Applications, Challenges and Future Trends towards Enabling Internet of Things for Smart Energy Systems

The employment of IoTs in smart energy systems enables a wide range of applications that cuts across various areas of an energy system. With an array of benefits that includes the optimization of energy use, swift communication between subsystems, increase in the share of renewable energies and the reduction in environmental impacts, IoT has become a benefiting modern technology to be adapted in smart energy systems. In this paper, we evaluate the relationship between IoT, Internet of Energy (IoE) and smart energy systems. The primary applications of IoT into smart energy systems including smart cities, smart homes and buildings and smart industries are analyzed. The challenges that limit the application of these IoT technologies are also identified and discussed, while solutions are proffered to counter these challenges. Furthermore, the future of this technology in terms of smart energy systems and its research direction is also addressed. This work aims to furnish energy economist and researchers, energy policy and decision makers, energy administrators and executives a possible overview on the functions and roles of IoT technologies in smart energy systems.