Sustainable Solar Photovoltaic and Thermal Energy Systems
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 73
Special Issue Editors
Interests: redesigning photovoltaic/thermal modules to harness solar energy more effectively; carbon capture, use, and sequestration (CCUS); green hydrogen for combustion; resource efficiency management; circular economy/industrial symbiosis; thermo-mechanical reliability of solder joints in solar cell assembly
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: low/zero-emission energy conversion systems; renewable-energy-supported multi-generation energy systems; hybrid energy systems; clean cooking and heating technologies; unconventional zero-emission cooling systems; energy access and productive energy use; community-driven clean energy solutions
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The global demand for electricity is increasing and is expected to rise from 19% in 2018 to about 31% in 2040 (in line with sustainable development scenarios). In total, 75% of overall energy use should be sourced from renewables, with the share of solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind systems contributing up to 40%. Now, solar and wind are the fastest growing sources of electricity. Solar generation rose by 23% over the last year and wind rose by 14%, and, as such, both generated over a tenth (10.3%) of global electricity for the first time in 2021, rising from 9.3% in 2020. This is only a subtle improvement compared to the actual global need. Therefore, it is imperative to find a way of increasing the energy output and efficiency generated from solar photovoltaic and thermal energy systems since they have become cost-competitive compared to other renewable sources. A review of the solar energy systems literature shows that the greatest advances are focused on improved designs of photovoltaic and thermal energy systems, their critical components, as well as their optimal operation and maintenance.
The overarching aim of this Special Issue is to source research outputs and initiatives that will systematically boost the effectiveness and efficiency of solar generated energy via photovoltaic and thermal energy systems.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:
- Optimal design of solar photovoltaic and thermal modules;
- Circular economy principles in solar energy research;
- Simulation and modelling of solar-derived green energy systems;
- Digitalisation and control tools applied to photovoltaic and thermal modules;
- Solar-generated green hydrogen for combustion;
- Electrical performance of PV/T systems for electrical energy output;
- Installation of photovoltaic and thermal systems on roofs for heating and cooling;
- Sustainable solar photovoltaic and thermal energy applied towards engineering solutions;
- Solar power thermal storage;
- Solar dish engine systems;
- Life cycle assessment/life cycle costing of solar photo voltaic and thermal systems;
- Solar/bioenergy-related research;
- Solar-powered clean cookstoves;
- Energy systems integration and energy storage, including hydrogen, battery, and pumped hydro;
- Community-led context-sensitive clean energy solutions.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Prof. Dr. Chike F. F. Oduoza
Dr. Ogheneruona Diemuodeke
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. 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
- green energy
- circular economy
- PVM
- decarbonisation
- solar thermal energy
- solar photovoltaic energy
- CHP
- bioenergy
- renewable energy
- digitalisation tools
- machine learning and artificial intelligence
- hydrogen fuel
- multi-generation
- hybrid systems
- energy storage
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