A Message from the new Editor-in-Chief

I feel truly honoured to have been appointed as the new Editor-in-Chief of Energy Technology. Over the last three years, I have served as an associate editor of several materials science and energy journals at Wiley VCH including Advanced Materials, Advanced Energy Materials, Advanced Energy & Sustainability Research, Advanced Materials Technologies, and Energy Technology, and I am grateful to the editorial leadership team of Wiley VCH for their confidence in me and for giving me this opportunity to continue my contribution in a new capacity.

Thanks in large part are due to my predecessor, Dr. John Uhlrich, who has been a great friend, colleague, and mentor. It is indeed a challenge to fill the big shoes of John who, over the past decade, through his passion, dedication, and stewardship, has laid a strong foundation for Energy Technology and has led the journal to the stature and reputation it holds today. My term as an associate editor of Energy Technology under John's leadership was eventful and filled with learning experiences. The various projects I worked on with John have shaped my editorial perspective of assessing scientific rigour and impact, increasing journal output and visibility while guarding the quality of the content we publish, and so on.

Launched in 2013 as a new voice in the applied energy research community, Energy Technology has over these years risen to a prominent position, publishing high-quality content on the technical and technological aspects of energy generation, conversion, storage, and distribution. All the key journal metrics like article download, citation, and submission rates have been on a steady upward trend over the last decade except for a brief dip in the submission rate during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which through concerted efforts from the editorial team recovered quickly. The journal's growth and success reflect the visionary insights of the former Editors-in-Chief (Dr. John Uhlrich and the founding editor Dr. Barbara Boeck), the hard work of the associate editors and editorial office, the unreserved support and contributions from our internationally diverse team of editorial board members, and above all the trust we have gained from our authors and readers.

As Energy Technology forges ahead into the second decade of its life, I hope to follow in the footsteps of my illustrious predecessors in ensuring the continued growth of the title and taking the journal to a more competitive position in the field of applied energy research. But the journey ahead is not without challenges. The global energy landscape is now changing more rapidly than ever. Although impacted by the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, the global energy transition to a low-carbon economy is continuing to gain momentum. Contemporary energy issues including the developments in energy technologies are no longer just a topic of discussion in the research community but are now very much in the realm of public discourse. As an energy journal setting foot into a new decade, for us to stay relevant, we must keep pace with the fast-changing energy world and publish content that excites our growing audience. Advancing the journal's impact and visibility will therefore be one of our primary objectives which I hope to work toward in my new role, together with a new team of associate editors and the journal's international advisory board.

Not only is the energy world fast-changing, but so is the publishing world - with new publication models, journal metrics, and a rapid increase in the number of new journals. For Energy Technology to remain competitive we must keep pace with the changing landscape of scholarly publishing. Offering excellent author service including timely feedback and rapid publication times is key to this. As the new editor-in-chief, I am committed to shortening the journal's turnaround times and offering our authors the best possible publishing experience. While there are not going to be any radical changes to the journal under my leadership, Energy Technology is now moving from an in-house editorial model to an external editorial model. In this new model, we will continue to enhance the quality and impact of the articles we publish through rigorous editorial assessment and peer review and will strive to maintain the status of the journal as a favourite destination for authors to publish their top-notch research in emerging energy technologies and applied energy research.

Taking over a journal like Energy Technology that has ten years of publishing excellence indeed comes with a great deal of responsibility, and I embark on this new journey with great excitement and enthusiasm tempered with a tinge of trepidation. I am thrilled about this opportunity, and I look forward to engaging with all of you in your role as a reader, reviewer, author, or guest editor, and I welcome your support in our collective goal of taking Energy Technology to newer heights.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Sai Kishore Ravi