Future energy system analyses

Considering the history of energy systems since the second industrial revolution, [1] identifies four development stages. These start from an early decentralized phase, pass through the well-established centralized phase, and evolve into a distributed phase characterized by the rapid development of renewable energy technologies. The fourth phase, which today is materializing, consists of a smart and connected energy system permeated by new technologies and reshaping society and businesses in various ways. Digitalization, decarbonization, and decentralization are three pillars of the ongoing transformations in the electricity industry. In this chapter, we first review several electrical infrastructure futures envisioned in the recent literature (e.g. based on smart grid or super grid principles). We then overview several analysis macro-areas which gained attention in the scientific community. These include the assessment of new technologies, the development of energy data analytics, modelling/simulation tools and testbeds, as well as the exploration of broader socio-technical-economic perspectives on energy systems.

GALBUSERA Luca; 

2025-11-03

Springer Cham

JRC126527

978-3-030-97940-9 (online),   

https://link.springer.com/referencework/10.1007/978-3-030-97940-9?page=6#toc,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC126527,   

10.1007/978-3-030-97940-9_36 (online),