Strategies and technologies for the sustainable development of energy, water, and environmental systems

Despite important progress over the past decade concerning the global rise of clean energy investments that have surpassed those in fossil fuels and the adoption of net-zero targets by most of the world’s economy, further efforts are still needed to achieve truly sustainable development. Addressing the complex challenges of climate change requires integrated strategies that connect energy, water, and environmental systems in innovative and effective ways. In this context, the Conferences on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES) serve as key platforms for advancing scientific knowledge and supporting the transition toward more sustainable pathways. This editorial introduces recent advances in sustainable energy research featured in the Virtual Special Issue (VSI) of Energy Reports, dedicated to the 2023 SDEWES conference. The contributions span a wide range of topics and reflect the interdisciplinary nature of ongoing efforts to tackle global sustainability challenges. The editorial also reflects on recent trends in research presented in the framework of these conferences over the last years, with particular attention to work published in Energy Reports. More specifically, the articles discussed in this editorial address a range of innovative approaches to improve energy efficiency and support sustainable transitions. These include passive and active strategies for enhancing energy performance in the built environment, the integration of renewable energy technologies into urban infrastructures and decentralized systems, and the growing role of digitalization in sustainable design, through the application of simulation tools, modeling platforms, and decision-support systems. Finally, the editorial explores the potential of emerging energy carriers, such as hydrogen and synthetic fuels, in enabling cleaner and more flexible energy systems.