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The worldwide energy demands and resource consumption are rising despite the efforts for energy saving and emission reduction. This results from the combination of the supply chain losses, the rebound effect of demand increases, following efficiency improvements, and the vigorous economic development in South-East Asia. Even under the COVID-19 crisis, China has come again on the path of economic growth. The efficiency improvements in energy generation, supply, use, and waste heat recovery are needed drivers to reduce energy consumption and emissions. This contribution is examining the recent technology developments and research of the key elements in the design and operation of sustainable energy processes, systems, and networks. The interactions among the stages of energy conversion, distribution, storage and final use are meticulously investigated, and the critical features that are associated with breakthrough performance in terms of sustainability have been identified. Identification of highly efficient and sustainable energy materials through a systematic approach, whether serving energy conversion mechanisms, mitigation of harmful emissions and by-products, energy storage is of paramount importance for the design of sustainable energy systems. Advanced design methods focusing on multi-scale modelling covering the aspects from the molecular level to the process level and ultimately to the plant and network-level have been discussed, and the main challenges have been pinpointed. Heat exchange units, as the backbone of any energy integration system, pose a great challenge in achieving highly-performing energy systems. Advanced operation strategies supported by sophisticated optimal decision tools and control schemes enable the efficient operation and the maintenance of sustainability under uncertain and perpetually varying conditions. Energy storage provides the buffer for attenuating the effects of variability, whereas smart city, home management and smart production ensure uninterrupted and optimal energy supply. The contribution is complemented with the recent developments in the current VSI from the PRES′19 Conference. • Recent technology developments of the key elements of the energy networks. • Including the stages of energy conversion, distribution, storage and use, CO 2 capture. • Recent renewable energy technologies integration, demand management, energy storage. • Future research: analysis of energy and emission flows by life cycle stages. • Significant contribution to the reviewed topics from VSI: PRES′19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]