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11th International Conference on Smart Energy Systems (SESAAU2025)
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11th International Conference on Smart Energy Systems (SESAAU2025)

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "G1: Smart Cities and Urban Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 1992

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Meng Yuan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sustainability and Planning, Aalborg University, Rendsburggade 14, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Interests: energy system modelling and analysis; sustainable energy planning; energy infrastructures; carbon capture; utilization; storage power-to-X
Dr. Kristian Borch

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Department of Planning, Aalborg University, A.C. Mayers Vænge 15, Copenhagen, Denmark
Interests: energy communities; civic energy; socio-technical acceptability; social acceptance; regional energy systems; renewables; foresight
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue features papers presented and discussed at the 11th International Conference on Smart Energy Systems (SESAAU2025), held in Copenhagen on 16–17 September 2025.

The conference aims to provide a platform for presenting and discussing scientific findings and industrial experiences related to smart energy systems. Key topics include renewable energy, 4th Generation District Heating Technologies and Systems (4GDH), and the electrification of heating and transportation sectors, electrofuels, and energy efficiency. Over the years, the conference has evolved into a premier venue for insightful presentations and productive debates on subjects crucial to the development and implementation of smart energy systems, helping to achieve national and international objectives.

Dr. Meng Yuan
Dr. Kristian Borch
Guest Editors

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

  • smart energy system analyses, tools, and methodologies
  • smart energy infrastructure and storage options
  • integrated energy systems and smart grids
  • institutional and organisational change for smart energy systems and radical technological change
  • energy savings in the electricity sector, in buildings and transport, as well as within industry
  • 4th generation district heating concepts, future district heating production and systems
  • electrification of transport, heating, and industry
  • CCUS and PtX technologies and the production and use of electrofuels in future energy systems
  • planning and organisational challenges for smart energy systems and district heating
  • geographical information systems (GISs) for energy systems, heat planning, and district heating
  • components and systems for district heating, energy efficiency, electrification, and electrofuels
  • renewable energy sources and waste heat sources for district heating

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 4691 KB  
Article
Balancing the Energy System: Simulating a Multi-Commodity Approach to Enhance Biomethane Injection Capacity in Gas Networks
by Sander Dijk, Marten van der Laan, Bastiaan Meijer, Jerry Palmers and Joàn Teerling
Energies 2026, 19(9), 2083; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19092083 - 25 Apr 2026
Viewed by 258
Abstract
Biomethane is emerging as a key renewable gas in both mature and developing energy systems worldwide. Driven by climate-neutrality objectives, energy-security concerns, and rising waste-to-energy ambitions, global biomethane production is expected to expand rapidly in the coming decade. In Europe, this growth is [...] Read more.
Biomethane is emerging as a key renewable gas in both mature and developing energy systems worldwide. Driven by climate-neutrality objectives, energy-security concerns, and rising waste-to-energy ambitions, global biomethane production is expected to expand rapidly in the coming decade. In Europe, this growth is accelerated by the REPowerEU target of 35 billion m3 by 2030. However, as biomethane production increases and natural gas demand declines over time, distribution networks face growing operational challenges, including pressure build-up and biomethane curtailment caused by supply and demand mismatches. This study evaluates whether surplus biomethane can be converted into electricity as a multi-commodity strategy to alleviate these constraints. Using hourly operational data from two Dutch Distribution System Operators (DSOs), a simulation model was developed to assess the impact of generator-based biomethane-to-power conversion on both gas and electricity distribution networks. The results show that, for RENDO, the approach increases effective biomethane injection by 49.0%, reduces natural gas deliveries from the transmission system by 20.0%, and lowers electricity imports by 9.2%. For Coteq, the corresponding impacts are 106.8%, 30.6%, and 16.2%, respectively. These findings indicate that multi-commodity coupling through biomethane-to-power conversion provides a promising strategy for increasing biomethane injection and renewable electricity generation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 11th International Conference on Smart Energy Systems (SESAAU2025))
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23 pages, 2024 KB  
Article
Limitation of Power-to-Methanol: Identifying the Barriers of Bridging Energy and Bio-Carbon to Produce Decentralized Renewable Methanol via Integrated Economical and Environmental Evaluation
by Hans Gelten, Kim Hemmer, Benno Aalderink, Richard van Leeuwen and Zohre Kurt
Energies 2026, 19(7), 1626; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19071626 - 25 Mar 2026
Viewed by 596
Abstract
Power-to-X technologies play a crucial role in accelerating the energy and material transition. A key opportunity lies in integrating these systems with existing bio-based infrastructures such as anaerobic digesters, providing a reliable source of biogenic carbon. Developing effective Power-to-Methanol (PtM) pathways requires a [...] Read more.
Power-to-X technologies play a crucial role in accelerating the energy and material transition. A key opportunity lies in integrating these systems with existing bio-based infrastructures such as anaerobic digesters, providing a reliable source of biogenic carbon. Developing effective Power-to-Methanol (PtM) pathways requires a comprehensive understanding of process behavior through detailed simulation, including technical performance, economic feasibility, and environmental consequences. Despite growing interest, substantial variation remains in published levelized methanol costs, and many assessments insufficiently account for the full environmental footprint of production routes. This study evaluates the potential of PtM deployment in the Netherlands by comparing two pathways that utilize biogenic carbon sources: (i) hydrogenation of captured CO2 using green hydrogen and (ii) dry methane reforming (DMR) of biogas, followed by catalytic syngas conversion to methanol. Results indicate that operational expenses—mainly driven by renewable electricity consumption—far outweigh capital investment. Both routes yield an LCoMeOH of approximately €2630 per tonne, about five times the cost of fossil-based methanol. Life cycle analysis shows that DMR performs more favorably overall, although elevated freshwater ecotoxicity and eutrophication result from digestate application as fertilizer. Continued improvements in renewable energy integration and nutrient recovery technologies are essential for enhancing future economic and environmental performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 11th International Conference on Smart Energy Systems (SESAAU2025))
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27 pages, 3771 KB  
Article
What Can We Do in Bucharest? The Issues of Decarbonising Large District Heating Systems
by Jacek Kalina, Wiktoria Pohl, Wojciech Kostowski, Andrzej Sachajdak, Celino Craiciu and Lucian Vișcoțel
Energies 2026, 19(3), 716; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19030716 - 29 Jan 2026
Viewed by 562
Abstract
District heating systems are central to Europe’s decarbonisation strategy and its 2050 climate-neutrality objective. However, district heating is deeply embedded in the socio-economic system and the built environment. This makes compliance with policy targets at the local level particularly challenging. The issues are [...] Read more.
District heating systems are central to Europe’s decarbonisation strategy and its 2050 climate-neutrality objective. However, district heating is deeply embedded in the socio-economic system and the built environment. This makes compliance with policy targets at the local level particularly challenging. The issues are attributable to two factors. Firstly, the process is characterised by a high degree of complexity and multidimensionality. Secondly, there is a scarcity of local resources (e.g., land, surface waters, waste heat, etc.). In Bucharest, Romania, the largest district heating system in the European Union, the process of decarbonisation represents a particularly complex challenge. The system is characterised by large physical dimensions, high technical wear, heavy dependence on natural gas, significant heat losses and complex governance structures. This paper presents a strategic planning exercise for aligning the Bucharest system with the Energy Efficiency Directive 2023/1791. Drawing on system data, investment modelling, and local resource mapping from the LIFE22-CET-SET_HEAT project, the study evaluates scenarios for 2028 and 2035 that shift heat generation from natural gas to renewable, waste heat, and high-efficiency sources. The central objective is the identification of opportunities and issues. Options include large-scale heat pumps, waste-to-energy, geothermal and solar heat. Heat demand profiles and electricity price dynamics are used to evaluate economic feasibility and operational flexibility. The findings show that the decarbonisation heat supply in Bucharest is technically possible, but financial viability hinges on phased investments, interinstitutional coordination, regulatory reforms and access to EU funding. The study concludes with recommendations for staged implementation, coordinated governance and socio-economic measures to safeguard heat affordability and system reliability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 11th International Conference on Smart Energy Systems (SESAAU2025))
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