Internet of energy: New scenarios, opportunities, challenges and educational solutions

Technologies 4.0 have had disruptive innovation in various sectors, including the energy one. Smart electricity grids, leveraging smart metering and data analysis systems, can provide a level of monitoring, control and optimization unimaginable until a decade ago. Network management mechanisms based on demand-response models may soon be a reality, thanks to smart contracts, blockchain, artificial intelligence and machine-to-machine technologies. These changes are leading to a radical change in the skills required by the labor market to operate in the energy sector, as well as the birth of new professional figures with both electricity and IT skills. This paper aims to illustrate the new opportunities and challenges that the Internet of Energy will bring. It also wants to present the results of the IoE-EQ project, which designed new professional qualifications, VET courses and open educational resources to support the training of staff involved in the digital transition of the energy sector.