A peer-reviewed energy journal published by Elsevier has withdrawn six articles from its 2022 issues after identifying irregularities related to authorship changes and submission information during the editorial process.
According to official retraction notices issued in a recent issue of Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, the concerns arose when author lists were altered at the revision stage without receiving formal approval from the journal’s editorial team. In addition, the authors initially provided email addresses at submission, which were later replaced with different contact details after the manuscripts were accepted.
The journal reported that attempts were made to contact the authors for clarification prior to retraction; however, no responses were received in most cases. Based on the available information, the editors concluded that the reliability of the published findings could not be ensured, leading to the withdrawal of the affected articles.
One of the corresponding authors, affiliated with King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia, acknowledged that the issue was related to authorship clarification during the review process. The author indicated that the matter was administrative in nature and did not involve concerns about the scientific content itself. The journal’s notice for this case also highlighted the addition of new co-authors during revision without explanation or editorial consent, alongside inconsistencies in the email addresses used during submission and post-acceptance stages.
While such issues do not automatically indicate misconduct, they are often considered warning signs in academic publishing. Unapproved authorship modifications and the use of non-verifiable or non-institutional email accounts have, in some cases, been associated with organized practices that compromise publication integrity.
The publisher noted that its manuscript screening systems rely on a wide range of indicators to detect potential ethical concerns. However, the case illustrates the challenges journals continue to face in identifying irregularities that may only become apparent after publication.
This development highlights the importance of maintaining transparent authorship practices and accurate submission information. It also underscores the need for stronger editorial oversight to ensure accountability throughout the peer-review and publication process.