• Preprint 248

Technical Report 248, c4e-Preprint Series, Cambridge

The Impact of Intelligent Cyber-Physical Systems on the Decarbonization of Energy

Authors: Oliver R. Inderwildi, Chuan Zhang, Xiaonan Wang, and Markus Kraft*

Reference: Technical Report 248, c4e-Preprint Series, Cambridge, 2020

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Highlights
  • Review of cyber-physical systems and their role in decarbonisation of energy systems.
  • Utilising the marginal abatement cost curve (MACC) for the quantification of the impact of cyber-physical systems and artificial intelligence.
Abstract

Graphical abstract The decarbonisation of energy provision is key to managing global greenhouse gas emissions and hence mitigating climate change. Digital technologies such as big data, machine learning, and the Internet of Things are receiving more and more attention as they can aid the decarbonisation process while requiring limited investments. The orchestration of these novel technologies, so-called cyber-physical systems (CPS), provides further, synergetic effects that increase efficiency of energy provision and industrial production, thereby optimising economic feasibility and environmental impact. This comprehensive review article assesses the current as well as the potential impact of digital technologies within CPS on the decarbonisation of energy systems. Ad-hoc calculation for selected applications of CPS and its subsystems estimates not only the economic impact but also the emission reduction potential. This assessment clearly shows that digitalisation of energy systems using CPS completely alters the marginal abatement cost curve (MACC) and creates novel pathways for the transition to a low-carbon energy system. Moreover, the assessment concludes that when CPS are combined with artificial intelligence (AI), decarbonisation could potentially progress at an unforeseeable pace while introducing unpredictable and potentially existential risks. Therefore, the impact of intelligent CPS on systemic resilience and energy security is discussed and policy recommendations are deducted. The assessment shows that the potential benefits clearly outweigh the latent risks as long as these are managed by policy makers.

Material from this preprint has been published in Energy & Environmental Science.

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