Open access journals make their published research freely available online to readers. Unlike subscription-based publications, they do not require readers to pay for individual articles or maintain a journal subscription to access the full text.
Open access publishing generally follows one of several models:
- Gold open access: The final published article is freely available on the journal's website. Authors may need to pay an article processing charge (APC), although some journals waive the fee or operate without one.
- Diamond or platinum open access: Articles are freely available to readers, and authors are not charged standard publication or processing fees.
- Hybrid open access: A subscription-based journal gives authors the option to make individual articles open access by paying an applicable fee.
- Green open access: Authors deposit an eligible version of their paper in an institutional repository or subject repository, subject to the publisher's self-archiving policy.
These models are not interchangeable. A journal may offer open access options without being fully open access, and a journal described as open access may still charge publication fees. Authors should verify the policy that applies to their particular manuscript.
Why Open Access Matters in Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy
Open access publishing can be valuable in engineering because research findings often need to reach audiences beyond universities. Researchers exploring how to get started with research as an engineering student often find open access literature especially helpful during early literature reviews.
Wider access to technical research
Electrical engineers, research scholars, postgraduate students, industry professionals, and independent researchers can read openly available articles without a personal or institutional subscription. This can make technical knowledge more accessible to researchers working in institutions with limited library budgets.
Greater visibility for practical innovations
Research on power converters, photovoltaic performance, microgrid control, wind turbine optimization, energy storage, and grid integration may interest both academic and industrial audiences. Open access can reduce barriers to reading and sharing these findings.
Support for interdisciplinary research
Renewable energy projects often combine electrical engineering with materials science, mechanical engineering, environmental science, computer science, economics, and public policy. Open access can help researchers across these fields consult related studies. This connects closely with why interdisciplinary research is shaping the future of engineering.
Easier access for students and early-career researchers
Students and early-career researchers can use open access literature to conduct literature reviews, understand experimental methods, compare results, and identify research gaps. Access to full-text articles can be especially useful when preparing dissertations, theses, conference papers, and journal manuscripts.
Open access does not, by itself, guarantee more citations, better research quality, or acceptance by a journal. These outcomes depend on several factors, including the quality and relevance of the work.
Open Access Journals to Consider for Electrical Engineering Research
The following publications and journal platforms provide possible starting points for researchers. They differ in scope, publication model, and technical focus, so authors should read the current aims and author guidelines before submitting.
1. IEEE Access
IEEE Access is a multidisciplinary, fully open access journal covering research across IEEE's fields of interest. Its scope includes applied and interdisciplinary engineering work, making it a potential option for research involving electrical systems, electronics, power engineering, and energy technologies.
It may be worth considering for manuscripts involving topics such as:
- Smart grids and intelligent energy management
- Electrical system monitoring and fault detection
- Power electronics and control systems
- Renewable energy forecasting using machine learning
- Energy-efficient electrical devices and systems
The journal uses article processing charges, and authors should confirm the current fee and manuscript requirements through the official journal website.
Official website: https://ieeeaccess.ieee.org/
2. IEEE Open Access Journal of Power and Energy
The IEEE Open Access Journal of Power and Energy focuses on electric energy systems, including their development, planning, design, operation, measurement, and control. Its scope makes it particularly relevant to research on power generation, transmission, distribution, energy conversion, and grid reliability.
Potential research areas include:
- Renewable energy integration into electricity networks
- Power system planning and optimization
- Grid stability and reliability
- Electricity transmission and distribution
- Sustainable power system operation
- Energy measurement and control
Authors working on the electrical power system aspects of solar, wind, or other renewable energy technologies may find this journal especially relevant.
Official information: https://ieee-pes.org/publications/open-access-journal-of-power-and-energy/
3. IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics
Power electronics is central to renewable energy conversion and efficient electrical energy use. The IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics covers the development and application of power electronic systems and technologies.
It may be relevant to research on:
- DC–DC and DC–AC converters
- Inverters for solar photovoltaic systems
- Converter control and modulation techniques
- Power conversion for energy storage
- High-efficiency electrical conversion systems
- Power electronics for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure
A manuscript should offer a clear technical contribution, supported by appropriate analysis, simulation, experimental validation, or other evidence suitable for the research question.
Official journal information: https://open.ieee.org/publishing-options/topical-journals/
4. Electrical Engineering and Energy
Electrical Engineering and Energy (ELENE) is an open access, peer-reviewed journal covering electrical engineering, electronics, and energy systems. Its stated scope includes power systems, electrical machines, power electronics, renewable energy technologies, energy storage, hydrogen energy, and electric vehicles.
It may be relevant to work on:
- Solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and geothermal energy
- Smart grids and microgrids
- Electrical machines and drives
- Battery management and energy storage
- Hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies
- Energy efficiency and optimization
The journal describes itself as diamond open access and states that it does not charge submission or article processing fees. Authors should independently review its editorial policies, publication history, and indexing information before deciding whether it meets their academic requirements.
Official website: https://www.jelene.org/
Open Access Journals for Renewable Energy Research
Renewable energy research can be published in specialist energy journals or broader engineering journals. The best choice depends on whether the paper focuses on an energy technology itself, the electrical systems supporting it, or the environmental and economic implications of deployment. Authors working on these topics may also benefit from reviewing open access journals for civil engineering research papers and where to publish mechanical engineering research papers if their work overlaps with those disciplines.
5. Energies
Energies is an open access journal published by MDPI. It covers a broad range of energy-related research, including energy technologies, energy systems, and sustainability-related topics.
It may be worth investigating for manuscripts concerning:
- Solar and wind energy systems
- Energy conversion and efficiency
- Energy storage and battery technologies
- Renewable energy forecasting
- Distributed energy resources
- Energy management and optimization
Because the journal has a broad scope, authors should identify the most appropriate section or special issue, then confirm that the proposed manuscript matches its current editorial priorities. Review the applicable APC, peer-review policy, and indexing information before submission.
Official website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies
6. IEEE Access for Interdisciplinary Renewable Energy Studies
Although IEEE Access is not exclusively a renewable energy journal, its multidisciplinary scope may suit studies that combine electrical engineering with computation, communications, sensing, automation, or data analysis.
Examples include:
- Machine-learning models for renewable energy forecasting
- IoT-based monitoring of solar installations
- Smart control systems for microgrids
- Data-driven fault diagnosis in wind energy systems
- Optimization of hybrid renewable energy systems
The paper should have a clear engineering contribution rather than simply applying a familiar algorithm to a dataset without adequate validation or technical novelty.
Official website: https://ieeeaccess.ieee.org/
7. IJOER — International Journal of Engineering Research and Science
IJOER is another engineering publication authors may encounter when searching for journals that cover electrical engineering and related technical fields. Researchers can examine its current scope and author instructions to determine whether a particular electrical engineering or renewable energy manuscript is eligible.
Before submitting, verify the journal's peer-review process, editorial board, publication charges, copyright and licensing terms, publication history, and indexing claims. Check indexing directly in the relevant database rather than relying only on statements made by a journal or third-party directory. Authors comparing indexed outlets may find top Scopus indexed journals in engineering and science and top Web of Science SCI and SCIE indexed journals of engineering useful references.
Official website: https://ijoer.com/
Important: Treat this as a journal to evaluate, not an automatic recommendation. Suitability depends on the manuscript and the journal's independently verifiable academic standards.
How to Choose the Right Journal for Your Research
A journal's title may sound relevant without its actual scope matching your paper. Use the following criteria to compare potential destinations. For a broader checklist, see top factors to consider when selecting an engineering journal for publication.
1. Match the journal's scope
Read the aims and scope, recent article titles, and author guidelines. A paper on inverter control may fit a power electronics journal better than a publication focused mainly on energy policy. A study of renewable energy forecasting may fit a broader engineering or energy journal if it makes a strong methodological contribution.
2. Verify peer review
Look for a clearly described peer-review process, named editors, editorial policies, and transparent publication ethics requirements. Be cautious of guaranteed acceptance, implausibly short review promises, or invitations that pressure you to submit immediately. Understanding why IJOER is not a predatory journal can help researchers distinguish legitimate outlets from questionable ones.
3. Check indexing independently
Indexing can matter for institutional requirements, doctoral research, promotion, and funding. Confirm the journal's current status in the relevant official database, such as Scopus, Web of Science, or the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), as applicable.
Do not assume that a journal is indexed simply because it displays a database logo. Also verify the exact journal title and ISSN, and check whether the coverage is current. A journal's presence in one directory does not mean it is indexed in every database.
4. Compare publication fees
Check the current article processing charge, taxes, optional services, and waiver policies. If you have limited funding, look for diamond open access journals or publishers offering institutional agreements and fee waivers.
Do not assume that every open access journal is free for authors, or that a fee-paying journal is automatically reputable.
5. Review recent publications
Read several papers published in the journal over the past year. Consider whether their subject matter, research depth, methods, and presentation resemble your manuscript. Recent publications can reveal the journal's practical interests more clearly than its title alone.
6. Assess the journal's audience
Think about who needs to read your findings. A study on grid stability may benefit from a power systems audience, while a paper on photovoltaic materials may be better suited to a materials or renewable energy journal. A manuscript combining energy forecasting and control may need a journal that welcomes interdisciplinary research.
Common Research Topics Suitable for Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy Journals
The following examples can help authors identify the right subject category for their work.
| Research area | Example manuscript topic |
|---|---|
| Solar energy | Performance analysis of photovoltaic systems under changing environmental conditions |
| Wind energy | Fault detection and predictive maintenance for wind turbines |
| Power systems | Renewable energy integration and grid stability |
| Power electronics | High-efficiency inverter design for solar applications |
| Energy storage | Battery management strategies for renewable energy systems |
| Smart grids | Demand response and intelligent energy management |
| Microgrids | Optimization of grid-connected and islanded microgrid operation |
| Electric vehicles | Charging infrastructure and grid integration |
| Energy forecasting | Machine-learning models for solar or wind power prediction |
| Hybrid energy systems | Techno-economic assessment of solar–wind–storage configurations |
These are illustrative topics rather than guaranteed matches. Journal selection still depends on the research question, originality, methods, and intended audience.
How to Prepare Your Manuscript Before Submission
A strong journal submission begins with a clear research contribution. Before submitting, check that the manuscript explains the problem, identifies the gap in existing research, and states what the study contributes. A structured approach following engineering research methodology concepts, types, and applications can help authors organize their work effectively.
Structure the paper clearly
Many engineering research articles include:
- Title and abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction and research objectives
- Literature review or related work
- Materials, methods, system design, or mathematical model
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusion and future work
- References
The required structure varies by journal and article type. Follow the selected journal's author guidelines rather than relying on a generic template. Authors new to academic writing may also benefit from how to write a research paper article in engineering.
Report methods and results transparently
For simulation-based research, specify the model assumptions, parameter values, software or computational setup, and validation method. For experimental work, explain the apparatus, test conditions, measurement methods, and relevant uncertainties. For forecasting or optimization studies, provide appropriate baselines and evaluation metrics.
Renewable energy papers should avoid broad performance claims that are not supported by the reported data. Explain the limitations of the study and the conditions under which the findings may apply.
Prepare figures and references carefully
Check that circuit diagrams, system architectures, plots, tables, and photographs are readable and permitted by the journal's specifications. Ensure that every in-text citation appears in the reference list and that the reference style is consistent.
If using third-party figures or datasets, check the applicable permissions and attribution requirements.
Write a focused cover letter
A cover letter should identify the manuscript title, article type, and main contribution. Briefly explain why the paper is relevant to the journal's scope. Disclose any required conflicts of interest, related submissions, or prior publication details according to the journal's policy.
Never submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously unless the journals' policies explicitly permit the arrangement.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting an Open Access Journal
Researchers can reduce the risk of unsuitable submissions by avoiding these common mistakes:
- Choosing a journal based only on a high impact factor or a broad claim of prestige
- Assuming that open access means publication is free for authors
- Relying on unverified indexing claims
- Ignoring the journal's recent publications and actual scope
- Submitting without checking the article processing charge
- Trusting promises of guaranteed acceptance or publication within a few days
- Using a journal template that does not match the current author guidelines
- Overlooking copyright, licensing, research ethics, or data-sharing requirements
A credible journal should provide transparent information about its editorial process, fees, policies, and published content.
Continue Exploring
Open access journals can help electrical engineering and renewable energy researchers share findings with a broad audience. Potential options include IEEE Access for multidisciplinary engineering studies, the IEEE Open Access Journal of Power and Energy for power system research, the IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics for converter-related work, and energy-focused publications such as Energies and Electrical Engineering and Energy. IJOER may also be considered during a broader journal search, provided authors independently verify its suitability and current academic standing.
There is no single best journal for every manuscript. The most appropriate choice is one whose scope aligns with the research, whose review and publication policies are transparent, and whose indexing and fee information meet the author's requirements.
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