Renewable and Waste-to-Energy Systems: Integration, Optimization, and Sustainable Resource Utilization

The transition toward low-carbon and resource-efficient energy systems requires the effective integration of renewable energy technologies with sustainable waste and biomass valorization pathways. Waste-to-energy and biomass-based systems can contribute to energy security, circular economy objectives, and reduced environmental burdens, particularly when combined with solar energy and other distributed renewable resources. Recent advances in energy conversion technologies, hybrid system design, digital optimization, and environmental assessment are creating new opportunities to improve the efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability of integrated energy systems. At the same time, challenges related to feedstock variability, emissions, system integration, economic viability, and resource efficiency remain important. A multidisciplinary perspective is therefore needed to evaluate and optimize renewable and waste-derived energy solutions across technical, environmental, and economic dimensions.Goal:This Research Topic aims to bring together recent advances in renewable energy and waste-to-energy systems, with particular emphasis on the integration of biomass and waste-derived energy with solar energy and other distributed energy resources. The collection will address the need for efficient, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy conversion pathways that can support decarbonization, circular resource use, and resilient energy systems. Contributions are expected to investigate system performance, modelling, optimization, control, and integration, while also considering environmental and techno-economic implications. The Research Topic seeks to identify innovative technologies, methodologies, and system-level solutions that improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions and waste, enhance resource utilization, and support practical deployment. By combining engineering, environmental, and economic perspectives, the collection aims to provide a comprehensive view of current challenges and emerging opportunities in sustainable integrated energy systems.Scope and information for authors:We welcome Original Research, Review, and Perspective articles addressing renewable energy, biomass, waste-to-energy, and integrated sustainable energy systems. Relevant themes include thermochemical and biochemical conversion of biomass and waste; combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, and related energy recovery processes; solar energy and hybrid renewable systems; distributed energy resources and multi-energy systems; energy storage and sector coupling; modelling, simulation, control, and optimization; performance and exergy analysis; emissions mitigation and environmental impact assessment; life-cycle assessment; techno-economic analysis; circular economy approaches; resource recovery; and sustainable feedstock utilization. Studies may address component, process, plant, or system scales, including experimental, numerical, and data-driven approaches. Contributions demonstrating integration between waste-derived energy and other renewable technologies are particularly encouraged. Topic editors: AGAPI VASILEIADOU, JACOB G FANTIDIS Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85880/renewable-and-waste-to-energy-systems-integration-optimization-and-sustainable-resource-utilization