IET Renewable Power Generation (RPG) brings together the topics of renewable energy technology, power generation and systems integration, with techno-economic issues. All renewable energy generation technologies are within the scope of the journal. Specific technology areas covered by the journal include:

• wind power technology and systems
• photovoltaics
• solar thermal power generation
• geothermal energy
• fuel cells
• wave power
• marine current energy
• biomass conversion and power generation

What differentiates RPG from technology specific journals is a concern with power generation and how the characteristics of the different renewable sources affect electrical power conversion, including power electronic design, integration in to power systems, and techno-economic issues. Other technologies that have a direct role in sustainable power generation such as fuel cells and energy storage are also covered, as are system control approaches such as demand side management, which facilitate the integration of renewable sources into power systems, both large and small.

The journal provides a forum for the presentation of new research, development and applications of renewable power generation. Demonstrations and experimentally based research are particularly valued, and modelling studies should as far as possible be validated so as to give confidence that the models are representative of real-world behavior. Research that explores issues where the characteristics of the renewable energy source and their control impact on the power conversion is welcome. Papers covering the wider areas of power system control and operation, including scheduling and protection that are central to the challenge of renewable power integration are particularly encouraged.

The journal is technology focused covering design, demonstration, modelling and analysis, but papers covering techno-economic issues are also of interest. Papers presenting new modelling and theory are welcome but this must be relevant to real power systems and power generation. Most papers are expected to include significant novelty of approach or application that has general applicability, and where appropriate include experimental results. Critical reviews of relevant topics are also invited and these would be expected to be comprehensive and fully referenced.

Subject categories

Each paper submitted to the journal is assigned to one of 17 subject topics. Each subject topic is governed by a Subject Editor, who in conjunction with the Editor-in-Chief, oversee all final decisions on manuscripts. Submitting authors must select the most appropriate category for their paper. A full list of the subject topics and their descriptions are given below:

Solar Thermal Power

Power generation using solar thermal conversion technologies, integration of solar thermal based power generating systems, component and device optimisation, new techniques and testing, recovery of waste heat.

Solar photovoltaic systems (including MPPT)

Materials, semiconductors and structures for PV conversion, PV modelling and analysis, power electronics, energy efficient power conversion and conditioning, maximum power point tracking, off-grid and grid-tied applications, industry standards for PV modules, grid interconnection and integration, reliability of and condition monitoring for PV systems.

Power from biomass

Biomass to power and biomass conversion. Works irrelevant to power generation will not be considered (biomass pre-treatment, biomass conversion not for power generation, biomass-derived product refining and application).

Hydro Power Technology

Theories, methods, and techniques related to hydroelectric energy issues. This includes hydroelectric energy development, sustainable utilisation of hydroelectric energy, optimal operation of hydro, wind, solar power and their integration.

Wave and tidal energy

Multiphysics modeling of wave and tidal energy converters, design of specific electric generators for wave and tidal energy conversion, power electronics for wave and tidal energy converters, control strategies for wave and tidal energy converters, energy storage systems for wave and tidal energy converters, tidal and wave energy farms and connection to shore.

Wind turbine technology and control

Generators, power electronic converters, system state monitoring and diagnoses, control, protection and communication.

Wind farm design and operation

Wind farm planning and design: wind resource assessment, macro and micro-siting of wind farms, flow field simulation for wind farms including wakes, techno-economic analysis. Wind farm operation and maintenance: intelligent wind farms, optimal control of wind farms (excluding individual wind turbine control), condition monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis and maintenance for the wind farm equipment, wind power prediction and wind farm life extension.

HVDC for renewable power integration

New theories, methodologies, technologies and field testing of coordinated control and protection of wind power and DC technologies. Topics covered include: AC voltage/frequency control and protection of DC connected wind farms, novel DC offshore transmission concepts, optimal dispatch and real time control of wind power connected by DC grids, ancillary services from HVDC connected wind power, protection schemes of combined HVDC meshed systems, enhanced damping control of wind power plants connected by HVDC and coordinated voltage control of wind power plant clusters and combined AC/DC grids.

Energy storage technology

The development of various forms of energy storage technology and systems and their applications for power grid stabilisation, covering: the integrated design and control strategies for hybrid grid connected and islanded renewable energy systems (RES) with energy storage systems (ESS) and dispatch strategies based on forecast generation and storage capability of the hybrid renewable energy systems. In addition, ancillary services and grid support of Hybrid Renewable Energy System/ESS and its islanded operation and black start capability.

Hybrid renewable energy systems

Renewable energy and hybrid combinations related to non-renewable and renewable energy sources and optimal scheduling of hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) to fulfil maximum demand. More specifically this includes: dynamic energy management systems with battery storage and optimal sizing for community based techno-economic HRES, new multi-objective optimisation designs for HRES and economical cost analysis for new generation schemes, power converters and control systems for hybrid renewable power generation, maximum power utilisation and optimal power flow.

Microgrids with renewable energy sources

Micro-grid control and stability analysis including topology and impedance considerations (for example virtual impedance analysis) and energy management for micro-grids, including placement of distributed energy sources and energy storage.

Demand side management for renewable energy integration

Flexibility from demand-side, energy and reserve requirements, frequency response services from dynamic demand control, market bidding strategies, distribution networks and renewable energy expansion planning, electric vehicle aggregators and smart household energy management systems related to renewable energy utilisation.

Renewable energy power conversion

Electric machines and drives, electric generators, electric devices and related technologies for renewable power conversion. This subject also includes power electronics, control strategies and related to renewable power conversion. All papers should be directly concern renewable energy power conversion.

Power system operation and planning with renewable power generation

Power system planning and operation related to renewable energy with explicit modeling, control, simulation of the attributes and characteristics of renewable energy sources. Such operation and planning will include the source-load balancing, dispatch, unit commitment, reliability assessment, resilience, internet of things, forecasting and electric market participation for ancillary services.

Power system stability analysis and protection with renewable power generation

Power system fault analysis while considering renewable power generation, modeling of the renewable power generation, renewable power system protection, DC power system protection and power system stability analysis considering the penetration of power electronics and renewable power generation.

Renewable energy policy

Policy models/frameworks with salient emphasis on renewable energy, including: formulation, evaluation and implementation of renewable energy policy. Methodological assessment of existing national or global renewable energy policies and systematic formulation of new policies.

Market design for renewable energy support and integration

Planning and operational modeling of power systems with renewable power generation sources, all aspects of market design and market interactions and the use of energy storage to manage the integration of renewable power generation sources.