Sustainable Energy Transition: The Role of Renewable Energy and Power Systems—Current Trends and Challenges

Dear Colleagues,

The growing use of renewable energy sources is the cornerstone of the energy transition. The replacement of fossil fuels with renewables and the development of innovative technologies (e.g., energy storage and hydrogen, the electrification of certain sectors, and digitalization) indicates that renewable energies lie at the very core of the energy transition. Developments in new sectors, such as tidal power and green hydrogen, may soon contribute to the transition, while energy storage technologies, systems that can warehouse power to make up for the intermittent nature of sources such as solar and wind, will be decisive. The processes of the electrification of consumption and of certain sectors, and the digitalization of both industrial procedures and electricity grids, are all helping to improve energy efficiency and complete the energy transition.

Nevertheless, just as it is necessary to intensify the production of energy from renewable energy (RE) sources in order to meet the ambitious targets of Net Zero energy future by 2050, it is also important that each RE system meet relative sustainability criteria.

In this direction, this Special Issue deals with the current state, potential, and perspectives of renewable energy and power systems within the concept of a sustainable energy transition. Technologies related to the production of RE are characterized by increasing energy efficiency, with a simultaneous decrease in the costs of their purchase and installation. This scientific and technological development also brings positive socioeconomic aspects, such as improved quality of life and new jobs. This Special Issue will feature the latest scientific, technical, and economic developments in renewable and sustainable energy.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Renewable energy and power systems 2024—Current trends;
• Biomass technology and biofuel applications;
• Biogas and biomethane production;
• Wind energy technologies;
• Solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies;
• Hydropower technologies, wave, tide, and ocean thermal energy generation;
• Geothermal technologies;
• Hydrogen production and fuel cells;
• Primary fuels, energy, and renewable energy markets;
• Low-carbon economy and approaches to decarbonization;
• Energy storage and management;
• Energy management and optimization strategies leveraging AI;
• Environmental and socioeconomic impacts.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Christopher Koroneos
Dr. Evanthia A. Nanaki
Guest Editors

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