We can understand the energy internet from two dimensions: information level and physical level. From the information level, the energy internet can be simply regarded as the application of the information internet in energy, meaning the information internet for energy, but this understanding is very one-sided. From a physical point of view, various energy networks such as power grids, natural gas pipeline networks, thermal pipeline networks, and even energy-using equipment that use energy can form a unified physical network. However, in the absence of information Internet support, it is difficult for this physical network to maximize clean energy use, optimize energy efficiency, and conserve energy. Therefore, the energy Internet is a unified whole that is highly integrated by the information Internet and the energy physical network, and has the characteristics of green, intelligence, high efficiency, and various energy resources and user interaction and complementarity.

It should be said that the energy internet is not only a new technical form of the energy system, but also represents a new mode of thinking and a new institutional mechanism and operating mode. Relying on the energy internet technology can greatly reduce the impact of the volatility of renewable energy power generation on the safe and stable operation of the power grid, and realize the global optimization of power grid operation while ensuring the priority of renewable energy power generation. It can be said that the integration of renewable energy on the grid is not only the core goal of the development of the energy internet, but also a necessary condition for the development of the energy internet.

It is foreseeable that renewable energy will play a leading role in future energy. The most significant feature of renewable energy that differs from traditional energy is its volatility, its output power is unpredictable, and the power demand of power users is also unpredictable. Therefore, in simple terms, the role of the future power grid is to transform the output of the former into the input of the latter. In this way, the future development of the power grid is how to turn the output of the former into the input of the latter. This is both the driving force and the goal of development. In the future, the power grid needs to coordinate and control all power sources and power users from the perspective of global optimal operation, and ensure the safety, stability, and reliability of the power grid. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to introduce information Internet technology on the basis of further improving the physical facilities of the power grid. This is the first aspect of the future development of "Internet + power grid".

In addition, regions rich in renewable energy are often far away from load centers, so long-distance transmission technology still needs to be developed. At the same time, renewable energy has wide-area space-time complementarity. By constructing an interconnected power grid covering a wide area, it can also effectively use space-time complementarity. To greatly reduce the demand for energy storage equipment and reduce the complexity of power grid operation control. Therefore, the development of interconnected large power grids is still necessary. Secondly, renewable energy is decentralized and maintains distributed renewable energy technologies that need to be developed and used locally on the electricity consumer side and their compatible microgrid technologies. It can be seen that in the future, the power grid will continue to develop the large power grid while also developing the micro-grid in parallel, and power users will change from the pure power demand side in the past to both the demand side and the power supply side. The above-mentioned major changes in the structure of the power grid are also inseparable from the support of the information Internet. This is the second aspect of the future development of "Internet + power grid".

"Internet + power grid" will greatly promote the large-scale development of renewable energy power generation, and will completely change the current energy structure, and cross-border energy trade will also be fossil energy through pipelines and vehicles transport mode of trade, through the transnational power grid Mode of power transmission. my country is rich in renewable energy resources, can fully meet my country's own energy needs, and can be exported. The development of "Internet + power grid" can transform my country from a country with a high dependence on external energy to a country with basically independent energy and even energy export. This will be a major event in the history of energy development with epoch-making significance.

Realizing the intelligence of the entire energy system requires not only efforts at the information level, such as advanced sensors and sensor networks, advanced communications, big data, advanced computing, and simulation technologies; but also at the physical level, such as advanced materials and new energy Intelligent upgrading of equipment and traditional energy equipment, new energy network architecture, etc. If the Energy Internet is likened to a person, then the construction of the physical level is equivalent to ensuring that this person has a strong body, and the construction of the information level is to ensure that this person has a noble personality, keen perception, and strong learning ability , Wise decision control ability. Only when the physical level and the information level are strong, the energy internet is intelligent. Among them, smart energy use is only one of the functions of the energy Internet. The so-called new mode of smart energy use is based on the premise that energy users take into account energy demand, comfort, high efficiency and energy saving, respond to the needs of energy networks, and adopt clean energy as much as possible. , By embedding intelligent equipment and control software in energy-using equipment, and through the coordination of energy internet and energy-using equipment, a more scientific and rational energy consumption pattern has been formed.

Difficulties and challenges mainly come from two aspects, one is the liberation of ideas and concepts, that is, to allow the public to better understand, adapt and consciously accept the new model of energy production and energy consumption, and the second is to further promote technological innovation and breakthroughs, making new The operation of the model will not cause high costs and hidden safety risks. Among them, the first aspect needs to do science popularization and publicity work, and the second aspect needs to focus on new energy materials and devices, new high-efficiency energy conversion equipment and energy storage equipment, flexible control equipment for energy flow, energy Internet information security, etc. Strengthen research.