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Digitalization in decarbonizing electricity systems – Phenomena, regional aspects, stakeholders, use cases, challenges and policy options

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  • Heymann, Fabian
  • Milojevic, Tatjana
  • Covatariu, Andrei
  • Verma, Piyush

Abstract

Digitalization is a megatrend that affects and transforms societal, economic, and environmental processes on a global scale. Driven by a combination of technological advances as well as shifting societal demands, digitalization also affects the operation and planning of the electricity sector. This paper uses megatrend analysis framework to analyze digitalization phenomena, its regional differences, technologies, use cases and challenges. It highlights potential system-level benefits (e.g., increased efficiency, transparency, consumer participation) and challenges (e.g., electricity demand growth, autonomy loss, increasing cyber risks) currently reported in the literature. Eventually, building on the thorough analysis, we present a menu of policy options to exploit its full potential of digitalized electricity systems while mitigating adverse effects on decarbonization goals and consumers.

Suggested Citation

  • Heymann, Fabian & Milojevic, Tatjana & Covatariu, Andrei & Verma, Piyush, 2023. "Digitalization in decarbonizing electricity systems – Phenomena, regional aspects, stakeholders, use cases, challenges and policy options," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:262:y:2023:i:pb:s0360544222024033
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.125521
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    2. Wang, Yi & Qiu, Dawei & He, Yinglong & Zhou, Quan & Strbac, Goran, 2023. "Multi-agent reinforcement learning for electric vehicle decarbonized routing and scheduling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
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    4. Erdal Irmak & Ersan Kabalci & Yasin Kabalci, 2023. "Digital Transformation of Microgrids: A Review of Design, Operation, Optimization, and Cybersecurity," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-58, June.

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