全文截稿: 2021-03-31
影响因子: 8.426
中科院JCR分区:
• 大类 : 工程技术 - 1区
• 小类 : 能源与燃料 - 2区
• 小类 : 工程：化工 - 1区
网址：
https://www.journals.elsevier.com/applied-energy
This call for papers is concurrently published in Applied Energy and Resources, Conservation & Recycling
Sustainability is one of the most pressing global challenges in our time, if not the most. The aspiration of sustainability implies profound, fundamental transformations of the economy and society. Such transformations require critical socio-technical transitions in different sectors to meet sustainability goals, also known as sustainability transitions[1]. Among sustainability transitions in various areas, energy transition and the transition to a circular economy are fundamental to the transitions across many sectors and are critical to sustainability of our economy and society as a whole.
Energy transition is largely driven by the ambition of mitigating climate change. Key characteristics of the ongoing energy transition are the increased penetration of renewable energy, responses to the flexibility of energy systems, the expansion of low-carbon and distributed energy resources, development of energy storage technologies, digitalization of energy sector, and development and deployment of negative emissions technologies[2],[3]. On the other hand, circular economy refers to an economic system in which resources are circulated without “end-of-life” through strategies such as reducing, reusing, recycling, and recovering, among others[4],[5]. While energy transition and circular economy transition naturally center on the energy and manufacturing sectors, respectively, they both have profound impacts and implications on the sustainability transitions of other sectors. There is a growing literature on pathways and barriers for energy transition and circular economy transition. Nevertheless, studies that have significant contributions to both energy transition and circular economy transition are scattered.
Indeed, energy transition and circular economy transition are inherently intertwined at multiple levels and dimensions. For example, the low-carbon energy expansion creates new opportunities for circular economy through waste-to-energy and recycling of end-of-life energy products (e.g., retired photovoltaic panels). Large-scale electrification of transportation and deployment of negative emissions technologies will significantly change the supply and demand of critical materials, posing challenges in supply security but also promoting recycling. On the other hand, circular economy emphasizes on renewable resources including renewable energy. The development of reverse logistics system for reuse and recycling creates new demand for energy. New circular economy business models such as sharing economy may significantly affect the supply and demand of energy. In addition, there are joint benefits from energy transition and circular economy transitions such as waste-to-energy enhanced by industrial symbiosis; at the same time, common challenges also exist such as recycling of materials such as rare earth elements that are critical to low-carbon and negative emissions technologies. In any case, the relationship between energy transition and circular economy transition remains as an important yet less explored research area that is critical for sustainability transitions.
To facilitate in-depth investigation on the relationship between energy transition and circular economy transition, the journals Applied Energy and Resources, Conservation & Recycling jointly call for papers for a Virtual Special Issue on Energy and Circular Economy in Sustainability Transitions. Applied Energy is a leading journal on energy technology and systems, while Resources, Conservation & Recycling is a chief publication on circular economy. The two journals have individually published high-quality and high-impact research on energy transition and circular economy transition. They are best positioned to advance our understanding on the relationship between energy and circular economy transitions towards a convergence of solutions to assist the societal transition to sustainability.
Specifically, we are interested in review and original research in any or multiple disciplines that make scientific contributions to BOTH energy transition and circular economy transition on the following broad topics:
Impacts and implications of energy transition on circular economy;
Impacts and implications of circular economy transition on the energy system;
Joint sustainability benefits of energy transition and circular economy transition; and
Common challenges for energy transition and circular economy transition.
A Virtual Special Issue (VSI) is an online-only grouping of Special Issue articles traditionally assigned to a single Special Issue. The articles in a VSI will be assigned a unique identifier and published in a regular journal issue. The unique identifier allows to simultaneously adding the article to a VSI in ScienceDirect.com. Articles grouped together in a VSI retain their original citation details. A VSI speeds up the publication of individual articles as, unlike the publication process for conventional Special Issue articles, a VSI does not need to wait for the final article to be ready before publication.
Papers submitted to this joint VSI will be collectively reviewed by the two journals. Once accepted, papers will be published in one of the journals based on the topic. An online grouping of all accepted papers from both journals will be created and promoted through both journals.
