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Urban Science
Special Issues
Sustainable Energy Management and Planning in Urban Areas
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Sustainable Energy Management and Planning in Urban Areas

A special issue of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 4962

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Rosa María Regueiro-Ferreira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Group on Ecological and Natural Resource Economics, Department of Applied Economics, University of Santiago de Compostela, Avenida do Burgo das Nacións, s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Interests: energy management and planning; renewable energy development; wind energy economics; sustainable development; dematerialisation; energy poverty; urban environment impact; energy inequality; energy vulnerability; smart industries

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

According to the World Bank, about 60% of the world's population now lives in cities, and cities contribute 80% of the world's GDP. Urbanisation generates daily challenges due to its speed of expansion, making the ability to create liveable, viable, sustainable, and inclusive spaces more important. But it should not be forgotten that cities are major centres of consumption, demanding materials and energy.

Therefore, their role in the fight against climate change is key, and it is a challenge for the future to ensure that their development model turns them into ecological, resilient, and inclusive enclaves. To this end, the design of energy management policies is a key element, considering the social, economic, energy, and environmental impacts, among others.

This Special Issue contributes to generating knowledge in the field of energy management and policy planning for more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive cities. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Urban energy consumption;
  • Urban forestry;
  • Urban environments;
  • Sustainable transportation;
  • Waste planning;
  • Urban ecological governance;
  • Land resources and dematerialisation;
  • Social impacts and sustainability;
  • Energy poverty and inequality in urban spaces.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Rosa María Regueiro-Ferreira
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 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. Urban Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1600 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

  • energy planning
  • energy sources
  • urban energy management
  • urban development
  • sustainability
  • energy poverty
  • dematerialisation

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 1099 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Determinants of Energy Poverty in Jordan Based on a Novel Composite Index
by Mohammad M. Jaber, Ana Stojilovska and Hyerim Yoon
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(7), 263; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9070263 - 8 Jul 2025
Viewed by 758
Abstract
Energy poverty, resulting from poor energy efficiency and economic and social barriers to accessing appropriate, modern, and sustainable energy services, remains a critical issue in Jordan, a country facing growing climate pressures, particularly given its history of rapid urbanization. This study examines energy [...] Read more.
Energy poverty, resulting from poor energy efficiency and economic and social barriers to accessing appropriate, modern, and sustainable energy services, remains a critical issue in Jordan, a country facing growing climate pressures, particularly given its history of rapid urbanization. This study examines energy poverty through a multidimensional lens, considering its spatial and socio-demographic variations across Jordan. Drawing on data from 19,475 households, we apply a novel energy poverty index and binary logistic regression to analyze key determinants of energy poverty and discuss their intersection with climate vulnerability. The energy poverty index (EPI) is structured around four pillars: housing, fuel, cooling, and wealth. The results show that 51% of households in Jordan are affected by energy poverty. Contributing factors include geographic location, gender, age, education level, dwelling type, ownership of cooling appliances, and financial stability. The results indicate that energy poverty is both a socio-economic and infrastructural issue, with the highest concentrations in the northern and southern regions of the country, areas also vulnerable to climate risks such as drought and extreme heat. Our findings emphasize the need for integrated policy approaches that simultaneously address income inequality, infrastructure deficits, and environmental stressors. Targeted strategies are needed to align social and climate policies for effective energy poverty mitigation and climate resilience planning in Jordan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Management and Planning in Urban Areas)
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22 pages, 2364 KiB  
Article
Assessing Energy Consumption and Treatment Efficiency Correlation: The Case of the Metamorphosis Wastewater Treatment Plant in Attica, Greece
by Nikolaos Tsalas, Spyridon K. Golfinopoulos and Stylianos Samios
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(6), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9060201 - 2 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1672
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are crucial for environmental protection and public health; however, they are among the most energy-intensive facilities in the water sector. This study examines the correlation between energy consumption and treatment efficiency at the Metamorphosis WWTP (MWWTP) in Attica, Greece, [...] Read more.
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are crucial for environmental protection and public health; however, they are among the most energy-intensive facilities in the water sector. This study examines the correlation between energy consumption and treatment efficiency at the Metamorphosis WWTP (MWWTP) in Attica, Greece, during the years 2022 and 2023. By analyzing influent and effluent characteristics, energy consumption patterns, and the removal efficiencies of key pollutants—Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), and Suspended Solids (SS)—this research provides valuable insights into optimizing wastewater treatment operations. The findings reveal that, despite seasonal variations and fluctuations in influent composition, the facility consistently achieved high pollutant removal rates while maintaining stable energy consumption. The influent BOD5 increased from 992.8 mg L−1 in 2022 to 1122.3 mg L−1 in 2023. COD rose from 1925.4 mg L−1 to 2594.4 mg L−1, SS from 1280.8 mg L−1 to 1421.2 mg L−1, and total phosphorus from 14.2 mg L−1 to 17.0 mg L−1. Effluent concentrations remained consistently low, with BOD5 at 6.1 mg L−1 in 2022 and 4.7 mg L−1 in 2023; COD at 23.8 mg L−1 and 25.2 mg L−1, respectively; total nitrogen at 20.2 mg L−1 and 16.7 mg L−1; total phosphorus at 2.4 mg L−1 and 2.6 mg L−1; and SS at 2.4 mg L−1 and 3.5 mg L−1. These results indicate removal efficiencies exceeding 90%. Energy consumption remained stable, recorded at 13,044.9 kWh (0.593 kWh m−3 influent) in 2022 and 13,126.1 kWh (0.598 kWh m−3 influent) in 2023. These results highlight the importance of integrating energy-efficient strategies and renewable energy solutions to enhance wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sustainability. This study contributes to ongoing efforts to improve energy optimization in wastewater treatment, supporting global initiatives for carbon footprint reduction and advancing the principles of a circular economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Management and Planning in Urban Areas)
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17 pages, 1295 KiB  
Article
Energy, Urbanisation and Carbon Footprint: Evidence from Western Balkan Countries
by Saša Obradović, Sergej Gričar, Štefan Bojnec and Nemanja Lojanica
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(4), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9040119 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 590
Abstract
The role of carbon emissions in the worsening of global warming and other climate change implications has been well recognised. This study empirically investigates the effect of economic growth, urbanisation, and energy consumption on carbon emissions using panel cointegration tests and pooled mean [...] Read more.
The role of carbon emissions in the worsening of global warming and other climate change implications has been well recognised. This study empirically investigates the effect of economic growth, urbanisation, and energy consumption on carbon emissions using panel cointegration tests and pooled mean group autoregressive distributed lag (PMG-ARDL) techniques. The research is based on panel data from Western Balkan countries spanning 2001 to 2022. Urbanisation is incorporated into the model to determine its significance in the dynamic relationship among economic growth, energy consumption, and carbon emissions. The inclusion of urbanisation in the Western Balkans context is particularly novel because of its acceleration in this region. The findings suggest that energy consumption, economic growth, and urbanisation significantly affect environmental quality in the long run. In contrast, it has been demonstrated that only economic growth significantly impacts the environment in the short run. Subsequent investigations have revealed that environmental distortion is a long-term consequence of energy consumption, urbanisation, and economic expansion in the examined nations. These countries must prioritise enhancing energy efficiency, urban planning, and pollution mitigation measures while ensuring that economic growth remains unhindered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Management and Planning in Urban Areas)
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Review

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23 pages, 1892 KiB  
Review
A Review on Carbon-Negative Woody Biomass Biochar System for Sustainable Urban Management in the United States of America
by Gamal El Afandi, Muhammad Irfan, Amira Moustafa, Salem Ibrahim and Santosh Sapkota
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(6), 214; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9060214 - 10 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1578
Abstract
It is essential to emphasize the significant impacts of climate change, which are evident in the form of severe and prolonged droughts, hurricanes, snowstorms, and other climatic disturbances. These challenges are particularly pronounced in urban environments and among human populations. The situation is [...] Read more.
It is essential to emphasize the significant impacts of climate change, which are evident in the form of severe and prolonged droughts, hurricanes, snowstorms, and other climatic disturbances. These challenges are particularly pronounced in urban environments and among human populations. The situation is further aggravated by the increasing utilization of available open spaces for residential and industrial development, leading to heightened energy consumption, elevated pollution levels, and increased carbon emissions, all of which negatively affect public health. The primary objective of this review article is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of current research, with a particular focus on the innovative use of residual biomass from urban vegetation for biochar production in the United States. This research entails an exhaustive review of existing literature to assess the implementation of a carbon-negative wood biomass biochar system as a strategic approach to sustainable urban management. By transforming urban wood waste—including tree trimmings, construction debris, and storm-damaged timber—into biochar through pyrolysis, a thermochemical process that sequesters carbon while generating renewable energy, we can leverage this valuable resource. The resulting biochar offers a range of co-benefits: it enhances soil health, improves water retention, reduces stormwater runoff, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions when applied in urban green spaces, agriculture, and land restoration projects. This review highlights the advantages and potential of converting urban wood waste into biochar while exploring how municipalities can strengthen their green ecosystems. Furthermore, it aims to provide a thorough understanding of how the utilization of woody biomass biochar can contribute to mitigating urban carbon emissions across the United States. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy Management and Planning in Urban Areas)
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