Covering eight core scenarios, diversified power technologies lay the foundation for smart city development.

As a product of the deep integration between digital technologies and urban governance, the smart city is reshaping urban operating models with data-driven decision-making, intelligent sensing, and efficient collaboration at its core. From precise traffic‑signal coordination to real-time community‑security responses, from flexible manufacturing in industrial production to the reliable operation of medical equipment, every stage relies on stable, dependable power supply. Diversified power‑supply technologies, by addressing the eight key scenarios of the smart city, have established an end-to-end “power supply–energy storage–management” assurance system, serving as the invisible cornerstone that drives urban digital transformation.

I. Transportation Hubs: A Dynamic Power Supply Network Supporting Smart Mobility

Behind the urban rail transit system’s daily ridership exceeding 10 million is the coordinated operation of distributed power sources and an intelligent dispatching system. Inside subway stations, modular UPS systems provide millisecond‑level switchover for turnstiles, surveillance, and communication equipment, while lithium‑iron‑phosphate battery energy storage systems are deployed to shave peak loads and fill valleys. On highways, photovoltaic pavement integrated with wireless charging technology enables dynamic energy replenishment for electric vehicles; meanwhile, smart streetlight systems incorporate wind‑solar hybrid power sources and automatically adjust brightness based on traffic volume, reducing energy consumption by more than 60%. Together, these technologies not only enhance the resilience of transportation networks but also optimize operational efficiency through data‑driven energy management.

II. Public Safety: Multi-Level Redundancy Design Safeguards the City’s Lifelines

The smart security system demands power‑supply reliability at the 99.999% level. The public security command center employs a dual‑bus power architecture and is equipped with hydrogen fuel cells as a long‑duration backup power source, ensuring 72 hours of continuous operation even under extreme conditions. In the community security domain, solar‑powered cameras and low‑power sensors form a self‑sustaining monitoring network, while edge computing nodes leverage supercapacitors to deliver instantaneous high‑power output. For forest fire prevention, drone nests fitted with solid‑state batteries enable 24‑hour patrol and surveillance, complemented by ground‑based wireless charging stations to establish a three‑dimensional defense and control system.

III. Healthcare: Precision Power Supply Safeguards Life and Safety

The hospital’s operating rooms employ a three-tier power‑supply strategy: the primary supply is provided by an intelligent microgrid, a backup system is equipped with a diesel generator, and an emergency power source utilizes a flywheel energy storage system. Critical care equipment uses an AI‑based power management system to monitor voltage fluctuations in real time, automatically switching to UPS power with a response time of less than 0.1 milliseconds. Mobile medical units integrate foldable photovoltaic panels and hydrogen‑fuel‑cell power systems, enabling rapid deployment of temporary treatment stations during disaster relief operations. Blood‑transport cold chains leverage phase‑change materials and IoT‑enabled power modules to maintain a constant −20°C environment for up to 72 hours.

IV. Industrial Manufacturing: Flexible Power Supplies Empower Intelligent Production

The flexible production lines of smart factories impose stringent requirements on power quality. Precision equipment such as laser cutting machines is equipped with active filters that keep voltage fluctuations within ±0.5%. AGV carts utilize wireless charging technology and an onboard positioning system to enable automated energy replenishment, boosting charging efficiency to 92%. In industrial parks, cascaded‑use power battery energy storage systems are deployed, integrated with demand‑response mechanisms, reducing enterprises’ electricity costs by 30%. Digital twin technology maps power‑supply parameters to a virtual factory, enabling energy‑consumption simulation and optimized decision‑making.

V. Smart Buildings: Green Power for Zero-Carbon Spaces

Ultra‑low‑energy buildings employ building‑integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), achieving a façade‑based power generation efficiency of over 18%. A ground‑source heat pump system, coupled with phase‑change energy‑storage materials, reduces air‑conditioning energy consumption by 45%. An intelligent distribution panel integrates AI algorithms to automatically adjust lighting and ventilation system power based on indoor and outdoor conditions. In data center applications, liquid‑cooled servers combined with high‑voltage DC power supply technology bring the PUE value below 1.1. Meanwhile, a virtual power plant platform aggregates distributed energy resources, participates in electricity market transactions, and generates additional revenue.

VI. Environmental Monitoring: Self-Powered Networks Enable Comprehensive, Ubiquitous Sensing

The atmospheric monitoring stations employ a dual‑mode power supply—solar energy combined with vibration‑based harvesting—and can operate for up to 15 days even during prolonged periods of overcast and rainy weather. The water‑quality sensors integrate miniature fuel cells that generate electricity from water flow, enabling comprehensive, full‑coverage monitoring across the Yangtze River Basin. Noise‑monitoring terminals utilize piezoelectric ceramic materials to convert ambient vibrations into electrical energy, increasing deployment density to five units per square kilometer. Together, these self‑powered devices form a digital twin of the urban environment, providing precise data to support pollution source attribution.

VII. Emergency Communications: Mobile Power Supplies Ensure Uninterrupted Command and Control

In disaster relief operations, tethered drones equipped with 5G base stations transmit signals via high‑altitude fiber optics, while hydrogen fuel cells provide a continuous power output of 2,000 watts. Emergency communication vehicles employ a hybrid power system combining supercapacitors and diesel generators, enabling deployment within five minutes. Individual soldier‑borne equipment features flexible solar‑cell films to deliver mobile energy replenishment for satellite phones, night vision devices, and other gear. Blockchain technology ensures that power‑dispatch commands can be executed autonomously at the local level even in offline network conditions.

VIII. Community Governance: Distributed Energy Reshaping Neighborhood Ecosystems

Smart communities deploy V2G charging stations, turning electric vehicles into both transportation tools and mobile energy storage units. Photovoltaic carports paired with energy‑storage batteries form microgrids that supply power to parcel lockers and vending machines. A home energy router continuously monitors appliance energy consumption and leverages time‑of‑use pricing to guide user behavior. Meanwhile, the community‑level “brain” platform integrates data from diverse energy sources, optimizing the placement of charging stations, the configuration of energy storage systems, and the tilt angles of photovoltaic panels, thereby boosting renewable‑energy integration to over 85%.

As cities enter a new phase of digital civilization, power‑supply technologies have transcended their traditional role of simply delivering electricity, evolving into neural hubs that bridge the physical world and the digital realm. From powering nanoscale chips to enabling city‑scale energy‑internet networks, and from passive response to proactive prediction, diversified power‑supply solutions are redefining the operating principles of smart cities. This transformation is not only reflected in leaps in technical performance but also in the establishment of an energy‑driven bond that fosters deep human–city interaction, injecting enduring momentum into sustainable development.