Smart Urban Energies and Integrated Systems
A section of Smart Cities (ISSN 2624-6511).
Section Information
Scope:
This section is dedicated to the transition towards sustainable, efficient, and intelligent urban energy systems. It explores the design, operation, and optimization of smart grids, renewable energy integration, district energy systems, microgrids, storage, and other systems able to improve energy efficiency and savings. A key focus is sector coupling, which explores the energy–mobility nexus (e.g., smart EV charging, vehicle-to-grid), the energy–water nexus, and the complex synergies between electricity, heating, and cooling networks. Digital twins for advanced simulation and real-time optimization of urban systems, aiming to dramatically improve system-level energy efficiency and predictive management, represent a target of this section. A key focus is on the synergistic and intelligent management of energy with other urban flows, such as water, waste, and transportation. Via integrated energy systems and demand response strategies, cities can achieve carbon neutrality and energy security. Another key focus is research on energy harvesting technologies designed to capture ambient or waste energy within the urban environment.
Keywords
- smart grid
- renewable energy integration
- district energy
- microgrids
- energy management systems (EMS)
- demand-side response
- building-to-grid (B2G)
- vehicle-to-grid (V2G)
- vehicle-to-everything (V2X)
- integrated energy systems
- sustainable energy
- energy storage
- urban electrification
- energy harvesting
- energy efficiency
- AI-driven strategies
