Solar Energy Journal Awards 2025 Announced

Every two years, Solar Energy Journal recognizes selected articles through the biennial Solar Energy Journal Best Paper Award. The papers are recognized for their novelty and impact in the five subject areas of PV Cells and Cell Physics, Solar Heating/Cooling and Buildings, Concentrating Solar Power and Photochemistry, Solar Resources and Meteorology, and Solar Energy Systems Integration. The papers are selected by the Editor-in-Chief based on nominations by the editorial board.

On the Associate Editor of the Year Award, Solar Energy recognizes the dedication and commitment of the Associate Editors to promoting the Journal and ensuring high-quality of the articles published. The Journal further recognizes that overseeing the scientific review process in a timely manner takes significant effort and coordination.

We are happy to present the Best Papers and Associate Editors of the Year 2025

announced by the Solar Energy Journal Editor-in-Chief Prof. Ranga Pitchumani. 

Congratulations to all!

Best Paper Awards

PV Cells and Cell Physics

  • Critical analysis of decision variables for high-throughput experimentation (HTE) with perovskite solar cells by Naveen Bhati, Mohammad Khaja Nazeeruddin, François Maréchal - Solar Energy, Volume 262, 2023 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.111810

 

Solar Heating & Cooling, Buildings

  • Form-stable phase change materials based on graphene-doped PVA aerogel achieving effective solar energy photothermal conversion and storage by Lixiang Luo, Wenxing Luo, Wenjing Chen, Xiaowu Hu, Yan Ma, Shikun Xiao, Qinglin Li, Xiongxin Jiang - Solar Energy, Volume 255, 2023, 146-156 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.03.037

 

  • Techno-economic analysis to determine the potential of perovskite-based PV blinds for buildings by Khosro Lari, Adam Bruce, Seyedsoroush Sadatifar, Ralph Evins - Solar Energy, Volume 265, 2023, 112052 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.112052

 

CSP & Photochemistry

  • Large area transparent refractory aerogels with high solar thermal performance by Zachary J. Berquist, Andrew J. Gayle, Andrés Miranda Mañón, Victor Vogt, Keyi Kang Yao, Vishnu Ramasawmy, Kyle Wilke, Neil P. Dasgupta, Andrej Lenert - Solar Energy, Volume 292, 2025 - 113437 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2025.113437

 

Solar Resources

  • A continuous form of the Perez diffuse sky model for forward and reverse transposition by Anton Driesse, Adam R. Jensen, Richard Perez - Solar Energy, Volume 267, 2024, 112093 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.112093

 

Systems Integration

  • An enhanced scanning technique for flexible power point tracking under partial shading condition by Sajib Ahmed, Saad Mekhilef, Marizan Mubin, Kok Soon Tey, Mostefa Kermadi - Solar Energy, Volume 262, 2023, 111817 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.111817

 

  • Dust accumulation and aggregation on PV panels: An integrated survey on impacts, mathematical models, cleaning mechanisms, and possible sustainable solution by Haris M. Khalid, Zimran Rafique, S.M. Muyeen, Abdul Raqeeb, Zafar Said, R. Saidur, Kamaruzzaman Sopian - Solar Energy, Volume 251, 2023, 261-285 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.01.010

 

  • A global assessment of the effects of solar farms on albedo, vegetation, and land surface temperature using remote sensing by Zhengjie Xu, Yan Li, Yingzuo Qin, Eviatar Bach - Solar Energy, Volume 268, 15 January 2024, 112198 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.112198

 

Associate Editors of the Year

Solar Energy Journal recognizes the dedication and commitment of the Associate Editors to promoting the Journal and ensuring the high quality of the articles published. The Journal further recognizes that overseeing the scientific review process in a timely manner takes significant effort and coordination. Therefore, the Journal recognizes annually one or more Associate Editor(s) with the Associate Editor of the Year Award, which includes a certificate and the opportunity for the awardee to have one peer-reviewed article published in Solar Energy open access for 6 months free of charge. The Associate Editor(s) of the Year is/are selected by the Editor-in-Chief based on nominations received from the Subject Area Editors.

Photovoltaic Cells and Cell Physics - Dr. Paola Delli Veneri (Italy)

Dr. Paola Delli Veneri is the Head of the Solar Photovoltaic Division at ENEA (the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development). Her research focuses on the advancement of silicon-based, perovskite, and perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells, as well as the development of innovative integrated photovoltaic applications. She currently serves as the coordinator for the two national projects “"Innovative, Efficient, and Sustainable Photovoltaics" and “New generation materials for tandem solar cells – GoPV”. Both initiatives are funded by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and involve a wide network of universities and research institutions. Author/co-author and reviewer of scientific papers/chapters of books, she is an Associate Editor for the journal Solar Energy (Elsevier) and a member of the scientific committees for several prestigious national and international conferences.

Solar Heating and Cooling - Dr. Chua Kian Jon Ernest (Singapore)

Dr Chua Kian Jon has conducted research on renewable energy and heat recovery systems since 1997, spanning both modelling and experimental studies of advanced thermal systems. He is highly skilled in the design, fabrication, commissioning, and testing of sustainable energy solutions for heating, cooling, and humidity control across small- and large-scale applications. He is a Fellow of IMechE, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and the Energy Institute. He is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of Nature – Thermal Science and Engineering and has published over 250 international peer-reviewed journal papers and eight scientific monographs in air conditioning, dehumidification, and thermal engineering. He is ranked among the top 1% of scientists worldwide and a Top 2% Scientist (Stanford) from 2021 to 2024, with over 18,000 citations and an h-index of 71. He is regularly invited to deliver plenary and keynote lectures, serves as Principal Investigator on multiple multi-million-dollar competitive grants, and has received numerous local, regional, and international awards for his research breakthroughs.

Solar Resources - Dr. Xiang’ao Xia (China)

Dr. Xiangao Xia is a research professor specializing in atmospheric remote sensing. His pivotal work on aerosol-cloud-radiation interactions advances climate research. In recent years, he has focused on enhancing the applications of China's Fengyun satellites for weather forecasting, climate analysis, and renewable energy.

Systems Integration - Dr. Bibek Bandyopadhyay (India)

Dr. Bandyopadhyay is currently a Distinguished Professor of JIS Institute of Advanced Studies and Research Kolkata and a Senior Adviser of Ernst & Young (EY) India. He served at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India and is widely recognized for his contributions to the Indian National Solar Mission.  He was also the Director of Solar Energy Centre (now NISE). Bridging his technical background in materials science and solar research with energy policy insights, he has been working for more than four decades on India's transition to clean energy. His research focuses on solar radiation, solar systems and power generation, renewables performance optimization, solar buildings, hydrogen, energy policy & management. He has authored a book, edited several books and contributed chapters, published research articles. He has been serving in Editorial Boards of International Journals: Solar Energy, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (earlier Indian Journal of Engineering and Materials Sciences), and was a Guest Editor of Special Issues of Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 2010 and Engineering 2025 (Elsevier). He is a Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering, and of Industry Academy of International AI Industry Alliance.