Digitization influences our society in many ways. In addition to well-known developments in the communications industry, in the financial sector, in industry, in trade or in public administration, the topic of digitization increasingly finds its way into the energy sector. New methods and buzzwords such as “Internet of Energy”, “digital energy twins”, “data-based regulation”, “artificial intelligence and energy”, etc. are becoming more and more important. The reasons for this are manifold, but are mostly based on the enormous potential for saving energy and resources, increasing efficiency due to the control of process flows, and increasing the share of renewable energies. The opportunities for automated integration of customers including their habits are proving to be particularly promising and challenging at the same time.
The current issue of the magazine “nachhaltige technologien” presents exemplary and current research activities with a focus on digitalization in the energy sector and their expected impact potential. The lead article deals with the contradictively discussed topic „Digitization and Employment“.