Modeling and Simulation Tools for Smart Local Energy Systems: A Review with Focus on Emerging Closed Ecological Systems Application

The growing importance of microgrids—linking building infrastructure with distributed energy resources and storage systems—is driving the evolution of Smart Local Energy Systems (SLES). These systems require advanced modeling and simulation approaches to address their increasing complexity, decentralization, and need for interoperability. This review presents a structured analysis of commonly used environments and methods applied in the design and operation of SLES across buildings, microgrids, and local infrastructures. Particular emphasis is placed on their capabilities for multi-domain integration, predictive control strategies, and smart automation. A novel contribution of this work is the identification of Closed Ecological Systems (CES) and Life Support Systems (LSS) as promising new application domains for SLES technologies. The review explores how concepts developed for building and energy management, such as demand-side management, IoT-based monitoring, and edge computing, can be adapted to CES/LSS contexts, which demand isolation, autonomy, and high reliability. Challenges related to model integration, simulation scalability, and Earth–space technology transfer are discussed. The paper concludes with a SWOT analysis and a roadmap for future interdisciplinary research. This work lays the foundation for developing sustainable, intelligent, and autonomous energy infrastructures—both terrestrial and extraterrestrial.