IOP Publishing launches new open access environmental research journal

IOP Publishing has announced plans to launch a new open access environmental research journal, called Environmental Research: Energy (EREN).

The publisher says the decision to launch the new journal was in response to “the increasing demand for sustainable energy research” spurred on by the energy crisis. EREN will openly publish the latest findings around clean and sustainable energy.

EREN is the latest addition to IOP Publishing’s expanding Environmental Research series of open access journals, which it says “builds on the established reputation of Environmental Research Letters (ERL) and shares the same outstanding levels of author service, inclusive editorial policies, and strict quality assurance with open science principles at its core".

Multidisciplinary in nature, EREN aims to appeal to research scientists, economists, engineers and social scientists who are working towards discoveries and sustainable solutions in energy consumption and supply. The journal will open for submissions later in 2023.

In the spirit of transparency and reproducibility, authors publishing in the journal will be encouraged to share data and code where appropriate for the benefit of the research community. Authors also have the option to submit their papers for double anonymous and transparent peer review. In addition, IOP Publishing will waive all OA article publication charges for articles submitted to the journal before 2025.

Newly appointed editor in chief, professor Emily Grubert from the University of Notre Dame in the USA, said: “Energy is crucial to the continued advancement of human civilisation. Simultaneously, our energy system has driven massive environmental and social challenges, including climate change.

“Transitioning the fossil fuel-based energy system we have to the clean energy system we need is a major and urgent interdisciplinary challenge. Environmental Research: Energy brings disciplines together to address system-level energy challenges, with an open access, society-owned publishing model dedicated to the dissemination of knowledge to the global energy research community.”

Dr Tim Smith, head of portfolio development at IOP Publishing, added: “Our continued development of the Environmental Research series reflects the increasing demand for high-quality research journals and outstanding publishing service across environmental science, and the role IOP Publishing has in serving this community worldwide. We’re looking forward to establishing Environmental Research: Energy as an essential open access platform for researchers to publish work that addresses the world’s energy crisis and accelerates scientific breakthroughs in support of identified long term Sustainable Developments Goals in the energy sector.”