AI-Assisted Smart Energy Infrastructure for a Sustainable Industry 5.0 to Support Virtual Power Plant

The energy ecosystem is experiencing a transformation in the transition to Industry 5.0 and an emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. Modern power grids integrate distributed energy resources (DERs) and two-way power flows that rely on AI to maximize renewable energy. In addition to AI-enhanced forecasting tools, such as machine learning and deep learning that track energy supply and demand in real time, smart grids, microgrids, and virtual power plants use AI techniques to optimize their resources and manage energy waste. Reinforcement learning and predictive analysis ensure that operational instrumentation can regulate frequency, voltage, and fault detection, which are inevitable disturbances due to variable renewable sources. Autonomous systems can improve resilience and address blackouts and cybersecurity issues. AI applications under cybersecurity, including intrusion detection, anomalies, and real-time threat response, help to secure critical infrastructure. AI capabilities with threat intelligence improve grid security by identifying vulnerabilities through analyzing data on a large scale. This chapter discusses the transformational impact of artificial intelligence in advancing energy infrastructure and enabling a sustainable, adaptive smart grid in the industry 5.0 era.