Industry 4.0 Applications in Enhancing the Performance of Renewable Energy Systems: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This thesis systematically reviews how Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies enhance the performance of renewable-energy systems. Guided by three research questions on performance improvements, broader implications, and adoption barriers, the study applies a PRISMA-based systematic literature review (SLR) over Scopus and Web of Science (WoS), using tightly scoped keyword blocks that combine I4.0 and renewable-energy terms. After deduplication and multi-stage screening, 97 primary studies were retained for analysis. The descriptive results show a decisive shift toward multi-technology solutions: 60 out of 97 studies integrate two or more I4.0 tools, with IoT present in 59 out of 60 papers using combined I4.0 technologies and AI/ML in 41 out of 60; cyber-physical systems (CPS)/digital twins (DT) feature in ~30% of studies using combined I4.0 technologies, while cloud/fog (17 articles), big data (16 articles), blockchain (8 articles), and explicit cybersecurity layers (3 articles) are less frequent. Solar and wind dominate the renewable energy application landscape, whereas hydropower, hydrogen, biomass, and geothermal remain comparatively underexplored. Methodologically, mixed methods prevail, led by empirical simulation-based case studies and fewer empirical real-world cases, of which only two employ qualitative interviewing. Synthesizing results across studies, I4.0 improves renewable systems via more accurate forecasting, real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and intelligent control; the largest gains arise from converged stacks (IoT+AI/ML+DT/CPS+cloud), which enable adaptive, reliable, and cost-efficient operation. Beyond operations, economic, social, and institutional implications include lower O&M costs, increased transparency and trust, and evolving governance toward decentralized markets—limited by interoperability barriers, cybersecurity risks, computational burdens, financing and infrastructure constraints, and skills and regulatory challenges. Thesis limitations include database scope, English-only coverage, exclusion of review papers, and a review window ending mid-2025. Overall, I4.0—especially in integrated configurations—emerges as a core enabler of efficient, resilient, and sustainable renewable-energy ecosystems.