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Sustainable Energy: Addressing Issues Related to Renewable Energy

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2026) | Viewed by 16309

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Editors

Prof. Dr. Firoz Alam

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Guest Editor

School of Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing), RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Interests: aerodynamics; aeroacoustics; energy; renewable energy (solar, wind); energy policy; energy security
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Yingai Jin

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Guest Editor

College of Automotive Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
Interests: renewable energy utilization; energy storage; phase chane materials; thermal management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Hang Meng

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Guest Editor

School of New Energy, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
Interests: wind energy; wind harvesting; wind turbine technologies

Dr. Hao Zhang

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Guest Editor

College of Automotive Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
Interests: renewable energy; energy conversion and efficient utilization; zero/low carbon fuel combustion and kinetics; intelligent optimization algorithm application technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Access to clean energy is a fundamental part of sustainable development and enhanced quality of life. Research and development play a crucial role in the field of renewable and conventional energy by uncovering groundbreaking solutions that empower individuals, promote resilience, and contribute to a more promising future. Access to renewable energy is considered a driving force for long-term, environmentally friendly progress. Renewable energy options (solar, wind, hydro, biofuel, etc.) provide a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative, thus creating potential for economic expansion, progress, and well-being while also fostering a sustainable environment. Fossil fuels continue to exert a dominant influence on worldwide power generation and remain the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, research and development efforts continue to advance new technologies and enhance the efficiency of energy production systems. This open access Special Issue aims to compile the most recent research on renewable and conventional energy, as well as related subjects, to disseminate this information to a broad range of individuals and groups, including governments, policymakers, researchers, academics, investors, consumers, and civil society.

We invite authors to contribute to this Special Issue by submitting original research, case studies, or comprehensive reviews of recent developments in renewable and conventional energy, as well as associated technologies. This Special Issue’s themes include fundamental and applied research in energy and power as follows: (i) conventional energy—fossil fuels, power generation, waste heat recovery, and energy efficiency; (ii) renewable energy—wind, solar, hydro, biofuel, geothermal, and ocean and tidal energy; (iii) energy storage and distribution—batteries, fuel cells, transmission, smart grids, and metering; (iv) energy efficiency and sustainable technologies—energy conversion, low-carbon technology, CO₂ capture, energy harvesting and scavenging, carbon mitigation, building thermal performance, phase-change materials, green transport, and electric vehicles; (v) clean hydrogen—production technologies, clean hydrogen policy, and clean hydrogen certification; and (vi) energy economics—techno-economic studies, energy safety, energy policy, energy security, and energy diplomacy.

All articles for this Special Issue undergo a peer-review procedure.

Prof. Dr. Firoz Alam
Prof. Dr. Yingai Jin
Dr. Hang Meng
Dr. Hao Zhang
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-anonymized 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

wind
solar
hydro
bioenergy
geothermal
wave
clean hydrogen
conventional energy
power generation
energy storage
energy economics
energy security

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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30 pages, 2510 KB

Open AccessArticle

Toward a Digital Twin Framework for Small-Scale Renewable Energy Microgrids with Integrated Energy Management Control

by Peter Anuoluwapo Gbadega and Kabulo Loji

Sustainability 2026, 18(13), 6732; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18136732 - 2 Jul 2026

Viewed by 273

Abstract

The increasing integration of renewable energy resources in microgrids requires effective frameworks for energy management, system monitoring, and operational assessment. This study presents a simulation-based digital twin-oriented framework for a small-scale renewable energy microgrid with integrated energy management control. The framework consists of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, a lithium-ion battery energy storage system, and a variable load implemented in a MATLAB/Simulink 2024b environment. Mathematical models are developed to represent PV generation, battery state-of-charge (SOC) dynamics, and load variations, while a rule-based energy management strategy is used to regulate power flow between generation, storage, and demand. An interactive dashboard is incorporated to provide dynamic visualization within the simulation environment of the system operation and key performance indicators. Simulation results show that the controller successfully maintains the battery SOC within the safe operating range of 30–90% and eliminates SOC constraint violations. Compared with uncontrolled operation, renewable energy utilization increases from 67.4% to 92.8%, overall system efficiency improves from 79.6% to 91.3%, and system reliability increases from 93.1% to 99.2%. The Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP) decreases from 0.069 to 0.008, while RMS power imbalance is reduced by 50.0%. Battery and converter losses decrease by 41.7% and 43%, respectively. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework in improving energy utilization, reliability, and operational stability while providing a foundation for future digital twin-enabled microgrid optimization and decision support applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy: Addressing Issues Related to Renewable Energy)

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31 pages, 4350 KB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Permeability Enhancement and Heat Transfer of Cold-Water Reinjection in Deep Tight Sandstone Thermal Reservoirs

by Xiaofeng Sun, Haonan Yang, Rui Xu, Huilin Chang and Zhaokai Hou

Sustainability 2026, 18(12), 6331; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18126331 - 20 Jun 2026

Viewed by 445

Abstract

Exploitation of deep (>4000 m) tight geothermal reservoirs is constrained by low native permeability and premature thermal breakthrough, limiting sustainable heat recovery. Here, we investigate THM (thermo–hydro–mechanical) controls on fluid flow and heat transport during cold-water reinjection in deep tight sandstone reservoirs through an integrated framework linking two-dimensional mechanistic analysis with three-dimensional field-scale modeling. A two-dimensional thermo-poroelastic model reveals that strong thermal contrasts induced by cold-fluid injection cause contraction of the rock framework and transient pore-space dilation under confinement, producing short-term permeability enhancement. This process alters local flow capacity and redirects early cold-front migration, with persistent impacts on subsequent heat transport. Field-scale simulations further quantify the coupled effects of well spacing and reinjection temperature on thermal breakthrough, defined as a 1 °C decline in production-well temperature. Increased well spacing delays cold-front arrival and significantly retards breakthrough, whereas lower reinjection temperature enhances early heat extraction but accelerates convective transport, leading to earlier breakthrough. The combination of thermally enhanced permeability and intensified convection promotes preferential flow channels, increasing breakthrough risk. Balancing thermal-breakthrough delay against the heat-extraction driving force, the simulations delineate a favorable engineering window for the investigated conditions and clarify how cooling-sensitive permeability evolution affects preferential flow and reservoir-scale thermal response. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy: Addressing Issues Related to Renewable Energy)

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22 pages, 6006 KB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Electrolyzer Placement Strategy via Probabilistic Voltage Stability Assessment in Renewable-Integrated Distribution Systems

by Hyeon Woo, Yeunggurl Yoon, Xuehan Zhang, Jintae Cho and Sungyun Choi

Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 11027; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411027 - 9 Dec 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 666

Abstract

Stable operating conditions in electrolyzers are crucial for preserving system durability, ensuring highly pure hydrogen production, and enabling the sustainable utilization of surplus renewable electricity. However, in active distribution networks, the output uncertainty of distributed energy resources, such as renewable energy sources (RES) on the generation side and load demand side, can lead to voltage fluctuations that threaten the operational stability of electrolyzers and limit their contribution to a low-carbon energy transition. This paper proposes a novel framework for optimal electrolyzer placement, tailored to their operational requirements and to the planning of sustainable renewable-integrated distribution systems. First, probabilistic scenario generation is carried out for RES and load to capture the characteristics of their inherent uncertainties. Second, based on these scenarios, continuous power-flow-based P–V (power–voltage) curve analysis is conducted to evaluate voltage stability and identify the loadability and load margin for each bus. Finally, the optimal siting of electrolyzers is determined by analyzing the load margins obtained from the voltage stability assessment and deriving a probabilistic electrolyzer hosting capacity. A case study under various uncertainty scenarios examines how applying this method influences the ability to maintain acceptable voltage levels at each bus in the grid. The results indicate that the method can significantly improve the likelihood of stable electrolyzer operation, support the reliable integration of green hydrogen production into distribution networks, and contribute to the sustainable planning of other voltage-sensitive equipment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy: Addressing Issues Related to Renewable Energy)

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12 pages, 1502 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The U.S. Biodiesel Outlook: A Pathway Toward Sustainability

by Deepayan Debnath, Jarrett Whistance and Wyatt Thompson

Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 689; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020689 - 16 Jan 2025

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3845

Abstract

Policies to support renewable fuels are associated with economic and environmental sustainability in the United States and relate to the United Nations’ sustainable development goals. Consequently, these fuels have been subject to scientific scrutiny and public debate; however, new developments in biomass-based diesel can overturn past understandings and create new trends and questions. An applied economic model of these fuels, their feedstocks, and related markets is used to project volumes and associated GHG emissions into the medium-term future. Results suggest a growing use of renewable diesel that directly displaces diesel and some recovery in biodiesel use, a near-substitute fuel. Yellow grease (used cooking oil)-based feedstock usage rises, while soybean and similar oil use remain stable. The expansion of renewable diesel made from yellow grease is associated with lower GHG emissions given the regulatory settings, but these projections also raise questions about the implications for environmental and economic sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy: Addressing Issues Related to Renewable Energy)

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16 pages, 5829 KB

Open AccessArticle

Overview of Offshore Wind Power Technologies

by Xiaomei Ma, Mengxue Li, Wenquan Li and Yongqian Liu

Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 596; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020596 - 14 Jan 2025

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 6894

Abstract

Optimizing offshore wind power technology and reducing the levelized cost of electricity throughout the lifecycle are key measures for the large-scale development of offshore wind power, contributing significantly to the transition toward sustainable energy systems. However, compared to onshore wind power, the internal flow dynamics of offshore wind farms are more complex, which poses challenges for operation and maintenance. Therefore, there is an urgent need for updated, smarter, more efficient, and economic offshore intelligent operation control technologies to facilitate the large-scale development and utilization of offshore wind power. This paper approaches the topic from two perspectives, offshore wind turbines and offshore wind farms, introducing popular research directions and technical bottlenecks in these two related fields. This includes offshore wind turbine capacity development and fundamental technologies, offshore wind power forecasting technology, and offshore wind power operation and control technology, offshore intelligent operation and maintenance technology, as well as offshore wind power and integrated marine area utilization technology. Firstly, the challenges faced by the intensive development of offshore wind resources and operational environments are analyzed. Secondly, the challenges encountered in the aforementioned technological areas and their potential solutions are summarized. Finally, a systematic reflection and outlook on the large-scale development of offshore wind power are provided, reinforcing its critical role in achieving global sustainability goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy: Addressing Issues Related to Renewable Energy)

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24 pages, 1377 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Perception and Challenges of Solar Energy Adoption in the United States: A Systematic Review for Future Directions

by Jiwnath Ghimire, Dorcas Plange-Rhule and Elizabeth Smith

Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010227 - 25 Dec 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2918

Abstract

Despite growing technological and economic viability, the adoption of solar energy in the United States remains low. This research synthesizes 96 peer-reviewed publications from 2000 to 2024 to investigate how public perceptions, user psychology, institutional setups, and socioeconomic contexts shape solar energy adoption decisions in the United States. Drawing on a PRISMA systematic review of publications gathered from Scopus and Web of Science databases, the study reveals that solar adoption is influenced not only by environmental concern and perceived economic benefits but also by institutional trust, social norms, cognitive biases, and demographic characteristics. Key findings highlight that while higher income and education levels enable adoption, marginalized communities face persistent barriers, including institutional distrust, limited awareness, and constrained access to financing. Residential rooftop solar projects receive higher public approval than utility-scale developments, with agrivoltaics systems emerging as a promising middle ground. This review identifies critical gaps in public awareness and institutional credibility, calling for integrated policy responses that combine financial incentives with inclusive engagement strategies. By emphasizing the socio-behavioral dimensions of energy transitions, it offers actionable insights for policymakers, energy planners, and researchers aiming to broaden solar accessibility and equity. It underscores the need for future research on identity-driven adoption behavior, participatory energy planning, and depoliticized communication to bridge the intention-action gap and accelerate the just transition to solar energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy: Addressing Issues Related to Renewable Energy)

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