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Energies
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New Challenges and Prospects of Smart Energy Systems for Sustainable...
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New Challenges and Prospects of Smart Energy Systems for Sustainable Communities

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 (15 April 2026) | Viewed by 5478

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Roberta Roberto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Energy Technologies and Renewable Energy, ENEA, Roma, Italy
Interests: energy systems; low-carbon energy transition; energy planning and implementation strategies; renewable energies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Viviana Negro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Energy, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, Italy
Interests: biofuels; biohydrogen; pyrolysis; gasification

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are inviting submissions to the Energies Special Issue on “New Challenges and Prospects of Smart Energy Systems for Sustainable Communities”.

The development of smart energy systems is a crucial enabler of the transition towards a decarbonized renewable energy-based society, aiming to integrate renewable energy sources, optimize energy efficiency, and ensure sustainable development. Sustainable communities rely on smart energy systems to balance environmental, social, and economic goals through the integration of renewable energy, energy storage, and decentralized and smart grids.

However, their implementation poses significant challenges alongside promising prospects. The development of smart energy systems must take into account not only new technologies and methods, but also investments, policies, national and local collaboration, societal support, and public acceptance and participation, and must also be adapted to local conditions.

Multidisciplinary innovation, equitable projects, and supportive policies are also key to harnessing smart energy systems and ensuring resilient and inclusive energy solutions.

We welcome contributions on the following topics:

  • Innovative technologies for renewable energy integration;
  • Advanced grid management;
  • Energy storage;
  • System and power grid simulations;
  • IoT-enabled energy solutions and/or AI-based optimization;
  • Energy communities;
  • Schemes/approaches to support a fair energy transition and reduce energy poverty.

We also seek insights on policy, economic feasibility, cybersecurity, and societal acceptance. Papers addressing interdisciplinary approaches, case studies, and future projections are also welcome.

Dr. Roberta Roberto
Dr. Viviana Negro
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 systems
  • sustainable communities
  • renewables

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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29 pages, 388 KB  
Article
Cost Allocation Methods and Their Properties in Energy Communities
by David González-Asenjo, Luis R. Izquierdo and Segismundo S. Izquierdo
Energies 2025, 18(23), 6236; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18236236 - 27 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 802
Abstract
Energy communities enable prosumers to jointly operate distributed energy resources and thereby generate economic benefits that exceed those achievable individually. A central challenge in their implementation is selecting a Cost Allocation Method (CAM) that distributes these benefits fairly among heterogeneous participants. Although numerous [...] Read more.
Energy communities enable prosumers to jointly operate distributed energy resources and thereby generate economic benefits that exceed those achievable individually. A central challenge in their implementation is selecting a Cost Allocation Method (CAM) that distributes these benefits fairly among heterogeneous participants. Although numerous CAMs have been proposed, they are often evaluated under different assumptions, making direct comparison difficult. This paper develops a unified axiomatic framework for assessing CAMs in energy communities and applies it to eight representative methods classified in three families: simple rules, savings-based, and price-based. The framework is built around seven desirable properties capturing principles of fairness, environmental friendliness, and continuity. Our main contribution is a comparative table that positions all methods within a single evaluative space and reveals the structural trade-offs that arise across CAMs. The analysis shows that the Average-Price CAM satisfies the same axiomatic properties as the Shapley method while remaining computationally trivial, making it an attractive practical option. We also show that the Extreme-Price CAM is the only price-based method that ensures the property of Beneficial Group Participation (core stability); however, this method violates other properties related to environmental friendliness and continuity—trade-offs we prove to be unavoidable for price-based rules. Finally, we conjecture that the nucleolus satisfies all seven properties, although its computation is rarely feasible in practice. The proposed framework provides researchers and practitioners with a transparent foundation for selecting and designing cost allocation methods in emerging energy communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Challenges and Prospects of Smart Energy Systems for Sustainable Communities)
29 pages, 5868 KB  
Article
Assessing the Potential of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System: MSW Gasification and a PV Park in Lobito, Angola
by Salomão Joaquim, Nuno Amaro and Nuno Lapa
Energies 2025, 18(12), 3125; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18123125 - 13 Jun 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3175
Abstract
This study investigates a hybrid renewable energy system combining the municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification and solar photovoltaic (PV) for electricity generation in Lobito, Angola. A fixed-bed downdraft gasifier was selected for MSW gasification, where the thermal decomposition of waste under controlled air [...] Read more.
This study investigates a hybrid renewable energy system combining the municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification and solar photovoltaic (PV) for electricity generation in Lobito, Angola. A fixed-bed downdraft gasifier was selected for MSW gasification, where the thermal decomposition of waste under controlled air flow produces syngas rich in CO and H2. The syngas is treated to remove contaminants before powering a combined cycle. The PV system was designed for optimal energy generation, considering local solar radiation and shading effects. Simulation tools, including Aspen Plus v11.0, PVsyst v8, and HOMER Pro software 3.16.2, were used for modeling and optimization. The hybrid system generates 62 GWh/year of electricity, with the gasifier contributing 42 GWh/year, and the PV system contributing 20 GWh/year. This total energy output, sufficient to power 1186 households, demonstrates an integration mechanism that mitigates the intermittency of solar energy through continuous MSW gasification. However, the system lacks surplus electricity for green hydrogen production, given the region’s energy deficit. Economically, the system achieves a Levelized Cost of Energy of 0.1792 USD/kWh and a payback period of 16 years. This extended payback period is mainly due to the hydrogen production system, which has a low production rate and is not economically viable. When excluding H2 production, the payback period is reduced to 11 years, making the hybrid system more attractive. Environmental benefits include a reduction in CO2 emissions of 42,000 t/year from MSW gasification and 395 t/year from PV production, while also addressing waste management challenges. This study highlights the mechanisms behind hybrid system operation, emphasizing its role in reducing energy poverty, improving public health, and promoting sustainable development in Angola. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Challenges and Prospects of Smart Energy Systems for Sustainable Communities)
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Review

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31 pages, 1779 KB  
Review
Synergistic Computing for Sustainable Energy Systems: A Review of Genetic Algorithm-Enhanced Approaches in Hydrogen, Wind, Solar, and Bioenergy Applications
by Jacek Lukasz Wilk-Jakubowski, Łukasz Pawlik, Leszek Ciopiński and Grzegorz Wilk-Jakubowski
Energies 2025, 18(22), 6027; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18226027 - 18 Nov 2025
Viewed by 815
Abstract
The imperative for sustainable energy solutions has spurred extensive research into renewable resources such as hydrogen, wind, solar, and bioenergy. This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements (2015–2024) in the application of Genetic Algorithms and associated computational technologies for the optimisation [...] Read more.
The imperative for sustainable energy solutions has spurred extensive research into renewable resources such as hydrogen, wind, solar, and bioenergy. This paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements (2015–2024) in the application of Genetic Algorithms and associated computational technologies for the optimisation and forecasting of these energy systems. This study synthesizes findings across diverse areas including hydrogen storage design, wind farm layout optimization, solar irradiance prediction, and bioenergy production and utilization. The review categorizes the literature based on renewable energy sources and their specific areas of application, such as system optimization, energy management, and forecasting. Furthermore, it examines the role of sensitivity analysis and decision-making frameworks enhanced by Genetic Algorithm-based approaches across these domains. By highlighting the synergistic potential of computational intelligence in addressing the complexities of renewable energy deployment, this review provides valuable insights for researchers and practitioners seeking to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable energy future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Challenges and Prospects of Smart Energy Systems for Sustainable Communities)
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