Guest Editors

• Prof. Caichu Xia (Ningbo University, China)
  tjxiaccb@126.com

• Prof. Wenbin Fei (Hunan University, China)
  wenbinfei@hnu.edu.cn

• Prof. Guillermo Narsilio (The University of Melbourne, Australia)
  guillermo.narsilioferrero@unimelb.edu.au

• Dr. Philipp Braun (Navier Laboratory, École nationale des ponts et chaussées, France)
  philipp.braun@enpc.fr

• Prof. Frank Wuttke (Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany)
  frank.wuttke@ifg.uni-kiel.de

• Prof. Dipanjan Basu (University of Waterloo, Canada)
  dipanjan.basu@uwaterloo.ca

Background

The transition to sustainable energy systems requires innovative solutions for large-scale energy storage to balance supply and demand, enhance grid stability, and integrate renewable energy sources. Geological formations offer immense potential for secure, long-term, and cost-effective energy storage, including compressed air energy storage, hydrogen storage, pumped hydro storage, thermal energy storage, CO₂-based storage technologies, radioactive waste disposal, etc. These applications demand a comprehensive understanding of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes in rock masses, as well as advanced engineering solutions to ensure system integrity, efficiency, and environmental safety. The success of these technologies hinges on overcoming challenges such as fracture dynamics, reservoir stability, and long-term monitoring in heterogeneous subsurface environments.

Energy GeoStorage and geological waste disposal represent a critical frontier in sustainable geoscience, bridging disciplines from geomechanics and geochemistry to energy systems and risk governance. This special issue seeks to showcase pioneering research on subsurface storage technologies, including but not limited to hydrogen storage in porous reservoirs, compressed air energy storage, hydrogen storage, nuclear waste repository design, and integrated renewable energy solutions. We welcome contributions that explore fundamental mechanisms, cutting-edge numerical and experimental methods, and real-world case studies to advance the safety, scalability, and sustainability of subsurface energy and waste management systems.

Topics for this call for papers include but not restricted to:

1. Underground compressed air energy storage
2. Underground hydrogen storage
3. Pumped hydro storage
4. CO₂ geo-sequestration and utilization
5. Underground thermal storage
6. Radioactive waste disposal
7. Fundamentals of Geo-Energy (e.g., THMC behavior of soils and rocks)

Instructions for authors

Manuscripts should be submitted through the journal's submission system. Please ensure to select the special issue “AiEG” when choosing the article type.

Important dates

Deadline of submission: 31 Mar. 2026

Deadline for revision: 01 June 2026

Deadline for acceptance: 01 Aug. 2026

Date for publication: 01 Dec. 2026