The Energy Internet is a new focus of concern in current international academic and industrial areas

with the concept still under discussion and development. Beginning with the relation between the energy network and the Internet

this paper analyzes their development in learning from each other and the respective ideas and features formed. Then the development goals

main ideas

main features and basic architecture of the Energy Internet are proposed

followed by an exchange of opinions of potential frontier issues and relation with the smart grid. The Energy Internet is a new energy system that deeply integrates the energy system and the Internet

where openness is the key idea and deep integration of the Internet ideas and technologies is the key feature. The basic architecture of the Energy Internet consists of two levels

namely

“Internet-like energy system” and “Internet+”. The former refers to the energy system

or the reform of the existing energy system directed by the Internet ideas

represented by. multi-energy open integration

energy’s free transmission and open peer access. The latter refers to the information system

or the integration of the Internet in the energy system. This is the “operating system” of the Energy Internet

covering the Energy Internet of things

energy management and Energy Internet market. This work is supported by National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2013CB228203) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51321005

No. 51537006).