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Sustainability
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Energy, Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development
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Energy, Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 3977

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ana Rosa Gamarra Rodríguez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Energy Systems Analysis Unit, Energy Department, Research Center on Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: sustainability; energy technologies; environmental impacts; sustainable production chains; energy investments
Dr. Israel Herrera-Orozco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Energy Systems Analysis Unit, Energy Department, Research Center on Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: sustainability; renewable energy; life cycle assessment; bioeconomy; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last few centuries, human activities under the current development model have intensified their influence on the environment, triggering environmental, social and economic problems. Faced with the challenge of addressing this situation, a new paradigm of sustainable development has arisen in which the energy system plays a key role. In this context, the proper design of energy and environmental policies to promote the energy system transition and the sustainable use of resources is crucial. Not exempt from risks and disadvantages, these strategies must be assessed ex ante using rigorous methodologies that can support the decision-making process.

Sustainability assessment methodologies such as the Extended Multiregional Input–Output Analysis (EMRIO) and the Life Cycle Sustainability Analysis (LCSA) are capable of evaluating the impacts on the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic and social. New methodological developments are also underway in order to improve existing methodologies and to incorporate specific criteria of sustainable use of resources such as circularity, criticality and the geopolitical strength of the production chain.

The aim of the Special Issue is to investigate the sustainability implications of policies, strategies or technologies for energy production that are postulated to be key to the energy transition. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research on the sustainability assessment of case studies of innovative and emerging energy technologies, energy system impact and potential scenarios of energy technology diffusion, as well as the development of methodological innovations in sustainability assessment, are relevant to the Special Issue.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ana Rosa Gamarra Rodríguez
Dr. Israel Herrera-Orozco
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. 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

  • sustainability
  • renewable energy
  • environmental impacts
  • social pillar
  • economic growth
  • sustainable use of resources
  • life cycle assessment
  • extended input–output analysis
  • energy modelling
  • energy investments

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 2995 KB  
Article
A Methodological Proposal for the Metals’ Supply Chain Risk Analysis of Investments Applied to Solar Energy Technologies in Europe
by Ana Rosa Gamarra, Yolanda Lechón, Santacruz Banacloche and José Manuel de Andrés Almeida
Sustainability 2025, 17(23), 10827; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310827 - 3 Dec 2025
Viewed by 28
Abstract
This paper focuses on assessing the potential risks and strengths along the supply chain of a set of ten popular and precious metals associated with two solar energy technologies: concentrated solar power with thermal storage and photovoltaics with batteries. The Extended Multi-Regional Input–Output [...] Read more.
This paper focuses on assessing the potential risks and strengths along the supply chain of a set of ten popular and precious metals associated with two solar energy technologies: concentrated solar power with thermal storage and photovoltaics with batteries. The Extended Multi-Regional Input–Output methodology is used to quantify the required extraction of the metals along the value chain. First, various metrics and indicators are explored to analyze the supply chain. Second, a framework of analysis is proposed to cover the main components of supply chain risks and strengths. Then, we compare the results from two perspectives: analysis of individual supply risk components and a combined index representing the strength of the value chain. The results show, in general, a better performance of the concentrated solar power supply chain in terms of resource availability and supplier diversity, but slightly worse scores in the resilience and governance components. The index reflects better overall performance for concentrated solar power. Among metals, platinum, silver, and tin play the leading role in the analyzed risks. The European deployment of renewables should be accompanied by measures to secure supply, such as cooperation agreements, and also foster the recovery of secondary materials, thereby maximizing intra-European resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development)
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20 pages, 5298 KB  
Article
Deployment Potential of Concentrating Solar Power Technologies in California
by Chad Augustine, Sarah Awara, Hank Price and Alexander Zolan
Sustainability 2025, 17(19), 8785; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198785 - 30 Sep 2025
Viewed by 939
Abstract
As states within the United States respond to future grid development goals, there is a growing demand for reliable and resilient nighttime generation that can be addressed by low-cost, long-duration energy storage solutions. This report studies the potential of including concentrating solar power [...] Read more.
As states within the United States respond to future grid development goals, there is a growing demand for reliable and resilient nighttime generation that can be addressed by low-cost, long-duration energy storage solutions. This report studies the potential of including concentrating solar power (CSP) in the technology mix to support California’s goals as defined in Senate Bill 100. A joint agency report study that determined potential pathways to achieve the renewable portfolio standard set by the bill did not include CSP, and our work provides information that could be used as a follow-up. This study uses a capacity expansion model configured to have nodal spatial fidelity in California and balancing-area fidelity in the Western Interconnection outside of California. The authors discovered that by applying current technology cost projections CSP fulfills nearly 15% of the annual load while representing just 6% of total installed capacity in 2045, replacing approximately 30 GWe of wind, solar PV, and standalone batteries compared to a scenario without CSP included. The deployment of CSP in the results is sensitive to the technology’s cost, which highlights the importance of meeting cost targets in 2030 and beyond to enable the technology’s potential contribution to California’s carbon reduction goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development)
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20 pages, 1184 KB  
Article
Socio-Economic and Environmental Trade-Offs of Sustainable Energy Transition in Kentucky
by Sydney Oluoch, Nirmal Pandit and Cecelia Harner
Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 7133; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157133 - 6 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1632
Abstract
A just and sustainable energy transition in historically coal-dependent regions like Kentucky requires more than the adoption of new technologies and market-based solutions. This study uses a stated preferences approach to evaluate public support for various attributes of energy transition programs, revealing broad [...] Read more.
A just and sustainable energy transition in historically coal-dependent regions like Kentucky requires more than the adoption of new technologies and market-based solutions. This study uses a stated preferences approach to evaluate public support for various attributes of energy transition programs, revealing broad backing for moving away from coal, as indicated by a negative willingness to pay (WTP) for the status quo (–USD 4.63). Key findings show strong bipartisan support for solar energy, with Democrats showing the highest WTP at USD 8.29, followed closely by Independents/Others at USD 8.22, and Republicans at USD 8.08. Wind energy also garnered support, particularly among Republicans (USD 4.04), who may view it as more industry-compatible and less ideologically polarizing. Job creation was a dominant priority across political affiliations, especially for Independents (USD 9.07), indicating a preference for tangible, near-term economic benefits. Similarly, preserving cultural values tied to coal received support among Independents/Others (USD 4.98), emphasizing the importance of place-based identity in shaping preferences. In contrast, social support programs (e.g., job retraining) and certain post-mining land uses (e.g., recreation and conservation) were less favored, possibly due to their abstract nature, delayed benefits, and political framing. Findings from Kentucky offer insights for other coal-reliant states like Wyoming, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois. Ultimately, equitable transitions must integrate local voices, address cultural and economic realities, and ensure community-driven planning and investment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development)
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17 pages, 1216 KB  
Article
Do Businesses Protect the Environment Through Appropriate Decisions in the Context of Choosing Information and Communication Technologies?
by Agata Mesjasz-Lech, Ádám Béla Horváth, Pál Michelberger and Agnes Kemendi
Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4305; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104305 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 644
Abstract
Technological progress, digitalization and globalization of economic activity contribute to the growth of the use of information and communication technologies in enterprises. On the one hand, modern information technologies support pro-environmental activities, but on the other hand, they are a source of waste [...] Read more.
Technological progress, digitalization and globalization of economic activity contribute to the growth of the use of information and communication technologies in enterprises. On the one hand, modern information technologies support pro-environmental activities, but on the other hand, they are a source of waste themselves. For this reason, their use in enterprises should be analyzed and controlled in the context of their multi-faceted impact on the natural environment. This article focuses on: (1) analyzing the relationship between variables defining the level of actions taken in the field of ICT to protect the natural environment and the level of digitalization of the enterprise and (2) identifying a synthetic measure of development defining the level of involvement of enterprises in digitalization and environmental protection. The analysis will be performed on data describing actions taken by enterprises grouped by European Union countries in the context of the use of ICT equipment for environmental protection and environmental values for 2022. Based on the chi-square test, it was found that statistically significant relationships are observed only for medium and large enterprises. The synthetic measure of development allowed for the indication of model countries due to the actions taken aimed at pro-environmental behavior in relation to ICT services and equipment. There were also no significant linear relationships between a high level of digitalization of enterprises and thinking in environmental categories in the context of actions taken in relation to ICT services and equipment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy, Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development)
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