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Against the backdrop of the digital technology revolution, smart energy offers significant opportunities to achieve the Energy Sustainable Development Goals (SDG7). However, the theoretical and empirical exploration of how smart energy can achieve SDG7 remains incomplete. This study investigates deeply into the influence and mechanism of smart energy on SDG7. Utilizing China's smart energy pilot policy, it adopts the synthetic difference-in-difference method and China's provincial data to estimate the influence of smart energy on SDG7. The results show the following: (1) Smart energy is beneficial to achieving SDG7, and smart energy promotes the realization of SDG7-1 by enhancing energy service accessibility, affordability, and reliability; SDG7-2 by enhancing the renewable energy absorption level and consumption ratio; and SDG7-3 by enabling real-time monitoring, accurate matching, and highly intelligent coordination to improve energy efficiency. (2) Among the quantitative findings, smart energy has notable implications for the SDG7, SDG7-1, and SDG7-3 indexes but has a more limited influence on the SDG7-2 index. (3) The single pilot tests indicate certain differences in effects due to the project scale and program design. Finally, this study provides a theoretical basis and empirical evidence for the region to search for a digital approach to realize SDG7 and smart energy construction planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization has enabled the potential for artificial intelligence techniques to lead the power system to a sustainable transition by extracting the data generated by widely deployed edge devices, including advanced sensing and metering. Due to the increasing concerns about data privacy, federated learning has attracted much attention and is emerging as an innovative application for machine learning solutions in the power and energy sector. This paper presents a holistic analysis of federated learning applications in the energy sector, ranging from applications in generation, microgrids, and distribution systems to the energy market and cyber security. The following federated learning-based services for energy sectors are analyzed: non-intrusive load monitoring, fault detection, energy theft detection, demand forecasting, generation forecasting, energy management systems, voltage control, anomaly detection, and energy trading. The identification and classification of the data-driven methods are conducted in collaboration with federated learning implemented in these services. Furthermore, the interrelation is mapped between the categories of machine learning, data-driven techniques, the application domain, and application services. Finally, the future opportunities and challenges of applying federated learning in the energy sector will be discussed.

This research work is directed to analyze the level of energy poverty and its consequences on the quality of life of the population of the Colombian Caribbean region, by doing a comparison of the results obtained in that area with data regarding the population of Bogotá, capital of Colombia, and of the rest of the country. The method of meeting absolute energy needs was used to determine the energy poverty index at households (EPH). Results obtained indicate that EPH exceeds 60% in urban areas, and 96% in rural zones, where it was also evidenced a clear link between energy poverty and school dropout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential task of integrated electricity-heat systems (IEHSs) is to provide customers with reliable electric and heating services. From the perspective of customers, it is reasonable to analyze the reliabilities of IEHSs based on the ability to provide energy services with a reasonable assurance of continuity and quality, which are termed as service-based reliabilities. Due to the thermal inertia existing in IEHSs, the heating service performances can present slow dynamic characteristics, which has a great impact on the service satisfaction of customers. The neglect of such thermal dynamics will bring about inaccurate service-based reliability measurement, which can lead to the inefficient dispatch decisions of system operators. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a tool which can analyze the service-based reliabilities of IEHSs considering the impacts of thermal dynamics. This paper firstly models the energy service performance of IEHSs in contingency states. Specifically, the nodal energy supplies are obtained from the optimal power and heat flow model under both variable hydraulic and thermal conditions, in which the transmission-side thermal dynamics are formulated. On this basis, the energy service performances for customers are further determined with the formulation of demand-side thermal dynamics. Moreover, a service-based reliability analysis framework for the IEHSs is proposed utilizing the time-sequential Monte Carlo simulation (TSMCS) technique with the embedded decomposition algorithm. Furthermore, the indices for quantifying service-based reliabilities are defined based on the traditional reliability indices, where dynamic service performances and service satisfactions of customers are both considered. Numerical simulations are carried out with a test system to validate the effectiveness of the proposed framework.

A balanced approach that integrates renewables, energy efficiency, and energy sufficiency is essential for achieving climate neutrality and sustainability. Residential buildings are particularly significant in this context, as occupants' lifestyles shape energy demand. The review starts with an overview of energy sufficiency in building science. It then narrows its focus to investigate how energy ratings enhance energy sufficiency in residential buildings. This is done by addressing three key questions: what examples of energy sufficiency actions are referenced in the literature, and how can they be categorized; how building energy codes act as drivers of energy sufficiency; and whether energy ratings encourage the selection of more appropriately sized appliances. These questions are explored through various discussion topics, including a comprehensive list of energy sufficiency actions, the behavioral factors influencing energy excessiveness or insufficiency, and the impact of dwelling and household size on energy use. The conclusions are organized into ten key findings that underscore essential aspects of advancing energy sufficiency through future research and energy policy, emphasizing the need to rethink building codes and appliances energy rating. These findings include reinforcing the role of energy sufficiency alongside the energy-efficiency first principle, tailoring energy services to user needs while exploring alternatives to minimize unwanted use, expanding action examples beyond common practices and quantifying their impacts to strengthen implementation, using operational ratings and the gap ratio to identify areas for improvement and behaviors contributing to excessiveness, addressing unregulated energy end-uses, establishing per capita metrics for comprehensive evaluation, ensuring progressive efficiency in building codes and appliance energy ratings to prevent increases in demand due to excessive size, and developing benchmarking to address regional disparities and resource constraints. • Review focuses on how energy ratings enhance energy sufficiency in dwellings. • Explores energy sufficiency actions and their categorization. • Emphasizes rethinking building codes and appliance ratings for sufficiency. • Operational ratings and per capita assessment are crucial transitions. • Progressive energy efficiency to be included in energy ratings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy determines the social, economic, and environmental aspects that enable the advancement of communities. For this reason, this paper aims to analyze the quality of the energy service in the Non-Interconnected Zones (NIZ) of Colombia. For this purpose, clustering techniques (K-means, K-medoids, divisive analysis clustering, and heatmaps) are applied for data analysis in the context of the NIZ to identify patterns or hidden information in the Colombian government data related to the state of the electricity service in these localities during the years 2019–2020. A descriptive statistical analysis and validation of the results of the clustering techniques is also carried out using R software. Through the implementation of clustering algorithms such as K-means, K-medoids, and divisive analysis clustering, potential areas for the development of renewable and alternative energy projects are identified, considering places with deficiencies in their current electricity service, higher consumption, or places with very low daily hours of electricity service. Additionally, relationships were identified in the dataset that can be considered as tools that would support decision-making for academia and industry, as well as the definition of guidelines or strategies from the government to improve energy efficiency and quality for these places, and consequently, the living conditions of the residents of Colombia's NIZs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of suitable financing models plays an important role for long-term investments in green energy infrastructures necessary to achieve energy and climate targets. In this context, it is important to state that people do not demand energy per se, but energy services such as mobility, heating, cooking and lighting. These services are provided by a combination of different energy carriers and technologies. In this paper, the focus lies on the optimal financing of innovative technologies from the society's point-of-view. Therefore, long-term financing models of new energy solutions play a key role in three core areas: (ⅰ) investments in renewable energy technologies, e.g., large solar thermal, PV, wind power systems, (ⅱ) investments in new network infrastructure for electricity, district heating, hydrogen, charging stations for battery electric vehicles, etc.; (ⅲ) investments in energy efficiency. In this paper we observe that there is practically no degree of freedom in the market regarding choice of financing parameters such as interest rate and depreciation time. In real life, all long-term investments, e.g., in the area of electricity or district heating networks, are located in a strictly regulated environment.

The history of rail transport can offer valuable insights for future energy transitions due to its importance in promoting clean mobility. There is a complex interplay between the evolution of the railway network, fuel consumption, efficiency, energy service, and CO 2 emissions that requires further exploration. We developed a dataset that covers energy use in all stages of rail transportation, as well as the length of track, energy service, and CO 2 emissions at the world scale. To deal with missing data we utilized machine learning techniques for the first time in a historical energy reconstruction study. Our analysis reveals that for world rail transport (1) the final-to-useful efficiency has increased by 30-fold from 1840 to 2020, mainly due to the replacement of steam trains with diesel and electric ones, (2) the peak in final energy use occurred in the 1940s, while useful energy use and transport service continue to grow, (3) there was a reduction in the energy (carbon) intensity from approximately 20 to 0.2 MJ/tkm (2 to 0.02 kg CO 2 /tkm) between 1840 and 2010, due not only to the increase in final-to-useful efficiency but also to rising occupancy, better operating conditions, and reduced losses by the passive system. • The energy history of rail transport can offer valuable insights for future energy transitions. • A novel machine learning method was employed to address partial data coverage issues. • Final energy peaked in the 1940s, while useful energy and service have not yet peaked. • Currently diesel trains emit 19% more CO 2 per useful energy than electric trains. • Energy efficiency has risen 30-fold while final energy intensity decreased 100-fold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regulation of the energy sector in the EU adresses different challenges in pursuance of ensuring the functioning of the energy system. One of the most pressing current energy issues in the EU is household access to energy services, which is acknowledged as social justice concern. Provided that access to universal service in the EU is recognised as a right of households, the article aims to introduce the advanced concept of energy justice desiged for the investigation of households’ ability to access sufficient energy service in the EU. The article is organized in three parts. The first part specifies the roots of energy justice. The second part assesses whether the constituent elements of energy justice comply with EU fuonding values. Lastly, the more comprehensive concept of energy justice is presented with underlying rationale.

Energy determines the social, economic, and environmental aspects that enable the advancement of communities. For this reason, this paper aims to analyze the quality of the energy service in the Non-Interconnected Zones (NIZ) of Colombia. For this purpose, clustering techniques (K-means, K-medoids, divisive analysis clustering, and heatmaps) are applied for data analysis in the context of the NIZ to identify patterns or hidden information in the Colombian government data related to the state of the electricity service in these localities during the years 2019–2020. A descriptive statistical analysis and validation of the results of the clustering techniques is also carried out using R software. Through the implementation of clustering algorithms such as K-means, K-medoids, and divisive analysis clustering, potential areas for the development of renewable and alternative energy projects are identified, considering places with deficiencies in their current electricity service, higher consumption, or places with very low daily hours of electricity service. Additionally, relationships were identified in the dataset that can be considered as tools that would support decision-making for academia and industry, as well as the definition of guidelines or strategies from the government to improve energy efficiency and quality for these places, and consequently, the living conditions of the residents of Colombia’s NIZs.

Household energy resilience, particularly maintaining essential energy services within an acceptable and affordable level, is critical during extreme weather events (e.g., winter storms, heat waves) with power shortages or outages. However, the research on the importance and acceptable compromise levels of energy services, HVAC usage behavior changes, and willingness to pay (WTP) for energy services during disasters is limited. Therefore, this study investigates the importance and compromise of household energy services, HVAC usage behaviors, and WTP, as three key dimensions of household energy resilience, in both normal days and disaster scenarios through surveys (n = 485). First, 12 common residential end-uses are grouped into high, mid, and low-priority services using hierarchical clustering, in which high-priority services (perceived as important and un-compromisable) include food cooking and storage (refrigerator and freezer) and thermal comfort (space heating and cooling), mid-priority services involve water heating and lighting, while low-priority services are mostly related to entertainment and housework (e.g., TV, laundry). Also, HVAC use patterns demonstrate that occupants become more energy conservative during disasters, e.g., reducing durations of running HVAC and adjusting temperature setpoints to save energy. In terms of energy cost, approximately 60% of respondents are willing to pay more to maintain energy services during disasters, although only 13% are prepared to pay over double the normal energy prices. The regression models further reveal that household energy resilience varies across different socio-demographic groups (e.g., age, income, family size) and is impacted by disaster experience and beliefs in clean energy and climate. These research findings provide important perspectives to understand household energy resilience and inform measures for disaster adaptation of households in extreme weather events. • Household energy resilience emphasizes keeping acceptable and affordable services. • Common energy end-uses are clustered into high, mid, and low-priority services. • HVAC use behaviors shift towards energy-saving during disasters. • ∼60% of respondents are willing to pay more to maintain energy services in disasters. • Household energy resilience varies across different socio-demographic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the national economy as a whole - the subjects and municipalities in particular-in conditions of limited financial subsidies depends on their economic condition, technological equipment, organization of measures to save energy resources. The housing and communal services sector, which has a high energy saving potential, accounting for about 70 % of the total energy efficiency potential in the Russian Federation, is currently one of the main consumers of energy resources of the Russian Federation. Cost optimization and cost reduction are the main tasks in improving the economic conditions for the development of housing and communal services and management of residential property complexes, some features of which will be considered in this paper. The main purpose of energy-saving measures in housing and communal services is to reduce costs and production costs and the cost of utilities, and as a result of reducing the level of utility bills for the owner in an apartment building. The segment of apartment buildings in housing and communal services is one of the most problematic, in terms of savings, as the main part of energy costs in it is aimed at providing hot water and heating. In the framework of this study, the results of the activities of one of the management companies of Saint Petersburg on the implementation of energy-saving measures are reflected.

The regulation of the energy sector in the EU adresses different challenges in pursuance of ensuring the functioning of the energy system. One of the most pressing current energy issues in the EU is household access to energy services, which is acknowledged as social justice concern. Provided that access to universal service in the EU is recognised as a right of households, the article aims to introduce the advanced concept of energy justice desiged for the investigation of households' ability to access sufficient energy service in the EU. The article is organized in three parts. The first part specifies the roots of energy justice. The second part assesses whether the constituent elements of energy justice comply with EU fuonding values. Lastly, the more comprehensive concept of energy justice is presented with underlying rationale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • First evaluation of regional energy poverty in Japan using a novel approach. • Develop a new type of measure that can gauge the underconsumption of energy service. • Multiple thresholds approach adequately deals with diverse energy needs of households. • Clarify the essential role of kerosene in the context of energy poverty in Japan. • Exists an "energy poverty premium" in Japan on unit cost of energy per amount of heat. Abstract This study examines the regional characteristics of energy or fuel poverty in Japan through a new approach, i.e., evaluating energy poverty via the direct measurement of energy service usage. This measure is a kind of relative poverty measure in calorific value, with multiple thresholds reflecting the diverse energy needs of households. The analysis sheds light on several unexplored issues in previous literature. Most notably, the result emphasizes the role of kerosene (heating oil) in securing warmth in winter, especially in the northern regions, and highlights an "energy poverty premium" in Japan on the unit cost of energy (per amount of heat). This study also suggests that the ongoing energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables should be promoted carefully with due consideration to the detrimental impact on the energy poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Microgrids for rural electrification are expected to play a key role in achieving global energy access goals. However, the high cost of stand-alone microgrids intended to serve generally poor communities remains a key barrier to their deployment, while design and operation is challenging, given generally low diversity of loads and generators, and often high penetrations of variable renewable generation. Current practices for providing electricity access still often focus on the supply side with an emphasis on ensuring the reliability, affordability and security of electricity supply to meet user demand. This supply focus misses some key opportunities on the demand-side for providing low cost and reliable energy service delivery. In particular, rural communities may place very different relative values on various energy services, while there may be considerable flexibility in terms of when some of these energy services are delivered; due to inherent energy storage in the end-use equipment, or user willingness to shift the energy service itself. This paper presents a novel characterisation framework for energy services based on their relative flexibility and consumer prioritisation. Detailed survey data from 154 households across five microgrid sites in Nepal is used to test this framework, and assess the potential insights that it can provide for microgrid designers and operators seeking to reduce costs and improve reliability when serving poor rural communities. The five microgrids represent very different energy services and microgrid technology contexts, yet all would appear to have demand-side management opportunities that can trade-off cost and reliability and prioritise loads according to user preferences. Highlights • A new energy service characterisation framework has been developed, based on end-users' prioritisation and flexibility. • The framework will form the basis for improved demand-side management strategies for standalone microgrids. • 154 end-users' key energy service needs from five microgrids have been categorised using the framework, forming a useful basis for modelling these microgrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]