journal article·2025-07-03Open access

Autonomous Cyber-Physical Systems Enabling Smart Positive Energy Districts

Dimitrios Siakas, Georgios Lampropoulos, Kerstin Siakas

Applied Sciences· Volume 15· Issue 13

Abstract

The European Union (EU) is striving to achieve its goal of being climate-neutral by 2050. Aligned with the European Green Deal and in search of means to decarbonize its urban environments, the EU advocates for smart positive energy districts (PEDs). PEDs contribute to the United Nations’ (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) of “Sustainable Cities and Communities”, “Affordable and Clean Energy”, and “Climate Action”. PEDs are urban neighborhoods that generate renewable energy to a higher extent than they consume, mainly through the utilization of innovative technologies and renewable energy sources. In accordance with the EU 2050 aim, the PED concept is attracting growing research interest. PEDs can transform existing energy systems and aid in achieving carbon neutrality and sustainable urban development. PED is a novel concept and its implementation is challenging. This study aims to present the emerging technologies enabling the proliferation of PEDs by identifying the main challenges and potential solutions to effective adoption and implementation of PEDs. This paper examines the importance and utilization of cyber-physical systems (CPSs), digital twins (DTs), artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), edge computing, and blockchain technologies, which are all fundamental to the creation of PEDs for enhancing energy efficiency, sustainable energy, and user engagement. These systems combine physical infrastructure with digital technologies to create intelligent and autonomous systems to optimize energy production, distribution, and consumption, thus positively contributing to achieving smart and sustainable development.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Blockchain Technology Applications and Security · Smart Grid Security and Resilience · IoT and Edge/Fog Computing

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Sustainable Energy Systems Research Unit, HAMK Tech, Häme University of Applied Sciences, 13100 Hämeenlinna, Finland

Department of Applied Informatics, School of Information Sciences, University of Macedonia, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece

Department of Education, School of Education, University of Nicosia, 2417 Nicosia, Cyprus

Department of Industrial Production, School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, 65200 Vaasa, Finland

Department of Information and Electronic Engineering, School of Engineering, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece

Funding

Häme University of Applied Sciences HAMK · Sykli Oy · European Union and the Regional Council of Kanta-Häme

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