Empowering Communities for Sustainable Energy Systems
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 October 2026 | Viewed by 41
Special Issue Editors
Interests: power systems; renewable energy; energy management; smart grid; power systems protection; microgrids; distributed energy resources; renewable energy communities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: optimization; energy management systems; electric mobility; microgrids; distributed energy resources; distribution networks; renewable energy communities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: optimization; energy management systems; electric mobility; microgrids; distributed energy resources; distribution networks; renewable energy communities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
The rapid transformation of the global energy landscape calls for innovative solutions. Energy communities have emerged as a cornerstone of the energy transition, offering decentralized, participatory, and sustainable alternatives to traditional power systems. By enabling citizens, municipalities, and local stakeholders to actively engage in energy production, distribution, and consumption, energy communities foster social innovation while advancing environmental and economic goals. This Special Issue invites researchers and practitioners to showcase their most innovative contributions that explore the multifaceted role of energy communities in shaping sustainable energy systems.
In recent years, the scientific literature on energy communities has expanded considerably, highlighting their role in accelerating renewable energy deployment, and enhancing system flexibility. Studies have demonstrated their potential to reduce carbon emissions, and increase resilience against market and climate uncertainties. This growing body of work underscores the importance of deepening our understanding of how energy communities operate, scale, and integrate within broader energy systems—an area fully aligned with the interdisciplinary scope of Sustainability.
This Special Issue seeks to explore the multifaceted role of energy communities in shaping sustainable energy systems, welcoming contributions on technical, regulatory, economic, and social dimensions. Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Local integration of renewable energy sources and collective self-consumption models.
- Energy sharing platforms, digitalization, and smart management tools.
- Governance structures, regulatory frameworks, and policy design for energy communities.
- Socio-economic and environmental impacts, including equity, participation, and resilience.
- Innovative business models and pathways for scaling up community energy initiatives.
By highlighting innovative practices, challenges, and opportunities, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive view of how energy communities can actively contribute to the development of sustainable, flexible, and resilient energy systems in line with global sustainability objectives.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Prof. Miguel de-Simón-Martín
Dr. Matteo Fresia
Prof. Stefano Bracco
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. 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
- energy communities
- renewable energy
- collective self-consumption
- energy sharing
- smart energy management
- energy storage
- energy policy and regulation
- sustainable energy systems
- positive energy districts
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