Journal profile · ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Energy Research & Social Science
ISSN 2214-6296 · eISSN 2214-6326 · Elsevier
Energy Research & Social Science: CAS Zone 2 · Economics (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 7.17; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,450; review about 183 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); 603 articles in 2025; indexed in SSCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Energy Research & Social Science is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 2 of Economics in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy, Energy and Environment Impacts and Sustainability and Climate Change Governance, together about 44.7% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Energy Research & Social Science (ERSS) is a peer-reviewed international journal that publishes original research and review articles examining the relationship between energy systems, markets, business and society. ERSS covers a range of topics revolving around the intersection of energy technologies, fuels, and resources on one side; and social, economic and business processes and influences - including communities of energy users, people affected by energy production, social and economic institutions, businesses, customs, traditions, households, behaviors, and policies - on the other. Put another way, ERSS investigates the social, economic and business systems surrounding energy technology and hardware. ERSS is of relevance for energy practitioners, researchers interested in the social, business and economics aspects of energy production or use, and policymakers.Energy Research & Social Science (ERSS) provides an interdisciplinary forum for the discussion of how social and technical issues related to both energy production and consumption interact. Energy production, distribution, and consumption all have both technical and human components, and the latter involve the human causes and consequences of energy-related activities and processes as well as social structures that shape how people interact with energy systems. The journal's focus on social structures is broadly defined to encompass both macro-level systems (like economic policies and structures, markets and institutions) and micro-level practices (like everyday interactions, businesses or individual and household behaviour), all of which together shape how society operates and interact with energy systems. Energy analysis therefore needs to look beyond the dimensions of technology to include these social, economic and human elements.The editors emphasize that cross cultural, comparative, mixed-methods research is especially encouraged, and discourage submission of single-country case studies and/or studies that rely only on one method in isolation. Authors of single country studies, if submitted, must demonstrate that they have situated their study in the broader context and have highlighted the significance of their study.This journal welcomes contributions that support and advance the UN's sustainable development goals, in particular SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Editor-in-chief Benjamin K. SovacoolPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 5 in mainland China (about 6%); most named United States 23, United Kingdom 18, Australia 7, Mainland China 5, Italy 4 (87 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Social Acceptance of Renewable EnergySocial Sciences16.2%
- Energy and Environment ImpactsEnvironmental Science15.1%
- Sustainability and Climate Change GovernanceEnvironmental Science13.3%
- Environmental Education and SustainabilityEnvironmental Science5.6%
- Energy, Environment, and Transportation PoliciesEnergy4.8%
- Global Energy and Sustainability ResearchEnergy4.3%
- Climate Change Communication and PerceptionSocial Sciences3.7%
- Climate Change Policy and EconomicsEconomics, Econometrics and Finance3.1%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Economics Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Economics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Environmental Studies | Zone 2 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Economics Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Economics | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Green & Sustainable Science & Technology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Environmental Studies | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Economics Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Economics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Environmental Studies | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SSCIScopusLetPub
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
- 7.17LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 7.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 12.6LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 12.6Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 2.43LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.99LetPub ·
- h-index
- 173OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 3,066OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 7.3OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 20.8%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 68.6%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 583LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 4,682 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 461 | 364 | 291 |
| 2025 | 603 | 459 | 3,572 |
| 2024 | 503 | 384 | 7,571 |
| 2023 | 406 | 288 | 11,031 |
| 2022 | 367 | 240 | 14,597 |
| 2021 | 507 | 286 | 23,390 |
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
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
183 dayssubmission to acceptance
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Submission to first decision
- 7 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 65 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 183 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 11 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double 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 3,450 / EUR 3,230 / GBP 2,760 / JPY 427,900 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | Yes, amount not published | — | — |
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)
What to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 10,000 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Highlights
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted9, with length limits
- opinionEnergy Research & Social Science considers the following types of papers for publication:Original research articles (generally between 6,000 and 10,000 words, i…Length not stated
- original research articleEnergy Research & Social Science considers the following types of papers for publication:Original research articles (generally between 6,000 and 10,000 words, i…main text ≤ 10,000 words
- original research articlesOriginal research articles (generally between 6,000 and 10,000 words, including references): Research articles generally do something new or novel, whether it's…Length not stated
- perspectiveEnergy Research & Social Science considers the following types of papers for publication:Original research articles (generally between 6,000 and 10,000 words, i…main text ≤ 5,000 words
- perspectivesPerspectives (generally 2,000 to 5,000 words): Unlike full-length research articles, Perspectives are shorter, opinion-like pieces on a recent topic of interest…Length not stated
- research articleEnergy Research & Social Science considers the following types of papers for publication:Original research articles (generally between 6,000 and 10,000 words, i…Length not stated
- reviewEnergy Research & Social Science considers the following types of papers for publication:Original research articles (generally between 6,000 and 10,000 words, i…main text ≤ 12,000 words
- review articleEnergy Research & Social Science considers the following types of papers for publication:Original research articles (generally between 6,000 and 10,000 words, i…Length not stated
- review essaysReview essays (8,000 to 12,000 words): Review articles generally do not produce new research. Instead, they scour existing peer-reviewed or even popular literat…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
Ethics in publishing. 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
Double anonymized peer review process. Model summary
This journal follows a double 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 per Elsevier's article sharing policy. 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. Note that this journal follows a double anonymized peer review process, and therefore submissions should not be published as a preprint befo…
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
- ISSN
- 2214-6296
- Electronic ISSN
- 2214-6326
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Energy Research & Social Science
What CAS zone is Energy Research & Social Science in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Energy Research & Social Science is in Zone 2 of Economics, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Environmental Studies. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Economics. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Energy Research & Social Science?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 7.17; CiteScore 12.6, h-index 173.
How long does peer review take at Energy Research & Social Science?
The publisher reports about 183 days (submission to acceptance). 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 Energy Research & Social Science?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Manuscript length: ≤ 10,000 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Highlights: Optional; 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 Energy Research & Social Science based?
Of the 87 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 5 (about 6%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (23), United Kingdom (18) and Australia (7). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Energy Research & Social Science?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Energy Research & Social Science is indexed in SSCI and Scopus.
Is Energy Research & Social Science open access, and what is the APC?
Energy Research & Social Science is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,450.
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 2026-08-25). Last updated: .