Cyber-physical energy system for the energy revolution: A comprehensive solution for system design and operation

Cyber-physical system (CPS) is a networked, intelligent system that tightly integrates physical systems with cutting-edge information technologies to achieve efficient and secure operations. It is widely regarded as a cornerstone of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The global energy industry is undergoing a period of profound change marked by large-scale integration of renewable energy, multi-energy synergy, and the proliferation of distributed energy resources, which in turn heightens energy system complexity and uncertainty, creating significant challenges for system design and operation. Cyber-physical energy system (CPES)—a CPS tailored to the energy sector—provides a digital-physical infrastructure for efficient, secure production and consumption of energy under uncertainty, which offers a comprehensive solution for system design and operation. This paper presents a conceptual framework for CPES, outlines the typical structure and design/operation paradigms, and reports on an operational pilot implementation project. It further identifies key challenges in modeling and design, scheduling, control, as well as safety and security as priorities for future research.