Systems and technology

Although attempts have been made to standardize SG technologies, there is still no universally accepted standard. The technological challenges faced by SGs are similar across different applications, but the technological environment can vary significantly, from differences in grid capacities to non-standardized communication and control protocols. Smaller grid capacities require more optimization for load balancing, and as smart assets in grids become more numerous, the amount of data collected will rapidly increase, necessitating efficient data science solutions. To address these challenges, standardization efforts are needed, along with the integration of cloud computing technologies and SG reconfiguration techniques, such as the cloud-based architecture for the automation and management of SGs [6]. Such architectures can improve scalability, interoperability, and flexibility while integrating a range of grid automation services, ultimately enabling more efficient and sustainable energy management.

As described above, integration of different systems at the data level is also necessary. Systems can be mapped as a digital twin with the help of field data. Such sectoral digital twins (transport, industry, energy, etc.) can form the bridge for an integrated energy system. Although models for the individual systems are already being researched, we see the need for research on the integration of such digital twins.

Economics

Research on implementation strategies and net gains of different SG technologies is crucial for policy makers. Implementation can be encouraged by introducing competition among distribution system operators (DSOs), incentive-based regulatory schemes, and innovation-stimulus mechanisms. Ref. [7] did a study on 459 innovative SG projects in 30 European countries; Ref. [8] used an economic valuation model to evaluate the net gains of different implementation strategies for SG technologies.

SG risks are another area which warrants a holistic analysis. This means to systematically address technical, financial, market, environmental and other risks. Current literature in the context of SG risk analysis has typically used traditional measures to quantify risk and often dealt with specific SG elements only (e.g., generation, distribution, transmission) rather than treating SG as an integrated system [9].

Regulatory frameworks for DSOs have mostly focused on productivity, including cost- or revenue-based regulation, and more recently, output-/performance-based regulation that can account for the quality of SG supply, and distributed congestion management [1, pp.107-135; 10]. DSOs will need to invest significantly in SG technologies, making it important to understand the sustainability of socio-economic-technological transitions. The multi-level perspective (MLP) approach [11] considers distinct levels–niche (emerging innovation), regime (established practices and dominant technologies) and landscape (socio-political and economic factors). It can be useful in examining the evolution of SG policy and practice. Thereby, the overarching transitions can be better understood [12]. Related to the issue of consumer participation is the need to develop new business models seizing the opportunities enabled by SG. The implementation momentum increases with growing technological bottlenecks, which can be overcome with the help of SGs. This raises the question of how the framework conditions for a more continuous implementation can be designed.

Social acceptance and engagement

SGs have the potential to massively disrupt societies. Hence there is a need (as most research so far focused on technical solutions) to better understand social and customers’ acceptance for establishing SGs but also for SG-enabled products and services [13, 14]. There seems to be a wide knowledge gap between “discourses, factual or imaginary argumentation and justifications, promises, motivations, appeals to the public and other narrative elements that scaffold the SG vision in Europe” and citizen debates identified ([15], p.16).