Circular Economy and Life Cycle Assessment Approach for Energy Systems

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable energy systems are based on renewable energies. The transition of energy systems into sustainable energy systems and the change in materials required for the respective energy technologies has prompted increasing demand for conventional and critical raw materials. At the same time, in any economy, the production of materials consumes a major share of total energy demand. Thus, there is an intimate connection between energy systems and the material demands of a given society. This is why the concept of the circular economy (CE) will be indispensable in shaping future energy systems and mitigating the impact of climate change. This Special Issue aims to explore the synergy between the principles of the circular economy (CE) principles and life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies in advancing the sustainability of energy systems as a whole, as well as its technologies, components, and related materials. The CE promotes resource efficiency, waste reduction, and material circularity, while LCA provides a comprehensive framework within which assess the environmental impacts of energy technologies, products, and materials throughout their life cycle.

This Special Issue aims to serve as a platform for cutting-edge research, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and providing valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers committed to advancing sustainable energy solutions.

We invite original research articles, reviews, and case studies that contribute to our collective understanding and application of CE and LCA in the context of energy systems. Submissions should offer practical insights, methodological advancements, and implications for shaping the sustainable future of energy.

This Special Issue seeks contributions related but not limited to the following topics:

1. Innovative approaches for circular energy systems based on life cycle thinking, highlighting innovative conceptual approaches that promote circularity in energy systems on a systemic level, including new business models, sustainable supply chain practices, and circular design strategies for energy infrastructure.
2. Integrating CE principles for shaping renewable energy technologies and components of energy systems, exploring how Circular Economy principles can be effectively integrated into the design, operation, and decommissioning of energy technologies and components. This includes 10 R strategies for smarter product use and manufacture, extended lifespan, material reuse, recycling, and recovery.
3. Optimizing material cycles related to the energy infrastructure by comparing primary versus secondary resources in energy technologies or components and evaluating the use of raw materials and recycled materials in energy-related infrastructure.
4. Policy frameworks driving circular energy transition through examining the role of LCA in policies promoting circularity within energy systems, alongside assessment of existing policy frameworks, identification of gaps, and proposition of strategies for enhancing the effectiveness of policies.
5. Economic viability of circular energy systems: Using life cycle costing to investigate the economic aspects of integrating the principles of the circular economy into energy systems, as well as exploring how circular practices impact costs, investments, and overall economic viability, thus providing insights for policymakers and investors.
6. Circular business models and energy policy: exploring innovative circular business models within the energy sector and their alignment with energy policy goals, using LCA, LCC, and/or SLCA to evaluate how these models contribute to sustainability, resilience, and improved resource efficiency.

Prof. Dr. Liselotte Schebek
Dr. Steffi Weyand
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. Energies 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 2600 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.

• circular economy
• life-cycle assessment
• sustainable energy systems
• recycling
• economic
• viability
• energy policy implications
• energy technologies
• primary resources
• secondary resources.