Key Technologies for Building Highly Resilient Urban Energy Systems

Because of the complex and fragile structures of urban energy systems, which are easily affected by extreme events, constructing highly resilient systems has become a new area of focus. First, we analyze the four major problems of “ structural vulnerability, environmental degradation, inadequate coordination, and complex recovery ” facing the construction of highly resilient urban energy systems; clarify the research boundary of such energy systems; analyze the threats of natural disasters, environmental degradation, and human intervention faced by “ resilient cities”; and summarize the risks associated with energy structure optimization and the complex coordination of multi-stream grids. Secondly, we propose nine key technologies for building highly resilient urban energy systems at three levels of “ physical-information-application” and discuss the development status and main features of each technology. Finally, future research and development paths for highly resilient urban energy systems are proposed in the physical, information, and application layers, and suggestions are made to gradually establish intelligent energy networks, intelligent control systems, and security supply and demand systems and to improve urban energy risk emergency control measures, strengthen urban energy supply assurance, enhance important energy facilities, and strengthen energy network security protection.