Journal profile · Engineering, Chemical
Applied Energy
ISSN 0306-2619 · eISSN 1872-9118 · Elsevier BV · ENGLAND · Monthly · Founded 1975
Applied Energy: CAS Zone 1 · Engineering (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 12.16; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,430; review about 127 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy; 1,870 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Applied Energy is published by Elsevier BV and is in Zone 1 of Engineering in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Smart Grid Energy Management, Building Energy and Comfort Optimization and Integrated Energy Systems Optimization, together about 24.6% of its articles. Its main subfields are Electrical and Electronic Engineering. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Applied Energy provides a forum for information on research, innovation, development, and demonstration in the areas of energy conversion and conservation, the optimal use of energy resources, analysis and optimization of energy processes, multi-energy systems, mitigation of environmental pollutants through sustainable, secure, efficient energy systems, and fair and efficient transition to a Net Zero future. The journal publishes original research papers, review articles, technology assessment, bibliographical studies, and perspective papers. Authors are encouraged to submit manuscripts which bridge the gaps between research, development, and implementation. The breadth of coverage ranges from innovative technologies and systems of both low-carbon and renewable energy to the economic industrial, commercial, and domestic use of energy with no or minor impact on the environment. Applied Energy is also concerned with the energy related modelling, forecasting, and decision-making problems, energy market design and operation, energy conservation strategies, power system planning and operation, energy users modelling, and the environmental, social and economic impacts of energy policies and usage, including climate change mitigation and other environmental pollution reduction.Key topics covered in the journal include, but not limited to (the focus must be on applied aspects of energy):Renewable energy resources and technologiesEnergy networks and Smart GridMicrogrids and local energy systems Energy systems for Carbon Neutrality (climate mitigation and adaptation)Integrated multi-energy systems and sector coupling Energy in buildings Energy storage Hydrogen and sustainable fuels Energy conservation and energy efficiency Flexibility, demand response, and forecasting models Carbon capture, utilization and storage for energy systemsApplications of Artificial Intelligence in energyOptimization and decision-making methods for energy systems problemsData analytics for energy problemsDecarbonization of transport (including EVs and hydrogen vehicles)Decarbonization of heatProcess systems and decarbonization of industry Energy materials and emerging energy technologies Urban energy and smart city Cyberphysical systems for energy applicationsEnergy markets and economics Energy communities Virtual Power Plants and other energy/power related aggregators Energy policy and societal challenges Applied Energy is the companion title to the open access journal Advances in Applied EnergyThis journal welcomes contributions that support and advance the UN's sustainable development goals, in particular SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy)
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Engineering, Chemical
Editor-in-chief Zita A. ValePublisher website
Editorial board by country: 56 in mainland China (about 28%); most named Mainland China 56, United States 27, United Kingdom 27, Sweden 13, Italy 11 (201 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Smart Grid Energy ManagementEngineering9.3%
- Building Energy and Comfort OptimizationEngineering7.9%
- Integrated Energy Systems OptimizationEngineering7.5%
- Advanced Battery Technologies ResearchEngineering6.3%
- Electric Vehicles and InfrastructureEngineering5.5%
- Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic SystemsEnergy5%
- Hybrid Renewable Energy SystemsEnergy4.9%
- Microgrid Control and OptimizationEngineering4.8%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Engineering Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Engineering, Chemical | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Energy & Fuels | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Engineering Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Energy & Fuels | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Engineering, Chemical | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Engineering Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Energy & Fuels | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Engineering, Chemical | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 12.16LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 12.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 22.1LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 22.1Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 2.86LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 2.52LetPub ·
- h-index
- 162LetPub ·
- h-index
- 390OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 22,793OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 15.52OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 7.4%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 28.11%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 1,771LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 28,792 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,482 | 629 | 2,069 |
| 2025 | 1,870 | 718 | 24,184 |
| 2024 | 2,460 | 891 | 63,943 |
| 2023 | 1,793 | 670 | 72,387 |
| 2022 | 1,733 | 551 | 86,382 |
| 2021 | 1,501 | 631 | 95,640 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
Too few articlesOnly 1 articles from the last 24 months carry both submission and acceptance dates, too few for a median
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3.9 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly easyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 1 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 54 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 127 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 11 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,430 / EUR 4,140 / GBP 3,550 / JPY 549,450 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 4,210 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers4, by deadline
- Artificial Intelligence Driven Solutions for Distribution NetworksDeadline
- Low-Carbon Dispatch of Power Systems with Transmission-Distribution-Microgrid CoordinationDeadline
- Net-Zero Industrial Parks: Integrated Energy Systems and Carbon Management for Industrial DecarbonizationDeadline
- Frontiers in Renewable Energy Conversion, Storage, and End Use — Selected Papers from SEEP 2026Deadline
What to prepare2 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted9
- full length research articleFull Length Research Article: Full length articles are original, high-quality research papers presenting novel scientific findings.Length not stated
- perspective papersPerspective papers: A perspective paper, also known as an opinion paper, position paper, or viewpoint paper, presents the personal viewpoint or opinion of the a…Length not stated
- research articleFull Length Research Article: Full length articles are original, high-quality research papers presenting novel scientific findings. Review Articles: A review ar…Length not stated
- research paperFull Length Research Article: Full length articles are original, high-quality research papers presenting novel scientific findings. Review Articles: A review ar…Length not stated
- reviewFull Length Research Article: Full length articles are original, high-quality research papers presenting novel scientific findings. Review Articles: A review ar…Length not stated
- review articleFull Length Research Article: Full length articles are original, high-quality research papers presenting novel scientific findings. Review Articles: A review ar…Length not stated
- review articlesReview Articles: A review article provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of existing research and literature on a particular topic.Length not stated
- surveyFull Length Research Article: Full length articles are original, high-quality research papers presenting novel scientific findings. Review Articles: A review ar…Length not stated
- technology assessment articlesTechnology assessment articles: A technology assessment paper evaluates the impact, consequences, and implications of specific technologies on society, the envi…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
preprint sharing allowed Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- Multi-Language
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1975
- ISSN
- 0306-2619
- Electronic ISSN
- 1872-9118
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Applied Energy
What CAS zone is Applied Energy in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Applied Energy is in Zone 1 of Engineering, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Engineering, Chemical / Energy & Fuels; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Engineering. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Applied Energy?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 12.16; CiteScore 22.1, h-index 390.
How long does peer review take at Applied Energy?
The publisher reports about 127 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 3.9 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Applied Energy?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Cover letter: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Applied Energy based?
Of the 201 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 56 (about 28%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (56), United States (27) and United Kingdom (27). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Applied Energy?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Applied Energy is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Applied Energy open access, and what is the APC?
Applied Energy is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,430.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .