Planning, Operation and Control of Low-Carbon Power Systems
Topic Information
Dear Colleagues,
Decarbonization is rapidly transforming power systems into converter‑dominated, data‑rich, and highly distributed networks. The shift toward high penetrations of wind, solar, storage, electric mobility, and sector‑coupled resources challenges traditional planning and operational paradigms—raising new questions about adequacy, stability, flexibility, and resilience under uncertainty. At the same time, advances in optimization, control, power electronics, and digitalization offer powerful tools to design and operate reliable low‑carbon grids.
This topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, communications, data/resource papers, and real‑world case studies that address the planning, operation, and control of low‑carbon power systems. Submissions reporting field demonstrations, open datasets/code, uncertainty treatment, and reproducible workflows are especially encouraged.
Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:
- Long‑term generation and transmission planning under carbon constraints (net‑zero pathways, multi‑criteria planning);
- Resource adequacy with high VRE and storage (ELCC, firming portfolios, capacity expansion);
- Distribution system planning with DER hosting capacity, network reconfiguration, and dynamic line rating;
- Transmission–distribution co‑simulation and TSO–DSO coordination mechanisms;
- Security‑constrained unit commitment and optimal power flow (deterministic, stochastic, chance‑constrained, distributionally robust);
- Markets and regulation for low‑carbon systems (carbon pricing, flexibility/ancillary services, capacity and balancing markets);
- Operation of microgrids, virtual power plants, and aggregators (demand response, transactive energy, V2G/V2B strategies);
- Energy storage planning and dispatch (BESS sizing, SoC/SoH management, hybrid storage, seasonal storage);
- Control of converter‑interfaced resources: grid‑forming vs. grid‑following inverters, VSM/synthetic inertia, droop/MPC/robust control;
- Voltage, frequency, and oscillation damping control with FACTS/STATCOM/HVDC and synchronous condensers;
- Stability analysis of converter‑dominated grids (small‑signal, transient, voltage, frequency, EMT‑RMS interactions);
- Inertia estimation, fast frequency response, and restoration/black‑start strategies in low‑inertia systems;
- Multi‑terminal HVDC grids, offshore hubs, and hybrid AC/DC architectures;
- Sector coupling and multi‑energy systems planning (power–heat–gas–hydrogen integration);
- Integration of large EV fleets and charging infrastructure planning and operation;
- Climate‑ and weather‑driven risk, resilience, and restoration planning (wildfire, flood, heat stress, extreme events);
- Measurement, monitoring, and state estimation (PMU/WAMS, dynamic state estimation, cyber‑physical observability);
- Cybersecurity and privacy‑preserving operation for digital substations and IoT‑enabled assets;
- Emissions accounting, lifecycle assessment, and carbon‑aware scheduling/dispatch;
- Data‑driven methods, AI/ML, digital twins, and physics‑informed approaches for planning and control;
- Benchmark systems, standardized test cases, open datasets, and MLOps for power‑system analytics;
- Practical demonstrations, pilot projects, grid‑code compliance, and lessons learned from real deployments.
Prof. Dr. Junhua Zhao
Prof. Dr. Gaoqi Liang
Topic Editors
Keywords
- low carbon power systems
- renewable integration
- optimal power flow
- grid forming inverters
- energy storage and flexibility
- power system resilience
Participating Journals
| Journal Name | Impact Factor | CiteScore | Launched Year | First Decision (median) | APC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Energies
|
3.2 | 7.3 | 2008 | 16.8 Days | CHF 2600 | Submit |
Applied Sciences
|
2.5 | 5.5 | 2011 | 16 Days | CHF 2400 | Submit |
Electronics
|
2.6 | 6.1 | 2012 | 16.4 Days | CHF 2400 | Submit |
AI
|
5.0 | 6.9 | 2020 | 19.2 Days | CHF 1800 | Submit |
Electricity
|
1.8 | 5.1 | 2020 | 26.9 Days | CHF 1200 | Submit |
Sci
|
- | 5.2 | 2019 | 26.7 Days | CHF 1400 | Submit |
Energy Storage and Applications
|
- | - | 2024 | 15.0 days * | CHF 1000 | Submit |
* Median value for all MDPI journals in the second half of 2025.
Preprints.org is a multidisciplinary platform offering a preprint service designed to facilitate the early sharing of your research. It supports and empowers your research journey from the very beginning.
MDPI Topics is collaborating with Preprints.org and has established a direct connection between MDPI journals and the platform. Authors are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by posting their preprints at Preprints.org prior to publication:
- Share your research immediately: disseminate your ideas prior to publication and establish priority for your work.
- Safeguard your intellectual contribution: Protect your ideas with a time-stamped preprint that serves as proof of your research timeline.
- Boost visibility and impact: Increase the reach and influence of your research by making it accessible to a global audience.
- Gain early feedback: Receive valuable input and insights from peers before submitting to a journal.
- Ensure broad indexing: Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Google Scholar, Crossref, SHARE, PrePubMed, Scilit and Europe PMC.
