Innovative Fluid Dynamics Applications for Sustainable Renewable Energy Development

Dear Colleagues,

As the demand for sustainable energy solutions increases worldwide, fluid dynamics has become essential in advancing renewable energy technologies. Renewable energy systems—such as wind, wave, hydroelectric, and solar thermal power—depend on a thorough understanding and careful optimization of fluid flow dynamics to improve energy capture and conversion. This is achieved by developing advanced numerical models and high-accuracy simulations that enhance control over fluid flows. Innovations in fluid dynamics are crucial to making these technologies more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective, and thus enabling their large-scale, sustainable adoption. Key research areas include improving aerodynamic and hydrodynamic performance, optimizing mechanisms for energy capture, and enhancing thermal management. These advancements not only increase energy production but also help lower carbon emissions, making renewable energy more viable and impactful on a global scale.

This Special Issue seeks to showcase cutting-edge research and technological advancements in fluid dynamics as applied to renewable energy systems. We invite submissions that focus on fluid mechanics, turbulence modelling, and thermal transfer processes within renewable energy frameworks. Relevant studies may include, but are not limited to, wind turbine aerodynamics, tidal and wave energy converters, hydroelectric power optimization, and solar thermal energy applications. Contributions emphasizing computational modelling, simulation techniques, experimental methods, and field applications are encouraged, especially those that align with the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome and research areas may include, but not limited to:

• Fluid dynamics optimization in wind, wave, and hydro energy systems;
• Advances in modelling and simulation techniques for renewable energy applications and sustainability;
• Heat and mass transfer dynamics in solar thermal energy systems;
• Fluid–structure interactions in renewable energy devices;
• The sustainable development and validation of novel fluid dynamics models for energy-efficient systems;
• Experimental investigations, including wind tunnel and water channel testing, focused on renewable energy applications;
• Sustainable fluid dynamics applications in hybrid renewable systems. 

By addressing these topics, this Special Issue aims to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and drive innovation in applying fluid dynamics to renewable energy systems. These efforts will support the development of more efficient, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions to meet global challenges.

We invite submissions in the form of original research articles, review papers, and case studies. Your contributions will be instrumental in outlining the path forward for innovations in fluid dynamics within the renewable energy sector, ultimately facilitating progress toward a sustainable energy future.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Mohammad-Reza Pendar
Dr. Esmaeil Esmaeilifar
Dr. Frederico Miguel Freire Rodrigues
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.

• renewable energy
• sustainable energy systems
• computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
• wind turbine aerodynamics
• wave and tidal energy converters
• aerodynamic and hydrodynamic modelling and optimization
• sustainable solar thermal energy
• hybrid renewable energy systems
• fluid–structure interactions
• experimental fluid dynamics