A review on the applicability of machine learning techniques to the metamodeling of energy systems

The use of physics-based models for the development and optimization of energy systems is popular due to their versatility. However, their inherent complexity often makes these simulations computationally prohibitive, despite the current computational power available nowadays. This problem is aggravated when considering renewable energy systems, which are subjected to intermittent weather conditions and must be operated in connection with a grid of variable demand. In that sense, the use of metamodels has shown immense potential in the simulation, analysis, and optimization of energy systems. Therefore, this review presents a comprehensive analysis of the extensive application of metamodeling techniques in energy systems. After conducting a careful search using the Scopus database while targeting a well-defined group of keywords, 474 articles published from 2013 to 2023 were obtained in the present literature review. With a rigorous filtering and screening process, the first pool of articles was reduced to 126. The resulting articles were then separated in two main groups, reviews and research articles. Each of these groups was further organized in terms of the energy system studied, as well as the applicability, machine learning technique and error indicator. The results indicate a steady and significant growth in the number of publications associated with energy systems and different types of metamodeling techniques. The reasons are arguably twofold, reduction of computational time provided by the metamodels and their good accuracy. Nevertheless, and as reported by other studies, the review also identified the need to develop a standardized method for evaluating the error analysis of these models and a comparison between their actual efficiency, which includes accuracy and time. Furthermore, no clear relation was found between specific types of metamodels and specific energy systems.