energies-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Trends and Challenges in Cyber-Physical Energy Systems

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "F: Electrical Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 March 2026) | Viewed by 4104

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Computer Science, AGH University of Krakow, Gramatyka Street 10, 30-067 Kraków, Poland
Interests: cyber-physical systems; energy systems; optimization; logistics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The integration of cyber-physical systems (CPSs) into energy infrastructure is transforming the energy sector. Cyber-physical energy systems (CPESs) represent an advanced infrastructure where computational algorithms and physical components interact seamlessly to enhance efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. As the energy landscape evolves, integrating renewable energy sources, smart grids, and advanced control systems, new challenges emerge in relation to security, real-time communication, and data management. The integration of CPSs into energy systems brings numerous benefits, such as improved grid resilience, enhanced demand-response capabilities, and better resource management. However, it also introduces complex challenges including cybersecurity threats, interoperability issues, and the need for robust regulatory frameworks. By exploring these topics, this Special Issue seeks to advance the understanding and development of CPESs, fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers to build a more resilient and sustainable energy future. This Special Issue aims to explore current trends, innovative approaches, and the multifaceted challenges associated with cyber-physical energy systems (CPESs).

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Advanced control and optimization:
    • Model predictive control in CPESs.
    • Decentralized and distributed control strategies.
  1. Smart grid technologies:
    • Integration of renewable energy sources.
    • Smart metering and demand-side management.
  1. Security and privacy:
    • Cybersecurity measures in energy systems.
    • Data privacy and protection mechanisms.
  1. Communication and networking:
    • Real-time communication protocols for CPESs.
    • IoT applications in energy systems.
  1. Simulation and modeling:
    • Digital twins for energy systems.
    • Simulation tools and techniques for CPESs.
  1. Machine learning and AI:
    • Predictive maintenance using AI.
    • Machine learning for energy demand forecasting.
  1. Regulatory and policy issues:
    • Policy frameworks for CPES implementation.
    • Standards and regulations for cybersecurity in energy systems.

Dr. Iwona Skalna
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • decentralized control
  • distributed control
  • optimization strategies
  • cyber-physical systems (CPSs)
  • energy systems control
  • smart grid technologies
  • smart grids
  • smart metering
  • energy distribution
  • grid modernization
  • cybersecurity in energy
  • data privacy
  • energy system protection
  • security protocols
  • intrusion detection
  • privacy mechanisms
  • internet of things (IOT)
  • network reliability
  • smart grid communication
  • CPES networking
  • digital twins
  • energy system simulation
  • modeling techniques
  • simulation tools
  • virtual energy systems
  • predictive modeling
  • ai in energy systems
  • smart energy management
  • data-driven maintenance
  • CPES implementation
  • cybersecurity standards
  • energy regulations
  • regulatory compliance
  • policy development

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

25 pages, 1886 KB  
Article
Cyber-Physical Power System Digital Twins—A Study on the State of the Art
by Nathan Elias Maruch Barreto and Alexandre Rasi Aoki
Energies 2025, 18(22), 5960; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18225960 - 13 Nov 2025
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2505
Abstract
This study explores the transformative role of Cyber-Physical Power System (CPPS) Digital Twins (DTs) in enhancing the operational resilience, flexibility, and intelligence of modern power grids. By integrating physical system models with real-time cyber elements, CPPS DTs provide a synchronized framework for real-time [...] Read more.
This study explores the transformative role of Cyber-Physical Power System (CPPS) Digital Twins (DTs) in enhancing the operational resilience, flexibility, and intelligence of modern power grids. By integrating physical system models with real-time cyber elements, CPPS DTs provide a synchronized framework for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, energy management, and cybersecurity. A structured literature review was conducted using the ProKnow-C methodology, yielding a curated portfolio of 74 publications from 2017 to 2025. This corpus was analyzed to identify key application areas, enabling technologies, simulation methods, and conceptual maturity levels of CPPS DTs. The study highlights seven primary application domains, including real-time decision support and cybersecurity, while emphasizing essential enablers such as data acquisition systems, cloud/edge computing, and advanced simulation techniques like co-simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing. Despite significant academic interest, real-world implementations remain limited due to interoperability and integration challenges. The paper identifies gaps in standard definitions, maturity models, and simulation frameworks, underscoring the need for scalable, secure, and interoperable architectures and highlighting key areas for scientific development and real-life application of CPPS DTs, such as grid predictive maintenance, forecasting, fault handling, and power system cybersecurity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Challenges in Cyber-Physical Energy Systems)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

31 pages, 947 KB  
Systematic Review
A Systematic Review of Cyber Risk Analysis Approaches for Wind Power Plants
by Muhammad Arsal, Tamer Kamel, Hafizul Asad and Asiya Khan
Energies 2026, 19(3), 677; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19030677 - 28 Jan 2026
Viewed by 781
Abstract
Wind power plants (WPPs), as large-scale cyber–physical systems (CPSs), have become essential to renewable energy generation but are increasingly exposed to cyber threats. Attacks on supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) networks can cause cascading physical and economic impacts. The systematic synthesis of [...] Read more.
Wind power plants (WPPs), as large-scale cyber–physical systems (CPSs), have become essential to renewable energy generation but are increasingly exposed to cyber threats. Attacks on supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) networks can cause cascading physical and economic impacts. The systematic synthesis of cyber risk analysis methods specific to WPPs and cyber–physical energy systems (CPESs) is a need of the hour to identify research gaps and guide the development of resilient protection frameworks. This study employs a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol to review the state of the art in this area. Peer-reviewed studies published between January 2010 and January 2025 were taken from four major journals using a structured set of nine search queries. After removing duplicates, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, and screening titles and abstracts, 62 studies were examined for analysis on the basis of a synthesis framework. The studies were classified along three methodological dimensions, qualitative vs. quantitative, model-based vs. data-driven, and informal vs. formal, giving us a unified taxonomy of cyber risk analysis approaches. Among the included studies, 45% appeared to be qualitative or semi-quantitative frameworks such as STRIDE, DREAD, or MITRE ATT&CK; 35% were classified as quantitative or model-based techniques such as Bayesian networks, Markov decision processes, and Petri nets; and 20% adopted data-driven or hybrid AI/ML methods. Only 28% implemented formal verification, and fewer than 10% explicitly linked cyber vulnerabilities to safety consequences. Key research gaps include limited integration of safety–security interdependencies, scarce operational datasets, and inadequate modelling of environmental factors in WPPs. This systematic review highlights a predominance of qualitative approaches and a shortage of data-driven and formally verified frameworks for WPP cybersecurity. Future research should prioritise hybrid methods that integrate formal modelling, synthetic data generation, and machine learning-based risk prioritisation to enhance resilience and operational safety of renewable-energy infrastructures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Challenges in Cyber-Physical Energy Systems)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop