustainable energy solutions using a multidisciplinary approach.

By addressing key areas, such as industrial development and energy crisis, sustainable production and consumption patterns, new and renewable energy sources, and sustainable energy preservation methods, this Special Issue will significantly supplement the existing literature. The multidisciplinary approach combines insights from natural and applied sciences, engineering, economics, social sciences, and humanities to provide varied viewpoints on measuring and monitoring sustainability, implementing sustainability tools, and developing successful policies and legislation.

Global participation from both developed and developing countries is essential, providing a comprehensive view of technological and economic advancements, and addressing diverse challenges across regions. This Special Issue aligns with the journal's mission to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by fostering scientific and practical understanding of sustainable practices. The contributions will advance academic discourse and support the practical implementation of sustainable energy solutions in real-world contexts.

Prof. Dr. Andrea Micangeli
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. Sustainability 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 2400 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
  • sustainable development
  • decentralized energy system
  • energy policy
  • economic impact
  • environmental sustainability
  • energy optimization
  • sustainable community

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 578 KB  
Article
Driving the Green Transition: The Role of Renewable Energy, Environmental Technology, FDI, and Globalization in South Africa’s Sustainable Growth: Evidence from a CS-ARDL Approach
by Aida Smaoui
Sustainability 2025, 17(23), 10866; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310866 - 4 Dec 2025
Viewed by 328
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of renewable energy, environmental technology, foreign direct investment (FDI), and globalization on green economic growth in South Africa within the framework of the country’s National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030, covering the period from 1997 to 2024. Using [...] Read more.
This study investigates the impact of renewable energy, environmental technology, foreign direct investment (FDI), and globalization on green economic growth in South Africa within the framework of the country’s National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030, covering the period from 1997 to 2024. Using annual data and applying advanced panel techniques, including the CS-ARDL model supported by AMG and CCEMG estimators, the analysis captures both long-run and short-run dynamics. The quantitative findings indicate that renewable energy exerts a strong positive influence on green economic growth, with long-run and short-run coefficients of 0.318 and 0.142 (both significant at the 1% level). Environmental technology also shows a positive and significant impact, with coefficients of 0.274 in the long run (1% level) and 0.105 in the short run (10% level). FDI contributes positively to green growth, as reflected in the long-run and short-run coefficients of 0.186 (at the 1% level) and 0.083 (at the 10% level). In contrast, globalization exhibits a weak and slightly negative long-run effect, with a coefficient of –0.097 (significant at the 10% level). The significant negative error-correction term confirms a stable long-run adjustment process. These findings imply that renewable energy expansion, technological innovation, and environmentally responsible FDI are crucial pillars of South Africa’s sustainable growth strategy. Based on these results, the study recommends intensifying efforts to promote renewable energy investment, strengthen research and development in environmental technologies, and attract green-oriented FDI through clear regulatory incentives. In addition, trade and globalization policies should be redesigned to ensure ecological balance and compliance with sustainability standards. Overall, the study offers practical policy insights to support South Africa’s transition toward a low-carbon, resilient economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Technologies and Sustainable Economy)
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