Smart and Resilient Energy Communities: Advancing Decarbonisation, Digitalization, and Sustainable Infrastructure

The field of energy systems is undergoing a profound transformation as communities worldwide face escalating climate challenges, increased demand, and the imperative of sustainable decarbonization. Developments in smart and resilient energy management have placed the spotlight on local solutions that combine advanced technologies, digital intelligence, and flexible infrastructure to withstand disruptions and maximize the use of resources. Central to these advancements are the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), hydrogen technologies, widespread electrification, renewables integration, and the strategic deployment of microgrids and smart grids. While the promise of improved reliability and reduced emissions is increasingly realized, challenges remain in optimizing system control, scaling storage, ensuring secure and interoperable networks, and achieving equitable access. Bridging the gulf between fast-evolving technologies and their practical deployment for all community members calls for robust interdisciplinary investigation.

This Research Topic aims to deepen the knowledge and implementation of smart and resilient energy communities by focusing on innovations across digital, hydrogen, electrification, and grid integration domains. The main objectives include exploring how AI can deliver real-time, adaptive management of community energy flows; evaluating the role and techno-economics of hydrogen for long-duration storage and sector coupling; assessing the transformative impacts of electrification on demand profiles and grid infrastructure; and designing solutions for seamless, secure integration of high proportions of renewables through microgrids and smart grids. The goal is not only technical advancement but also the development of supportive policy frameworks, market mechanisms, and socially inclusive pathways for wide-scale community adoption.

To gather further insights into shaping innovative and robust energy communities, while focusing the research on the interplay among digital intelligence, storage, electrification, and grid advancements, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Artificial intelligence for optimization, forecasting, control, and real-time management in community energy systems
- Hydrogen technologies for long-duration storage, sector coupling, backup, and decarbonization of end uses
- Electrification trends, impacts on distribution networks, demand response, and integration of electric vehicles
- Renewables integration through distributed energy resources, system flexibility, and strategies for balancing variability
- Microgrids and smart grids for resilient operations, islanding, black-start capabilities, and secure communications
- Distributed network cybersecurity, data frameworks, and standards for interoperability
- Policy support, innovative financing, and social acceptance to ensure equitable and inclusive community transitions

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: AI for community energy, Hydrogen long-duration storage, Electrification and grid impacts, Microgrids and smart grids, EV integration and demand response, Renewable integration, Interoperability and cybersecurity, Inclusive energy policy

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.