We are seeing unprecedented growth in energy consumption prompted by both increased demand per capita and increased population growth. Providing sustainable energy for all is one of the grand challenges the world faces today. Given the important services terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems provide it is essential that energy production has minimal detrimental and maximal beneficial effects on ecosystem function. Energy production may have direct, for example through changing river flow, or indirect, for example through perturbation of the local climate, effects on ecosystems. We welcome papers from a broad range of disciplines which examine the effects of energy production on the local climate and ecosystem function, including those examining mitigation, adaptation and optimization.