The Evolution of AI Applications in the Energy System Transition: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Development, the Current State and Future Challenges
The transformation of energy markets is at a crossroads in the search for how they must evolve to become ecologically friendly systems and meet the growing energy demand. Currently, methodologies based on bibliographic data analysis are supported by information and communication technologies and hav...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/6/1523 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850089810630279168 |
|---|---|
| author | Daniel Icaza Alvarez Fernando González-Ladrón-de-Guevara Jorge Rojas Espinoza David Borge-Diez Santiago Pulla Galindo Carlos Flores-Vázquez |
| author_facet | Daniel Icaza Alvarez Fernando González-Ladrón-de-Guevara Jorge Rojas Espinoza David Borge-Diez Santiago Pulla Galindo Carlos Flores-Vázquez |
| author_sort | Daniel Icaza Alvarez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The transformation of energy markets is at a crossroads in the search for how they must evolve to become ecologically friendly systems and meet the growing energy demand. Currently, methodologies based on bibliographic data analysis are supported by information and communication technologies and have become necessary. More sophisticated processes are being used in energy systems, including new digitalization models, particularly driven by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. In the present bibliographic review, 342 documents indexed in Scopus have been identified that promote synergies between AI and the energy transition (ET), considering a time range from 1990 to 2024. The analysis methodology includes an evaluation of keywords related to the areas of AI and ET. The analyses extend to a review by authorship, co-authorship, and areas of AI’s influence in energy system subareas. The integration of energy resources, including supply and demand, in which renewable energy sources play a leading role at the end-customer level, now conceived as both producer and consumer, is intensively studied. The results identified that AI has experienced notable growth in the last five years and will undoubtedly play a leading role in the future in achieving decarbonization goals. Among the applications that it will enable will be the design of new energy markets up to the execution and start-up of new power plants with energy control and optimization. This study aims to present a baseline that allows researchers, legislators, and government decision-makers to compare their benefits, ambitions, strategies, and novel applications for formulating AI policies in the energy field. The developments and scope of AI in the energy sector were explored in relation to the AI domain in parts of the energy supply chain. While these processes involve complex data analysis, AI techniques provide powerful solutions for designing and managing energy markets with high renewable energy penetration. This integration of AI with energy systems represents a fundamental shift in market design, enabling more efficient and sustainable energy transitions. Future lines of research could focus on energy demand forecasting, dynamic adjustments in energy distribution between different generation sources, energy storage, and usage optimization. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d4b7f727faf742f8a3f7fe31ccd6324f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-d4b7f727faf742f8a3f7fe31ccd6324f2025-08-20T02:42:41ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-03-01186152310.3390/en18061523The Evolution of AI Applications in the Energy System Transition: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Development, the Current State and Future ChallengesDaniel Icaza Alvarez0Fernando González-Ladrón-de-Guevara1Jorge Rojas Espinoza2David Borge-Diez3Santiago Pulla Galindo4Carlos Flores-Vázquez5Laboratorio de Energías Renovables y Simulación en Tiempo Real (ENERSIM), Centro de Investigación, Innovación y Transferencia Tecnológica, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca 010203, EcuadorInstituto Universitario Mixto de Tecnología de Informática, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, SpainUniversidad Politécnica Salesiana, Cuenca 010105, EcuadorDepartment of Electrical, Systems and Automation Engineering, University of Leon, 24071 Leon, SpainLaboratorio de Energías Renovables y Simulación en Tiempo Real (ENERSIM), Centro de Investigación, Innovación y Transferencia Tecnológica, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca 010203, EcuadorLaboratorio de Robótica (ROBLAB), Unidad de Posgrados, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Cuenca 010203, EcuadorThe transformation of energy markets is at a crossroads in the search for how they must evolve to become ecologically friendly systems and meet the growing energy demand. Currently, methodologies based on bibliographic data analysis are supported by information and communication technologies and have become necessary. More sophisticated processes are being used in energy systems, including new digitalization models, particularly driven by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. In the present bibliographic review, 342 documents indexed in Scopus have been identified that promote synergies between AI and the energy transition (ET), considering a time range from 1990 to 2024. The analysis methodology includes an evaluation of keywords related to the areas of AI and ET. The analyses extend to a review by authorship, co-authorship, and areas of AI’s influence in energy system subareas. The integration of energy resources, including supply and demand, in which renewable energy sources play a leading role at the end-customer level, now conceived as both producer and consumer, is intensively studied. The results identified that AI has experienced notable growth in the last five years and will undoubtedly play a leading role in the future in achieving decarbonization goals. Among the applications that it will enable will be the design of new energy markets up to the execution and start-up of new power plants with energy control and optimization. This study aims to present a baseline that allows researchers, legislators, and government decision-makers to compare their benefits, ambitions, strategies, and novel applications for formulating AI policies in the energy field. The developments and scope of AI in the energy sector were explored in relation to the AI domain in parts of the energy supply chain. While these processes involve complex data analysis, AI techniques provide powerful solutions for designing and managing energy markets with high renewable energy penetration. This integration of AI with energy systems represents a fundamental shift in market design, enabling more efficient and sustainable energy transitions. Future lines of research could focus on energy demand forecasting, dynamic adjustments in energy distribution between different generation sources, energy storage, and usage optimization.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/6/1523artificial intelligence (AI)smart energy systemsenergy transition (ET)energy planningartificial intelligence and energy transition (AI&ET) |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Icaza Alvarez Fernando González-Ladrón-de-Guevara Jorge Rojas Espinoza David Borge-Diez Santiago Pulla Galindo Carlos Flores-Vázquez The Evolution of AI Applications in the Energy System Transition: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Development, the Current State and Future Challenges Energies artificial intelligence (AI) smart energy systems energy transition (ET) energy planning artificial intelligence and energy transition (AI&ET) |
| title | The Evolution of AI Applications in the Energy System Transition: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Development, the Current State and Future Challenges |
| title_full | The Evolution of AI Applications in the Energy System Transition: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Development, the Current State and Future Challenges |
| title_fullStr | The Evolution of AI Applications in the Energy System Transition: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Development, the Current State and Future Challenges |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Evolution of AI Applications in the Energy System Transition: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Development, the Current State and Future Challenges |
| title_short | The Evolution of AI Applications in the Energy System Transition: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Development, the Current State and Future Challenges |
| title_sort | evolution of ai applications in the energy system transition a bibliometric analysis of research development the current state and future challenges |
| topic | artificial intelligence (AI) smart energy systems energy transition (ET) energy planning artificial intelligence and energy transition (AI&ET) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/6/1523 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielicazaalvarez theevolutionofaiapplicationsintheenergysystemtransitionabibliometricanalysisofresearchdevelopmentthecurrentstateandfuturechallenges AT fernandogonzalezladrondeguevara theevolutionofaiapplicationsintheenergysystemtransitionabibliometricanalysisofresearchdevelopmentthecurrentstateandfuturechallenges AT jorgerojasespinoza theevolutionofaiapplicationsintheenergysystemtransitionabibliometricanalysisofresearchdevelopmentthecurrentstateandfuturechallenges AT davidborgediez theevolutionofaiapplicationsintheenergysystemtransitionabibliometricanalysisofresearchdevelopmentthecurrentstateandfuturechallenges AT santiagopullagalindo theevolutionofaiapplicationsintheenergysystemtransitionabibliometricanalysisofresearchdevelopmentthecurrentstateandfuturechallenges AT carlosfloresvazquez theevolutionofaiapplicationsintheenergysystemtransitionabibliometricanalysisofresearchdevelopmentthecurrentstateandfuturechallenges AT danielicazaalvarez evolutionofaiapplicationsintheenergysystemtransitionabibliometricanalysisofresearchdevelopmentthecurrentstateandfuturechallenges AT fernandogonzalezladrondeguevara evolutionofaiapplicationsintheenergysystemtransitionabibliometricanalysisofresearchdevelopmentthecurrentstateandfuturechallenges AT jorgerojasespinoza evolutionofaiapplicationsintheenergysystemtransitionabibliometricanalysisofresearchdevelopmentthecurrentstateandfuturechallenges AT davidborgediez evolutionofaiapplicationsintheenergysystemtransitionabibliometricanalysisofresearchdevelopmentthecurrentstateandfuturechallenges AT santiagopullagalindo evolutionofaiapplicationsintheenergysystemtransitionabibliometricanalysisofresearchdevelopmentthecurrentstateandfuturechallenges AT carlosfloresvazquez evolutionofaiapplicationsintheenergysystemtransitionabibliometricanalysisofresearchdevelopmentthecurrentstateandfuturechallenges |