Call for Papers—Interfaces Special Issue: Operations Research Applications in the Energy Industry

Abstract

Energy comes from many sources: (1) coal and natural gas power plants producing electricity that is transmitted over the grid to homes, businesses, and factories; (2) oil and gas fields, and refineries producing fuels that keep homes warm and transport people and goods; and (3) solar and wind farms that provide cheap renewable energy to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels. Although operations research has been used extensively in the energy industry, new opportunities have arisen that are ripe for exploitation using OR/MS and analytics techniques. These include managing variability in renewable generation because of weather conditions, demand-side management to lower utility costs for providing electricity, and use of artificial lift technologies to economically extract more oil from oil fields. Operations research can play an important role in the generation, distribution, and consumption of energy. Accordingly, Interfaces is planning a special issue focusing on applications of operations research techniques in the energy industry. Papers must fall into one of the following categories: • An application with a verification letter from the company or organization using the results • A novel literature review of the practice of operations research in the energy industry • A tutorial emphasizing the practical implementation of energy models or systems Authors should review the Interfaces instructions for preparing a paper at http://pubsonline.informs.org/ page/inte/submission-guidelines. Papers must be submitted online at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/inte. In the Author Center of the ScholarOne Manuscripts website, please designate the “Manuscript Type” (#1—“Type, Title, and Abstract”) as “Special Issue” in the dropdown list; in #4—“Details and Comments,” respond “Operations Research in Energy Industry” to the question, “This paper is for which special issue?” All papers will be refereed. Authors planning on writing review articles and tutorials should indicate their intent to the special issue editor by February 1, 2015. Articles must be received no later than July 1, 2015 for full consideration for publication in this special issue. Papers received after that date will be considered for publication in Interfaces, but will not be guaranteed for consideration in the special issue.