Climate Resilience and Energy Flexibility in Industrial Systems: A Scoping Review of Concepts, Technologies, Applications, and Policy Links

Zheng Grace Ma (), Joy Dalmacio Billanes and Bo Nørregaard Jørgensen
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Zheng Grace Ma: SDU Center for Energy Informatics, The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, The Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
Joy Dalmacio Billanes: SDU Center for Energy Informatics, The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, The Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
Bo Nørregaard Jørgensen: SDU Center for Energy Informatics, The Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Institute, The Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-29

Abstract: Industrial sectors face increasing pressure to decarbonize while adapting to climate change. Energy flexibility, the ability to adjust energy use in response to market signals, grid conditions, or operational needs, supports both decarbonization and resilience but remains fragmented in definition, scope, and application. Physical and operational measures and digital/AI-based enablers are often studied in isolation, and sector-specific constraints, along with policy–market misalignment, limit adoption. This study addresses this critical knowledge gap by conducting a PRISMA-guided scoping review of 74 peer-reviewed sources, synthesizing disparate insights into a unified framework. Five thematic areas emerged: (1) varied definitions of demand response, energy flexibility, and multi-energy systems; (2) physical/operational tools such as DR program designs, optimization frameworks, storage, and multi-energy integration; (3) digital enablers including machine learning, reinforcement learning, predictive control, digital twins, and blockchain; (4) sectoral applications from heavy industry to emerging niches; and (5) barriers spanning technical to behavioral domains. The review introduces the Climate-Resilient Industrial Flexibility Framework, linking conceptual, technological, sectoral, and policy/market dimensions. This synthesis standardizes fragmented concepts, maps integrated technology landscapes and outlines a research agenda to guide future studies and inform policy, market design, and industrial practice.

Keywords: energy flexibility; climate resilience; energy-intensive industries; digitalization; artificial intelligence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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