Advancements in Sustainable Energy Systems: Integrated Planning, Optimization, Socio-Economic Impact and Environmental Assessment
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 11 December 2026 | Viewed by 31
Special Issue Editor
Interests: heat and mass transfer; thermodynamics; absortpion and adsorption; life cycle assessment; fluid dynamics; HVAC system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The global pursuit of carbon neutrality and equitable development calls for transformative changes in the way energy systems are planned, managed, and evaluated. This Special Issue, “Advancements in Sustainable Energy Systems: Integrated Planning, Optimization, Socio-Economic Impact and Environmental Assessment”, aims to explore innovative, interdisciplinary solutions that support a just and sustainable energy transition. The Issue is grounded in the principles of environmental stewardship, economic efficiency, and social responsibility, consistent with the mission and scope of Sustainability.
This Special Issue invites contributions that address the design, optimization, and sustainability assessment of modern energy systems. Topics of interest include renewable and hybrid energy integration, energy storage and management, smart grids, decarbonization pathways, and circular energy systems. It particularly welcomes research employing advanced analytical and computational methods—such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and multi-objective optimization—for enhancing energy system planning and performance evaluation. Studies linking technological innovation with environmental assessment tools, including life cycle assessment (LCA), carbon footprint analysis, and socio-economic impact evaluation, are especially encouraged.
The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide a comprehensive platform for research that bridges technical innovation with holistic sustainability assessment. The Issue seeks to inform both academic inquiry and policy-making by presenting integrative approaches that balance environmental protection, economic viability, and social inclusivity. Through this lens, it contributes to the broader sustainability discourse by demonstrating how optimized and environmentally responsible energy systems can advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to affordable and clean energy, industry and innovation, and climate action.
While substantial research exists on renewable technologies and energy optimization, this Special Issue distinguishes itself by emphasizing system-level integration and sustainability-oriented evaluation. It complements existing literature by connecting technical performance metrics with environmental and socio-economic outcomes, offering a more comprehensive understanding of sustainable energy transitions. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among engineers, environmental scientists, economists, and policymakers, the Issue seeks to advance both the theoretical foundations and the practical applications of sustainable energy planning.
Ultimately, this Special Issue will serve as a critical forum for advancing knowledge and practice in sustainable energy systems—supporting the development of resilient, low-carbon, and inclusive energy futures.
Dr. Jielin Luo
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
- thermal management
- computational fluid dynamics
- energy systems
- thermal optimization
- renewable energy
- energy efficiency
- smart thermal systems
- thermal degradation
- thermal energy storage
- environmental and economic on thermal management
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