Challenges and Opportunities of the Energy Transition and the Added Value of Energy Systems Integration

This book addresses the topic of integrated energy systems and networks by also providing a comprehensive overview of the emerging technologies and systems that characterize this new energy paradigm. It discusses the energy transition toward a low- or even carbon-neutral energy system, which brings many challenges and opportunities, and the significant progress that is necessary for today's energy systems to change toward satisfying the needs of the society and the economy by becoming as environmentally sustainable as possible. Achieving this goal requires fully integrated energy systems able to supply low-carbon energy for all sectors from different energy sources, while integrating multiple energy carriers and exploiting the synergies coming from this interplay. An integrated energy system can be seen as a multi-energy system relaying on multiple energy carriers and characterized by a high level of integration between all related networks, supported by energy storage of different types and power conversion processes. The uniqueness of this book is in its holistic approach toward the concept of integrated energy systems, which will characterize the future energy system, by addressing the topic in a comprehensive way while also focusing the attention on the main emerging technologies playing a major role in integrated energy systems and networks.