This Collection explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and energy systems, focusing on data-driven methods for energy flexibility, smart grids, and sustainable optimisation. Contributions are sought on AI-enabled load forecasting, digital twins, demand response, and human-centric solutions that enhance resilience, efficiency, and decarbonisation pathways in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Machine Learning; Energy Flexibility; Smart Grids; Demand Response; Digital Twins; Energy Forecasting; Sustainable ICT; Renewable Integration; Energy Data Analytics; Explainable AI; Human-Centric Energy Systems; Trustworthy AI; FAIR Data; Decarbonisation.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy); SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure); SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities); SDG 13 (Climate Action).

The Collection of Discover Energy is focused on fundamental criteria, methods both theoretical and practical, experimental monitoring campaigns, urban built-up and green areas energy vs thermodynamic modelling, machine learning and artificial intelligence applications, for environmental energy sustainability, climate change adaptation, wellbeing of human and nature, energy resilience and people proactive, responsive readiness to change and smart activities.

The energy sector, urban and building design, and greenery planning must address the effects and irreversibility associated with climate change, particularly extreme weather events and increasing stress on resources. Greater energy, economic, and social urban resilience to the impacts of climate change is essential. Stakeholders, especially those in the energy sector, governments, regulators, utilities/energy companies, and public institutions, are tasked with defining the challenges of resilience and adaptation to climate change and identifying the actions needed to address them.

To this crucial objective, any climate action requires synergy between the following strategies: mitigation efforts to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and the reduction of urban heat islands, and adaptation efforts to help people, citizens, but also nature and ecosystems withstand the impacts of climate change. From this perspective, several scenarios can be defined:

• expanding decentralized renewable energy; promoting sustainable agriculture and land use;
• invest in climate-smart buildings, improved building design can help lower indoor temperatures and protect residents from extreme heat;
• making buildings more energy efficient also helps minimize energy use and related emissions;
• replacing emissions-intensive construction materials with lower-carbon alternatives;
• putting people/citizens and nature at the centre of climate action;
• promoting urban greenery design, urban forestation and wellbeing for people and nature.

Keywords: energy resilience; climate responsive urban areas; urban heat islands mitigation; climate change adaptation; energy and urban modelling; Thermodynamics; Machine learning; Smart city; Sustainability; Adaptation.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, SDG 11, and SDG 13.