Urban energy network provides a scientific and rational energy utilization form for the urban energy system towards the ecological civilization.This paper reviews the development routes of area energy networks and their distinct system forms and intensions.Furthermore,the potential benefits of urban energy network are discussed from energy efficiency,social and economic benefits,flexible utilization of unused energy and other viewpoints.In addition,by combining the internet of things technology,cloud computing and other modern information technologies,it proposes the core characteristics of future urban energy network including integration,intelligence and humanization.
urban energy efficiencyarea energy networkunused energydistributed energy