About this Research Topic
The rapid growth and expansion of modern cities has raised new concerns about energy sustainability, motivating a profound transformation of conventional urban energy systems. The integrated energy system (IES) that incorporates multiple energy carriers such as electricity, heating and natural gas, as well as various renewables, is believed to be a promising approach to ensure efficient, reliable and clean energy supply for citizens. Emerging information technologies such as big-data analysis, edge computing, 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) accelerate the innovations in the energy sector and make the digitalized energy systems a hot topic. The concept of digital twins is considered a feasible way for the digitalization of urban energy systems. They can be utilized as virtual replicas of real energy systems for analysis and optimization, and facilitate digital interactions with other sectors in a smart city. However, considering the system complexities, the holistic digitalization of urban energy systems is still a challenging task.
The goal of this Research Topic is to discover the recent advances in the research of the integration and digitalization of urban energy systems. These studies will provide theories, methodologies, and experience for the construction and application of a digitalized urban IES and its digital twins. The combination of advanced energy and information technologies will enhance the performance of urban IES in different stages such as planning and design, energy management, operation and control, system maintenance, and market trading. Moreover, it will enable the flexible interactions between urban energy systems and various city sectors such as intelligent transportation, smart buildings and communities, and thus promoting the sustainability and livability of modern cities.
This Research Topic will mainly cover the research papers on the construction and application of a digitalized urban IES. The Research Topic includes, but is not limited to, the following themes:
• Digitalization technologies and their application in urban IES, such as advanced meters and communication, big-data analysis, and AI.
• Enabling technologies for the digital twins of urban IES, such as modelling and simulation, dynamic analysis, and situational awareness and forecasting.
• Coordinated planning, operation, control, and analysis of digitalized urban IES and the interaction with smart cities.
• Application of digitalized urban IES such as accommodating renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and promoting users experience.
• Pilot projects and experience of urban IES.
The goal of this Research Topic is to discover the recent advances in the research of the integration and digitalization of urban energy systems. These studies will provide theories, methodologies, and experience for the construction and application of a digitalized urban IES and its digital twins. The combination of advanced energy and information technologies will enhance the performance of urban IES in different stages such as planning and design, energy management, operation and control, system maintenance, and market trading. Moreover, it will enable the flexible interactions between urban energy systems and various city sectors such as intelligent transportation, smart buildings and communities, and thus promoting the sustainability and livability of modern cities.
This Research Topic will mainly cover the research papers on the construction and application of a digitalized urban IES. The Research Topic includes, but is not limited to, the following themes:
• Digitalization technologies and their application in urban IES, such as advanced meters and communication, big-data analysis, and AI.
• Enabling technologies for the digital twins of urban IES, such as modelling and simulation, dynamic analysis, and situational awareness and forecasting.
• Coordinated planning, operation, control, and analysis of digitalized urban IES and the interaction with smart cities.
• Application of digitalized urban IES such as accommodating renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and promoting users experience.
• Pilot projects and experience of urban IES.
Keywords: Urban Energy Systems, Integrated Energy Systems, Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Planning and Optimal Operation, Digital Twins
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
