Guest Editorial: Special issue on the Joint Meeting of the Belgian and Italian Sections of the Combustion Institute − “Combustion Applications for Sustainable Energy and Mobility”

The Joint Meeting of the Belgian and Italian Sections of the Combustion Institute, including the 45th Annual Meeting of the Italian Section, took place in Florence, Italy, from May 28 to 31, 2023. Held at the charming Auditorium di Santa Apollonia, near Florence's historic center, the meeting provided an engaging platform for exchanging expertise among scientists, technologists, and young researchers working in the field of combustion. The event covered fundamental and applied aspects of combustion science, particularly focusing on low-emission and sustainable technologies. Contributions from neighboring fields such as gasification and fuel processing were also highlighted. In addition to parallel oral presentation sessions, a dedicated work-in-progress poster session fostered valuable discussions, especially encouraging participation from PhD students and early-career researchers. A total of 62 papers were submitted to the Joint Meeting, of which 16 were meticulously selected for publication in this Special Issue on “Combustion Applications for Sustainable Energy and Mobility”, following an additional, rigorous peer review process conducted by renowned international experts. The papers chosen for this Special Issue represent high-quality contributions that are expected to have a significant impact on future research and development in combustion science. The meeting featured a wide array of topics critical to the future of combustion science, including: Low Emission Combustion Technologies, focusing on low-carbon fuels, MILD combustion, oxy-fuel; Reaction Kinetics, addressing hydrocarbons, oxygenated fuels, and pollutant formation; Laminar and Turbulent Flames including Machine Learning applications for combustion, ignition, flame dynamics, and instabilities; Spray, Droplet, and Supercritical Combustion; Detonation, Explosion, and Supersonic Combustion, exploring ignition, flame acceleration, and high-speed engines; Solid Fuel thermo-chemical processing, focusing on coal, biomass, waste, and metals; Propulsion and Engines, investigating combustion in engines and turbines, with emphasis on emissions; Soot and Nanomaterials, studying soot and nanoscale carbon formation; Multi-physics phenomena, such as catalysis, fuel cells, and electrolysis. All papers presented during the Joint Meeting of the Belgian and Italian Sections of the Combustion Institute contributed valuable insights, sparking significant discussions among participants. These discussions are expected to enhance the quality of future research and submissions for upcoming events, fostering continued advancement in combustion science and related fields.