Journal profile · Energy & Fuels
Renewable Energy
ISSN 0960-1481 · eISSN 1879-0682 · Elsevier BV · ENGLAND · Monthly
Renewable Energy: CAS Zone 1 · Engineering (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 8.98; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,460; review about 158 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: 80%; 2,581 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Renewable 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 Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems, Wind Energy Research and Development and Photovoltaic System Optimization Techniques, together about 25.2% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The journal, Renewable Energy, seeks to promote and disseminate knowledge on the various topics and technologies of renewable energy systems and components. The journal aims to serve researchers, engineers, economists, manufacturers, NGOs, associations and societies to help them keep abreast of new developments in their specialist fields and to apply alternative energy solutions to current practices.Renewable Energy is an international, multi-disciplinary journal in renewable energy engineering and research. The journal aims to be a leading peer-reviewed platform and an authoritative source of original research and reviews related to renewable energy.Renewable Energy covers research in the following areas:Biomass ConversionPhotovoltaic Technology ConversionSolar Thermal ApplicationsWind Energy TechnologyDesalinationSolar and Low Energy ArchitectureClimatology and MeteorologyGeothermal TechnologyWave, Tide and Ocean Thermal EnergiesHydro PowerHydrogen Production Technology and Fuel CellsSocio-economic and Policy IssuesThe journal also welcomes papers on other related topics provided that such topics are within the context of the broader multi-disciplinary scope of Renewable Energy. It should be noted, however, that papers are within scope only if they are concerned with power generation and that the power is generated in a renewable or sustainable way. For instance, a paper concerning development and characterisation of a material for use in a renewable energy system, without any measure of the energy that this new material will convert, would be out of scope.Renewable Energy accepts original research papers and review papers (the latter by invitation of the Editor-in-Chief only). Interested authors of review papers need to send the outline of the review together with a short CV of the main author/s to the Editor-in-Chief before submission of the paper.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): Energy & Fuels
Editor-in-chief Nidia CaetanoPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 16 in mainland China (about 14%); most named United Kingdom 21, Mainland China 16, Greece 12, United States 9, Italy 9 (115 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic SystemsEnergy10.7%
- Wind Energy Research and DevelopmentEngineering7.7%
- Photovoltaic System Optimization TechniquesEnergy6.8%
- Solar Radiation and PhotovoltaicsComputer Science6.7%
- Energy and Environment ImpactsEnvironmental Science5.6%
- Hybrid Renewable Energy SystemsEnergy5.3%
- Thermochemical Biomass Conversion ProcessesEngineering4.4%
- Biodiesel Production and ApplicationsEngineering4.4%
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 | Energy & Fuels | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Green & Sustainable Science & Technology | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Engineering Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Engineering | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Green & Sustainable Science & Technology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Energy & Fuels | Zone 2 |
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 2 |
| Minor | Green & Sustainable Science & Technology | Zone 2 |
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
- 8.98LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 9.1Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 18.1LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 18.1Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.89LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.8LetPub ·
- h-index
- 157LetPub ·
- h-index
- 320OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 20,130OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 10.38OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 9.9%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 18.5%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 2,451LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 28,633 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,195 | 309 | 1,526 |
| 2025 | 2,581 | 556 | 20,370 |
| 2024 | 2,217 | 562 | 40,341 |
| 2023 | 1,693 | 496 | 51,580 |
| 2022 | 1,815 | 397 | 76,274 |
| 2021 | 1,731 | 416 | 87,577 |
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
158 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 6.8 months
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
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 6.8 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 80%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 15 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 78 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 158 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 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 4,460 / EUR 4,170 / GBP 3,570 / JPY 553,170 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 4,150 | — | — |
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 prepare8 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 1
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 10,000 words
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted7, with length limits
- case reportFor case reports you are required to follow CARE guidelines and provide the CARE checklist at manuscript submission.Read the CARE guidelinesFollow the CARE chec…Length not stated
- invited reviewsRenewable Energy considers for publication: original scientific or engineering research papers concerned with any aspect of renewable energy research, measureme…Length not stated
- original paperRenewable Energy considers for publication: original scientific or engineering research papers concerned with any aspect of renewable energy research, measureme…main text ≤ 6,000 words
- original scientific or engineering research papersRenewable Energy considers for publication: original scientific or engineering research papers concerned with any aspect of renewable energy research, measureme…Length not stated
- research paperRenewable Energy considers for publication: original scientific or engineering research papers concerned with any aspect of renewable energy research, measureme…Length not stated
- reviewRenewable Energy considers for publication: original scientific or engineering research papers concerned with any aspect of renewable energy research, measureme…Length not stated
- review articleRenewable Energy considers for publication: original scientific or engineering research papers concerned with any aspect of renewable energy research, measureme…main text ≤ 10,000 words
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 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
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- ISSN
- 0960-1481
- Electronic ISSN
- 1879-0682
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Renewable Energy
What CAS zone is Renewable Energy in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Renewable Energy is in Zone 1 of Engineering, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Energy & Fuels / Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; 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 Renewable Energy?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 8.98; CiteScore 18.1, h-index 320.
How long does peer review take at Renewable Energy?
The publisher reports about 158 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 6.8 months; the community-reported acceptance is “80%”. 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 Renewable Energy?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: ≥ 1; Manuscript length: ≤ 10,000 words; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: 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 Renewable Energy based?
Of the 115 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 16 (about 14%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United Kingdom (21), Mainland China (16) and Greece (12). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Renewable Energy?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Renewable Energy is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Renewable Energy open access, and what is the APC?
Renewable Energy is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,460.
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: .