A Review of Decision Support Models for Energy Management in Hybrid Energy Systems

Abstract: Energy management strategies and system models are fundamental components in the optimal design of hybrid power systems. This study is based on a bibliometric approach and systematically reviews 337 relevant publications. For the first time, it examines the historical development of this field through the central lens of the relationship between energy management strategies and system models. The literature reveals that conventional approaches typically address strategy and model independently: either by developing the model before designing the strategy or by adapting the model around an established strategy. However, current research trends indicate a shift toward the synergistic evolution of strategies and models, where traditional boundaries between them gradually dissolve. The two main trends of this development direction lie in: (1) the model is no longer limited to describing the physical laws of the system, but evolves into the dynamic basis of strategy generation; (2) the strategy becomes the prime mover of model evolution through adaptive adjustment based on data updates. This integration facilitates the transformation of energy management from “preset rules + static optimization” to “environment awareness + autonomous decision-making”, offering novel solutions for addressing system complexity, uncertainty, and multi-objective conflicts.