sustainability-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Renewable Energy Conversion and Sustainable Power Systems Engineering

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 1830

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Instituto de Ingeniería Energética Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
Interests: renewable sources; PV systems; biomass gasification systems for power generation; wind systems; storage systems; microgrid simulation; hybrid systems based on renewables; algorithem
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Estudios del Agua y la Energía, Centro Universitario de Tonalá, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
Interests: renewable energies; microgrids; power electronics; optimization algorithms; artificial intelligence

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Renewable energy conversion is becoming increasingly important in modern power systems, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution for distributed generation and self-consumption. As the share of renewables in the global energy mix continues to rise, Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRESs) present a practical approach to balancing supply and demand, reducing transmission and distribution losses, and enhancing grid stability. This Special Issue aims to advance the field of HRESs by soliciting original, innovative research focused on improving the sustainability, efficiency, reliability, flexibility, and profitability of these systems.

We invite researchers working on such technologies to contribute articles on the following topics:

  • Algorithms applied to HRESs (e.g., Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), Fuzzy Logic, Genetic Algorithms (GAs), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), Dynamic Programming, Support Vector Machines (SVMs), Nature-Inspired Algorithms (Bio-inspired), Metaheuristic Algorithms, Deep Learning (DL));
  • Sustainable power generation from renewable sources (e.g., solar PV, wind, biomass, hydropower, etc.);
  • Energy storage systems (e.g., lead–acid and lithium-ion batteries);
  • Energy management strategies (EMSs);
  • Power electronics for HRESs;
  • HRES system design;
  • Off-grid and grid-connected HRES solutions;
  • Economic analysis of HRESs;
  • Energy prosumers and their role in HRESs;
  • Demand response in HRESs;
  • HRES applications in developing countries.

An environmental and economic analysis is critical for evaluating alternatives and selecting optimal solutions. By integrating various HRES components, we can achieve sustainable, efficient, and reliable energy systems that contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.

Prof. Dr. Carlos Vargas-Salgado
Dr. Jesus Aguila-Leon
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

  • PV systems
  • wind systems
  • storage systems
  • microgrids
  • smart grids
  • biomass gasification systems
  • hydropower systems
  • power control
  • greenhouse gas emissions
  • emissions
  • reliability of the grid
  • lithium-ion batteries
  • lead–acid batteries in microgrids
  • demand response
  • SCADA
  • control algorithms
  • energy management systems
  • microgrid simulation
  • power electronics
  • losses in power systems
  • hybrid energy systems
  • HERS economic analysis
  • HERSs for developing countries
  • virtual power plants
  • prosumer
  • distributed energy resources (DERs)
  • metaheuristic algorithms
  • fuzzy logic
  • bio-inspired optimization
  • optimization algorithms
  • grey wolf optimizer (GWO) algorithm
  • particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm
  • genetic algorithms

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.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

32 pages, 5733 KiB  
Article
Towards Sustainable Electricity for All: Techno-Economic Analysis of Conventional Low-Voltage-to-Microgrid Conversion
by Frimpong Kyeremeh, Dennis Acheampong, Zhi Fang, Feng Liu and Forson Peprah
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 5178; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115178 - 4 Jun 2025
Viewed by 407
Abstract
Ghana’s electricity grid remains heavily fossil-fuel dependent (69%), resulting in high costs and unstable low-voltage (LV) networks, exacerbating supply shortages. This study evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of converting the Obaa-Yaa LV substation in Drobo, Ghana, into a solar-powered microgrid. Using the [...] Read more.
Ghana’s electricity grid remains heavily fossil-fuel dependent (69%), resulting in high costs and unstable low-voltage (LV) networks, exacerbating supply shortages. This study evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of converting the Obaa-Yaa LV substation in Drobo, Ghana, into a solar-powered microgrid. Using the forward–backward method for technical analysis and financial metrics (NPV, IRR, DPP, and PI), the results show that rooftop solar on seven households generates 676,742 kWh annually—exceeding local demand by 115.8 kW—with no voltage violations (240 V ± 6%) and minimal losses (9.24 kW). Economic viability is demonstrated via an NPV of GHS 2.1M, IRR of 17%, and a 10-year payback. The findings underscore solar microgrids as a pragmatic solution for Ghana’s energy challenges, urging policymakers to incentivize decentralized renewable systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Conversion and Sustainable Power Systems Engineering)
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 2941 KiB  
Article
Looking Beyond Lithium for Breakthroughs in Magnesium-Ion Batteries as Sustainable Solutions
by Idowu O. Malachi, Adebukola O. Olawumi, Samuel O. Afolabi and B. I. Oladapo
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 3782; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17093782 - 22 Apr 2025
Viewed by 1048
Abstract
The increasing demand for sustainable and cost-effective battery technologies in electric vehicles (EVs) has driven research into alternatives to lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. This study investigates magnesium-ion (Mg-ion) batteries as a potential solution, focusing on their energy density, cycle stability, safety, and scalability. The [...] Read more.
The increasing demand for sustainable and cost-effective battery technologies in electric vehicles (EVs) has driven research into alternatives to lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. This study investigates magnesium-ion (Mg-ion) batteries as a potential solution, focusing on their energy density, cycle stability, safety, and scalability. The research employs a comprehensive methodology, combining electrochemical testing and simulation models, to analyse magnesium-based anodes, sulphur-based cathodes, and advanced electrolytes such as HMDS2Mg. Key findings reveal that Mg-ion batteries achieve a practical energy density of 500–1000 mAh/g, comparable to high-performance Li-ion systems. With sulphur–graphene cathodes, Mg-ion batteries demonstrated 92% capacity retention after 500 cycles, a 10% improvement over standard configurations. Ionic conductivity reached 1.2 × 10−2 S/cm using HMDS2Mg electrolytes, significantly reducing passivation layer growth to 5 nm after 100 cycles, outperforming Grignard-based systems by 30%. However, the research identified a 15% reduction in charge–discharge efficiency compared to Li-ion batteries due to slower ion diffusion kinetics. This study highlights the safety advantage of magnesium-ion batteries, which eliminate dendrite formation and reduce thermal runaway risks by 40%. These findings position Mg-ion batteries as a promising, sustainable alternative for EVs, emphasising the need for further optimisation in scalability and efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy Conversion and Sustainable Power Systems Engineering)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop