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The essential role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in modern electricity grids makes it necessary to consider them when evaluating the scalability and replicability capabilities of smart grid systems. This paper proposes a novel step-by-step methodology to quantitatively perform an ICT scalability and replicability analysis (SRA) in a smart grid context. The methodology is validated and exemplified by applying it to two real case studies that are demonstrated in the EU-funded RESPONSE project and comprise solutions relying on different communication technologies. The results of the proposed methodology are summarised through ICT scalability and replicability maps, which are introduced in this paper as a quick way of obtaining an overview of the scalability and replicability capabilities of an ICT system and as an efficient way of estimating the feasibility of scenarios not covered in the SRA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital substations have adopted a high amount of information and communication technology (ICT) and cyber–physical systems (CPSs) for monitoring and control. As a result, cyber attacks on substations have been increasing and have become a major concern. An intrusion-detection system (IDS) could be a solution to detect and identify the abnormal behaviors of hackers. In this paper, a Deep Neural Network (DNN)-based IDS is proposed to detect malicious generic object-oriented substation event (GOOSE) communication over the process and station bus network, followed by the multiclassification of the cyber attacks. For training, both the abnormal and the normal substation networks are monitored, captured, and logged, and then the proposed algorithm is applied for distinguishing normal events from abnormal ones within the network communication packets. The designed system is implemented and tested with a real-time IEC 61850 GOOSE message dataset using two different approaches. The experimental results show that the proposed system can successfully detect intrusions with an accuracy of 98%. In addition, a comparison is performed in which the proposed IDS outperforms the support vector machine (SVM)-based IDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrification of the transport sector has emerged as a game changer in addressing the issues of climate change caused by global warming. However, the unregulated expansion and simplistic approach to electric vehicle (EV) charging pose substantial risks to grid stability and efficiency. Intelligent charging techniques using Information and Communication Technology, known as smart charging, enable the transformation of the EV fleets from passive consumers to active participants within the grid ecosystem. This concept facilitates the EV fleet's contribution to various grid services, enhancing grid functionality and resilience. This paper investigates the optimal infrastructure design for a smart charging system within the Monash microgrid (Clayton campus). We introduce a centralized Grid-to-Vehicle (G2V) algorithm and formulate three optimization problems utilizing linear and least-squares programming methods. These problems address tariff structures between the main grid and microgrid, aiming to maximize aggregator profits or minimize load fluctuations while meeting EV users' charging needs. Additionally, our framework incorporates network-aware coordination via the Newton–Raphson method, leveraging EVs' charging flexibility to mitigate congestion and node voltage issues. We evaluate the G2V algorithm's performance under increasing EV user demand through simulation and analyze the net present value (NPV) over 15 years. The results highlight the effectiveness of our proposed framework in optimizing grid operation management. Moreover, our case study offers valuable insights into an efficient investment strategy for deploying the G2V system on campus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of communication disturbances on microgrids (MGs) needs robust and scalable Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure for efficient MG control. This work builds on advances in the Internet of Things (IoT) to provide a practical platform for testing the impact of various cyber-attacks on a distributed control scheme for a Multi-Agent System (MAS). This paper presents a Controller Hardware-in-the-Loop (CHIL) testbed to investigate the impact of various cyber-attacks and communication disruptions on MGs. A distributed consensus secondary control scheme for a MAS within an MG cyber-physical system (CPS) is proposed. The proposed cyber-physical testbed integrates a real-time islanded AC microgrid on RT-Lab, secondary controllers implemented on single-board computers, and an attacker agent on another single-board computer. Communication occurs via a UDP/IP network between OPAL-RT and controller agents, as well as between the agents. Through meticulous experimentation, the efficacy of the proposed control strategy using the developed platform is validated. Various attacks were modeled and launched including deception attacks on sensors, actuators, and their combinations, as well as disruption attacks. The ramifications of both deception and disruption cyber-attacks on system performance are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between information and communication technology investment (ICT), environmental impacts, and economic growth has received increasing attention in the last 20 years. However, the relationship between ICT, energy intensity, environmental impacts, and economic growth was relatively neglected. In this paper, we aimed to contribute to the environmental literature by simultaneously analyzing the relationship between ICT, energy intensity, economic growth, Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and energy consumption for the period of 1990–2020 in G7 countries. We employed the Panel Quantile Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (PQARDL) method and Panel Quantile Granger Causality (PQGC) methods. According to the results of PQARDL method, energy consumption, ICT, CO2 emission, and energy intensity have effects on economic growth in the long and short run. According to the of PQGC methods allowing causality results for different quantiles, there is evidence of a bidirectional causality between ICT investment and economic growth for all quantiles and evidence of a unidirectional causality from ICT to energy consumption and from CO2 emissions to ICT investment and energy efficiency. Our results indicate that the governments of the G7 countries have placed energy efficiency and ICT investment at the center of their policies while determining their environmental and energy policies, since energy consumption is a continuous process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of cellular energy systems of the German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies (VDE) proposes sector coupled energy networks for energy transition based on cellular structures. Its decentralized control approach radically differs from that of existing networks. Deeply integrated information and communications technologies (ICT) open opportunities for increased resilience and optimizations. The exploration of this concept requires a comprehensive simulation tool. In this paper, we investigate simulation techniques for cellular energy systems and present a concept based on co-simulation. We combine simulation tools developed for different domains. A classical tool for studying physical aspects of energy systems (Modelica, TransiEnt library) is fused with a state-of-the-art communication networks simulator (OMNeT++) via the standardized functional mock-up interface (FMI). New components, such as cell managers, aggregators, and markets, are integrated via remote procedure calls. A special feature of our concept is that the communication simulator coordinates the co-simulation as a master and integrates other components via a proxy concept. Model consistency across different domains is achieved by a common description of the energy system. Evaluation proves the feasibility of the concept and shows simulation speeds about 20 times faster than real time for a cell with 111 households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing carbon neutrality (or Net Zero) in cities appears to be an ambitious challenge, which drives urban transformation efforts around the world to enhance people-centric living. Cities launch corresponding strategies focusing mainly on the United Nations 2030 goals to form their climate-neutral future. This paper provides practical guidance on city digital transformation to achieve carbon Net Zero. These guidelines illustrate actionable recommendations to reduce their carbon footprint using digital technologies. Following a multi-method research approach, findings from a bibliometric literature and a standards' gap analysis were combined with practical evidence and circulated with focus group experts to conclude with these guidelines, which are the foundation for further standardization. The outcomes provide concrete guidelines to policymakers, planners, and other stakeholders for city digital transformation to establish carbon neutrality, via emphasizing the need for digital technologies to enhance efficiency in several areas and via leveraging green Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for city economic growth, while also transforming citizen behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Public Administration (PA) in Portugal is impacted by the constant acceleration and evolution of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), where the Portuguese State, transposing European Union directives, has legislated and encouraged their use as instruments of added value for the PA. Establishing rigorous and sustainable governance is crucial, ensuring that the organization's strategic objectives are aligned with ICT and, preferably, with Green IT practices. In this context, it is necessary to be able to estimate and subsequently evaluate the impact of strategic and operational choices on improving environmental quality. For such, this article presents a framework developed to optimize ICT management practices and indicators that, in this environmental area, support the forecasting and assessment of the impact of the choices made in the search for technologically advanced solutions in the Barreiro municipality. These choices enable, among other things, a reduction in energy consumption, implying a reduction in financial costs, resulting in environmental benefits, such as a reduction in CO2 emissions into the atmosphere or less deforestation. The results presented, obtained in a real-world context, make it possible to assess the progress of alignment with Green IT in this area, as well as the overall result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a necessity to combine the development of the European Union with a model of a sustainable economy, which is important to stimulate eco-innovation. The government of each member state is obliged to create support mechanisms that will encourage entrepreneurs to implement pro-environmental solutions. This requires the identification of determinants for eco-innovation. This paper identifies and compares conditions of eco-innovation in two sectors in Poland: ICT (information and communication technologies) and industry. Putting together many different types of conditions into one model (including government, science, industry, and ICT) allows us to explain what is more important when making a decision about implementing new eco-solutions. The study covered over 3000 enterprises. Stepwise logit regression was used to examine all relationships of interest. We discovered two separate (independent) paths of approach to eco-innovation for ICT and industry. This means that another condition should be fulfilled to reach any eco-innovation in each of the sectors. There are just a few factors supporting new environmental solutions in ICT with strong impact—cooperation with suppliers, journals as a source of new knowledge, or financial support by credit institutions with high materials and energy efficiency at the end of the process. Industry could be described more like a horizontal approach—a wide number of conditions with low impact on eco-innovation. Therefore, innovation policies in the catching-up country should be more sophisticated and take care of more relevant tools for both sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing energy consumption of mobile communication networks has gained significant attentions since it takes a major part of the total energy consumption of information and communication technology (ICT). In this paper, we consider 5G networks with heterogeneous macro cells and small cells, where data and control planes are separated. We consider two types of data traffic, i.e., low rate data traffic and high rate data traffic. In basic separation architecture, a macro cell base station (MBS) manages control signals, while a small cell base station (SBS) manages both low rate data traffic and high rate data traffic. In the considered modified separation architecture, an MBS manages control signals and low rate data traffic, while an SBS manages high rate data traffic. Then, an efficient energy saving scheme for base stations (BSs) is proposed, where the state of a BS is determined depending on the number of user equipments (UEs) that request high rate data traffic and the number of UEs that exist under the overlapping areas commonly covered by the considered BS and the neighbor BSs. We formulate an optimization problem for the proposed energy saving scheme and obtain the solution using particle swarm optimization (PSO). Numerical results show that the proposed energy saving scheme in the modified separated network architecture has better energy efficiency compared to the conventional energy saving schemes in both basic and modified separated network architectures. Also, the proposed energy saving scheme has lower aggregate delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) subsystems monitor and control energy distribution through exchange of information between smart meters and utility networks. A key challenge is how to select a cost-effective communication system without compromising the performance of the applications. Current communication technologies were developed for conventional data networks with different requirements. It is therefore necessary to investigate how much of existing communication technologies can be retrofitted into the new energy infrastructure to cost-effectively deliver acceptable level of service. This paper investigates broadband power line communications (BPLC) as a backhaul solution in AMI. By applying the disparate traffic characteristics of selected AMI applications, the network performance is evaluated. This study also examines the communication network response to changes in application configurations in terms of packet sizes. In each case, the network is stress-tested and performance is assessed against acceptable thresholds documented in the literature. Results show that, like every other communication technology, BPLC has certain limitations; however, with some modifications in the network topology, it indeed can fulfill most AMI traffic requirements for flexible and time-bounded applications. These opportunities, if tapped, can significantly improve fiscal and operational efficiencies in AMI services. Simulation results also reveal that BPLC as a backhaul can support flat and clustered AMI structures with cluster size ranging from 1 to 150 smart meters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper conducts a structured review on the topic of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in the supply chain management context to define research trends on the topic and identify research gaps. The review is carried out using the largest databases of peer-reviewed literature (Scopus andWeb of Science). A sample of 122 papers focusing on the topic of energy-efficient and sustainable supply chain management was selected and analyzed through descriptive and content analysis. The review highlights that despite there is a growing research trend on the topic, different research gaps remain to be covered. These gaps concern the factors influencing energy efficiency and environmental sustainability initiatives, the classification of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability initiatives, the impact of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability on supply chain performance, the customer perspective in sustainable and energy-efficient supply chain, and the different technologies supporting the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability initiatives. The research gaps and the research questions identified offer the opportunity to identify areas of investigation to design future research directions and propose guidelines in the field of supply chain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is recognised as one of the key challenges humankind is facing. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector including data centres generates up to 2% of the global CO2 emissions, a number on par to the aviation sector contribution, and data centres are estimated to have the fastest growing carbon footprint from across the whole ICT sector, mainly due to technological advances such as the cloud computing and the rapid growth of the use of Internet services. There are no recent estimations of the total energy consumption of the European data centre and of their energy efficiency. The aim of this paper is to evaluate, analyse and present the current trends in energy consumption and efficiency in data centres in the European Union using the data submitted by companies participating in the European Code of Conduct for Data Centre Energy Efficiency programme, a voluntary initiative created in 2008 in response to the increasing energy consumption in data centres and the need to reduce the related environmental, economic and energy supply security impacts. The analysis shows that the average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of the facilities participating in the programme is declining year after year. This confirms that voluntary approaches could be effective in addressing climate and energy issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology is ready to disrupt nearly every industry and business model, and the energy sector is no exception. Energy businesses across the world have already started exploring the use of blockchain technology in large-scale energy trading systems, peer-to-peer energy trading, project financing, supply chain tracking, and asset management among other applications. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) recently started revolutionizing the energy landscape, and now blockchain technology is providing an additional opportunity to make the energy system more intelligent, efficient, transparent, and secure in the longer term. The idea of this paper is to examine more closely the use of blockchain technology for its possible application in the energy efficiency industry and to determine how it could make energy efficiency markets more secure and transparent in the longer term. This paper examines in detail the key benefits and implications of using blockchain in the energy efficiency sector through the presentation and discussion of two case studies as possible blockchain applications—(i) the UK Energy Company Obligation scheme and (ii) the Italian White Certificate Scheme. We have presented how the key issues around trading energy efficiency savings—correctly estimating the savings, data transparency among stakeholders, and inefficient administrative processes—can be solved through the application of a blockchain-based smart contract system. Finally, this paper presents an implementation of a smart contract for trading of energy-saving certificates achieved via execution of smart contract transactions on the Ethereum blockchain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have scarcely been considered in studies on green consumption. Likewise, little attention has been paid to the effects of informational feedback on household energy ICT-related consumption. This paper aims to fill these gaps in the literature. Using microdata from a representative sample of the European Union population, this paper analyzes, in a novel way, whether the provision of information about the energy consumed by online services would make internet users change to a greener ICT consumption behavior. To assess this issue, Heckman type selection models are estimated. The results show that people's concerns about environmental problems, their environmental activism and self-perceived efficacy as consumers are directly related to the influence that information provision exerts. We also find that frequent internet users and those with better digital skills are more willing to change their online behavior if given information on energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposed framework enables innovative power management in smart campuses, integrating local renewable energy sources, battery banks and controllable loads and supporting Demand Response interactions with the electricity grid operators. The paper describes each system component: the Energy Management System responsible for power usage scheduling, the telecommunication infrastructure in charge of data exchanging and the integrated data repository devoted to information storage. We also discuss the relevant use cases and validate the framework in a few deployed demonstrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes Smiling Earth, a mobile app to increase citizens' awareness about their own carbon footprint, by integrating energy and transport-related data. The main aim of our work is to explore the ways in which Information and Communication Technologies could help raise awareness and educate and motivate citizens about their actions and their consequences on the environment. Smiling Earth provides feedback to users by visualising data about their daily activities with the aim to motivate citizens to change their behaviour to reduce their CO2 emissions by adopting a healthier lifestyle. The value of the Smiling Earth for individuals, cities and communities is discussed. The feedback from an expert evaluation and how Smiling Earth could contribute to Positive Energy Districts are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition towards a smart grid requires network modernization based on the deployment of information and communication technologies for managing network operation and coordinating distributed energy resources in distribution systems. The success of the most advanced smart grid functionalities depends on the availability and quality of communication systems. Amongst the most demanding functionalities, those related to fault isolation, location and system restoration (FLISR) to obtain a self-healing smart grid are critical and require low latency communication systems, particularly in case of application to weakly-meshed operated networks. Simulation tools capable of capturing the interaction between communication and electrical systems are of outmost utility to check proper functioning of FLISR under different utilization conditions, to assess the expected improvements of Quality of Service, and to define minimum requirements of the communication system. In this context, this paper investigates the use of public mobile telecommunication system 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) for FLISR applications in both radially and weakly-meshed medium voltage (MV) distribution networks. This study makes use of a co-simulation software platform capable to consider power system dynamics. The results demonstrate that LTE can be used as communication medium for advanced fault location, extinction, and network reconfiguration in distribution networks. Furthermore, this paper shows that the reduction of performances with mobile background usage does not affect the system and does not cause delays higher than 100 ms, which is the maximum allowable for power system protections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructures are at the heart of emerging Smart Grid scenarios with high penetration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER). The scalability of such ICT infrastructures is a key factor for the large scale deployment of the aforementioned Smart Grid solutions, which could not be ensured by small-scale pilot demonstrations. This paper presents a novel methodology that has been developed in the scope of the H2020 project InteGrid, which enables the scalability analysis of ICT infrastructures for Smart Grids. It is based on the Smart Grid Architecture Model (SGAM) framework, which enables a standardized and replicable approach. This approach consists of two consecutive steps: a qualitative analysis that aims at identifying potential bottlenecks in an ICT infrastructure; and a quantitative analysis of the identified critical links under stress conditions by means of simulations with the aim of evaluating their operational limits. In this work the proposed methodology is applied to a cluster of solutions demonstrated in the InteGrid Slovenian pilot. This pilot consists of a Large Customer Commercial Virtual Power Plant (VPP) that provides flexibility in medium voltage for tertiary reserve and a Traffic Light System (TLS) to validate such flexibility offers. This approach creates an indirect Transmission System Operator (TSO)—Distribution System Operator (DSO) coordination scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable Energy Sources (RES) have taken on an increasingly important role in the energy mix in the last few years, and it has been forecasted that this trend will continue in the future. The energy production from these sources is not dispatchable, and the increasing penetration of RES in energy mixes may therefore lead to a progressive loss of generation control and predictability. It has become clear that, to reach higher RES penetration levels, it is essential to increase power system flexibility in order to ensure stable operations are maintained. An ICT (Information and Communication Technology) tool that may be used to manage and optimize the flexibility offered by energy storage and conversion systems is described in this paper with specific reference to the Decision Support System (DSS) developed within the H2020 PLANET (PLAnning and operational tools for optimizing energy flows and synergies between energy NETworks) project. The paper focuses on how the PLANET DSS tool evaluates, manages, and dispatches the flexibility of Power to Gas/Heat (P2X) technologies. Moreover, the tool has been used to analyze a realistic case in order to show how the PLANET DSS tool could be used to evaluate the energy and economic benefits of taking advantage of the flexibility of P2X technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency is one of the most relevant issues that the scientific community, and society in general, must face in the next years. Furthermore, higher energy efficiencies will contribute to worldwide sustainability. Buildings are responsible for 40% of the overall consumed energy. Smart Grids and Smart Buildings are playing an essential role in the definition of the next generation of sustainable Smart Cities. The main goal is reducing the impact of energy consumption on the environment as much as possible. This paper focuses on information communication technologies (ICTs) and techniques, their key characteristics and contribution to obtain higher energy efficiencies in smart buildings. Given that electrical energy is the most used, the investigation mainly centres on this energy. This paper also pays attention to green energies and energy harvesting due to their contribution to energy efficiency by providing additional clean energy. The main contribution of this investigation is pointing out the most relevant existing and emerging ICT technologies and techniques which can be used to optimize the energy efficiency of Smart Buildings. The research puts special attention on available, novel and emerging sensors, communication technologies and standards, intelligence techniques and algorithms, green energies and energy harvesting. All of them enable high-performance intelligent systems to optimize energy consumption and occupants' comfort. Furthermore, it remarks on the most suitable technologies and techniques, their main features and their applications in Smart Buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the push for higher efficiency and reliability, an increasing number of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and associated information and communication technology (ICT) are integrated into the Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled smart grid. These advanced technologies and IEDs also bring potential vulnerabilities to the intelligent cyber–physical smart grid. State estimation, as a primary step of system monitoring and situational awareness, is a potential target for attackers. A number of other smart grid applications, such as voltage stability assessment and contingency screening, utilize state estimation results as input data. False data injection (FDI) is a specific way to attack state estimation by manipulating input data. Existing research mainly focuses on the mathematical analysis of FDI attacks; however, in these methods, discussions of reachability requirements to compromise measurements considering cyberinfrastructure are limited. Reachability is defined as a measure that estimates the number of hosts to compromise for the possible FDI. Most of the existing FDI attack methods require the simultaneous manipulation on multiple measurement devices in different substations, in order to bypass the bad data detection, which may be impractical. In this paper, a new type of reachability-based FDI attack considering the cybernetwork with a practical attack is proposed and validated on two IEEE test systems. The corresponding defence mechanisms are (a) decentralized state estimation (DSE), (b) DSE with additional backup computational nodes, (c) communication network rerouting, and (d) intrusion detection system, and they were developed and presented with validation for two IEEE test systems with superior performance for an IoT-enabled intelligent smart grid system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an extensive review of the conducted research regarding various microgrids (MGs) control techniques and the impact of Information Communication Technology (ICT) degradation on MGs performance and control. Additionally, this paper sheds the light on the research gaps and challenges that are to be explored regarding ICT intrinsic-limitations impact on MGs operations and enhancing MGs control. Based on this assessment, it offers future prospects regarding the impact of ICT latencies on MGs and, consequently, on the smart grid. Finally, this paper introduces a case study to show the significance and examine the effect of wireless communication technologies latency on the converters and the DC bus voltage of a centralized controlled DC MG. A DC microgrid with its communication-based control scheme was modeled to achieve this goal. The MATLAB simulation results show that the latency impact may be severe on the converter switches and the DC bus voltage. Additionally, the results show that the latency impact varies depending on the design of the MG and its operational conditions before the latency occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boosting critical infrastructures' (CIs) preparedness to threats, including natural disasters and manmade attacks, is a global imperative. The intrinsic dependencies and interdependencies between CIs hinder their resiliency. Moreover, the evolution of CIs is, in many cases, en routè to tighten those interdependencies. The goal of this paper is to uncover and analyze the rising interdependency between the electric power grid, information and communication technology (ICT) networks, and transportation systems that are heavily reliant on electric-power drivetrains, collectively referred to hereafter as electro-mobility (e-mobility). E-mobility includes electric vehicles (EVs) and electric railway systems. A new influence graph-based model is introduced, as a promising approach to model operational interdependencies between CIs. Each of the links of the influence graph represents the probability of failure of the sink node following a failure of the source node. A futuristic scenario has been analyzed assuming increased dependency of the power grid on ICT for monitoring and control, and high penetration levels of EVs and distributed energy resources (DERs) in an urban region. Inspecting the influence graph shows that the impact of interdependency between the power grid, the ICT network, and the transportation network, for the case study analyzed in this paper, does not lead to failures during normal operation with proper design; however, it is severe during emergency conditions since it leads to failure propagation among the three CIs. This paper sets the stage for more research on this topic, and calls for more attention to interdependency analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical distribution companies have been investing in modernizing their structures, especially operation automation. The integration of information technologies and communications makes fast power restoration during fault events, providing better profit to companies and a more reliable and safe distribution network for customers. A self-healing strategy can be implemented for protection and control devices to work cooperatively, achieving the global purpose of automatic distribution system restoration. Thus, this work proposes a methodology for short-circuit fault detection, isolation of the faulted section, and restoration of downstream sections using neighbor feeders. The protection devices use standardized IEC and ANSI/IEEE functions to sensitize faults in the system and to promote adequate isolation, allowing the consequent restorative process. A genetic algorithm optimizes the devices' parameters used in the protection scheme, making fastest the isolation process and ensuring the protection system coordination and selectivity. Results obtained using Simulink® allows for verifying the proposed methodology's behavior and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is a NOx reduction technology that can meet stringent environmental regulatory requirements. EGR blower systems must be used to increase the exhaust gas pressure at a lower rate than the scavenging air pressure. Electric motor drive systems are essential to rotate the EGR blowers. For the effective management of the EGR blower systems in smart ships, there is a growing need for predictive maintenance technology fused with information and communication technology (ICT). Since an electric motor accounts for about 80% of electric loads driven by the EGR, it is essential to apply the predictive maintenance technology of the electric motor to maximize the reliability and operation time of the EGR blower system. Therefore, this paper presents the predictive maintenance algorithm to prevent the stator winding turn faults, which is the most significant cause of the electrical failure of the electric motors. The proposed algorithm predicts the remaining useful life (RUL) by obtaining the winding temperature value by considering the load characteristics of the electric motor. The validity of the proposed algorithm is verified through the simulation results of an EGR blower system model and the experimental results derived from using a test rig. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main challenges in smart city models is consumer behaviour, namely guiding the efforts to promote optimal use of energy in the dynamics of the developing cities, through lower energy consumption without impact on the comfort level. This relates to all energy vectors and can be done through different means. The uptake stage of smart metering and information and communication technologies (ICT) varies in different countries, creating the need for tailored innovative approaches in motivating behavioural change. This paper presents the work carried out within the joint research project ITCity (an ICT platform for sustainable energy ecosystem in smart cities) between the European Union and Latin American Countries. Cooperation of energy researchers and experts in ICT and application developers facilitates adoption of a multipurpose interdisciplinary approach. This work aims at providing the smart city and energy research and innovation community broader understanding of factors influencing adoption of energy efficiency technologies. Different ways of guiding optimal energy use are addressed elaborating on the building blocks for a smart city which consider load patterns based on high resolution, high reporting rate measurements, extensive consumer surveys, available communication solution analysis and end-user interaction with the ICT tool based on gamification principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy consumption and emissions in the urban transportation are influenced not only by technical efficiency in the mobility operations but also by the citizens' mobility behaviors including mode choices and modal shift among sustainable and unsustainable mobility modes. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can play an important role in the mobility behaviors of citizens, and it is necessary to study whether ICTs support sustainable mode choices like public transport and nonmotorized modes, which increase the total energy efficiency in the urban mobility and reduce traffic congestion and related emissions. This paper focuses on the two most popular ICT services in the urban transport, which are ATIS (Advanced Traveler Information Systems), and ridesourcing services. This study used the New York Citywide Mobility Survey (CMS) findings with a sample of 3346 participants. The associations between using these two ICT services and the mobility behaviors (mode choice with ATIS and modal shift to ridesourcing) are analyzed through a multinomial logistic regression and descriptive statistics, and the results are compared with similar international studies. The findings indicate that the respondents who use ATIS apps more frequently are more likely to use rail modes, bicycles, bus/shuttles, and rental/car sharing than private cars for their work trips. Moreover, the findings of the modal shift to ridesourcing indicate that the most replaced mobility modes by ridesourcing services are public transport (including rail modes and buses), taxis, and private cars, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency in buildings can be enhanced by several actions: encouraging users to comprehend and then adopt more energy-efficient behaviors; aiding building managers in maximizing energy savings; and using automation to optimize energy consumption, generation, and storage of controllable and flexible devices without compromising comfort levels and indoor air-quality parameters. This paper proposes an integrated Information and communications technology (ICT) based platform addressing all these factors. The gamification platform is embedded in the ICT platform along with an interactive energy management system, which aids interested stakeholders in optimizing "when and at which rate" energy should be buffered and consumed, with several advantages, such as reducing peak load, maximizing local renewable energy consumption, and delivering more efficient use of the resources available in individual buildings or blocks of buildings. This system also interacts with an automation manager and a users' behavior predictor application. The work was developed in the Horizon 2020 FEEdBACk (Fostering Energy Efficiency and BehAvioral Change through ICT) project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demand response is a key element of future power systems due to its capacity to defer grid investments, improve demand participation in the market, and absorb renewable energy source variations. In this regard, demand response can play an important role in delivering ancillary services to power systems. The lack of standardization and ancillary services programs prepared for traditional generators have blocked the participation of demand in these services. Nowadays, increasing needs to ensure the security of supply, renewable fluctuations, and information and communication technology advances are boosting the interest in demand response products to deliver ancillary services. While countries have had lengthy experience with these programs, others are starting from almost zero to develop these programs. To our knowledge, no analysis or standardized comparison exists of the different parameters and prices of demand response in ancillary services among different countries. Our study reviews more than 20 power systems around the world and their programs to classify them according to standard demand response parameters. At the end of the paper we discuss the main characteristics and prices that face demand response in ancillary services markets and a series of policy recommendations to policymakers to improve the deployment on demand participation in ancillary services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy transformation and environmental quality are now fundamental components of China's economic development plans, which are being reorganized to ensure the dependability of the energy supply and protect environmental quality. Nonetheless, technical inefficiency is one of the most significant obstacles to achieving these overall objectives. Therefore, utilizing yearly data from 2000 to 2021 and the autoregressive distributed lag model, this article examines the implications of information and communication technology trade openness on China's energy transformation and environmental quality. The findings indicate that information and communication technology trade openness has a favorable impact on environmental quality as a consequence of its negative impact on carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, the findings indicate that information and communication technology trade openness has a beneficial impact on energy transformation due to its positive impact on renewable energy consumption and negative impact on energy intensity. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate the necessity of eliminating obstacles to information and communication technology trade in China in terms of guaranteeing energy transformation and environmental quality. Therefore, it is optimal for China's government to progressively reduce trade barriers in order to increase cross-border flows of information and communication technology products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliability assessment in traditional power distribution systems has played a key role in power system planning, design, and operation. Recently, new information and communication technologies have been introduced in power systems automation and asset management, making the distribution network even more complex. In order to achieve efficient energy management, the distribution grid has to adopt a new configuration and operational conditions that are changing the paradigm of the actual electrical system. Therefore, the emergence of the cyber-physical systems concept to face future energetic needs requires alternative approaches for evaluating the reliability of modern distribution systems, especially in the smart grids environment. In this paper, a reliability approach that makes use of failure modes of power and cyber network main components is proposed to evaluate risk analysis in smart electrical distribution systems. We introduce the application of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) method in future smart grid systems in order to establish the impact of different failure modes on their performance. A smart grid test system is defined and failure modes and their effects for both power and the cyber components are presented. Preventive maintenance tasks are proposed and systematized to minimize the impact of high-risk failures and increase reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive integration of distributed energy resources in power distribution systems in combination with the active network management that is implemented thanks to innovative information and communication technologies has created the smart distribution systems of the new era. This new environment introduces challenges for the optimal operation of the smart distribution network. Local energy markets at power distribution level are highly investigated in recent years. The aim of local energy markets is to optimize the objectives of market participants, e.g., to minimize the network operation cost for the distribution network operator, to maximize the profit of the private distributed energy resources, and to minimize the electricity cost for the consumers. Several models and methods have been suggested for the design and optimal operation of local energy markets. This paper introduces an overview of the state-of-the-art computational intelligence methods applied to the optimal operation of local energy markets, classifying and analyzing current and future research directions in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the advancement of information and communication technologies, the use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has increased exponentially. In the development of IoT, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) perform a vital part and comprises of low-cost smart devices for information gathering. However, such smart devices have constraints in terms of computation, processing, memory and energy resources. Along with such constraints, one of the fundamental challenges for WSN is to achieve reliability with the security of transmitted data in a vulnerable environment against malicious nodes. This paper aims to develop an energy-efficient and secure routing protocol (ESR) for intrusion avoidance in IoT based on WSN to increase the network period and data trustworthiness. Firstly, the proposed protocol creates different energy-efficient clusters based on the intrinsic qualities of nodes. Secondly, based on the (k,n) threshold-based Shamir secret sharing scheme, the reliability and security of the sensory information among the base station (BS) and cluster head are achieved. The proposed security scheme presents a light-weight solution to cope with intrusions generated by malicious nodes. The experimental results using the network simulator (NS-2) demonstrate that the proposed routing protocol achieved improvement in terms of network lifetime as 37%, average end-to-end delay as 24%, packet delivery ratio as 30%, average communication cost as 29%, network overhead as 28% and the frequency of route re-discoveries as 38% when compared with the existing work under dynamic network topologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large-scale integration of rooftop PVs stalls due to the voltage limit violations they provoke, the uncontrolled reactive power flow in the superordinate grids and the information and communications technology (ICT) related challenges that arise in solving the voltage limit violation problem. This paper attempts to solve these issues using the LINK-based holistic architecture, which takes into account the behaviour of the entire power system, including customer plants. It focuses on the analysis of the behaviour of distribution grids with the highest PV share, leading to the determination of the structure of the Volt/var control chain. The voltage limit violations in low voltage grid and the ICT challenge are solved by using concentrated reactive devices at the end of low voltage feeders. Q-Autarkic customer plants relieve grids from the load-related reactive power. The optimal arrangement of the compensation devices is determined by a series of simulations. They are conducted in a common model of medium and low voltage grids. Results show that the best performance is achieved by placing compensation devices at the secondary side of the supplying transformer. The Volt/var control chain consists of two Volt/var secondary controls; one at medium voltage level (which also controls the TSO-DSO reactive power exchange), the other at the customer plant level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The awareness of self-consumption of grid-connected roof-top solar photovoltaic (PV) owners in a community and the advancement in information and communication technologies (ICT) led to the development of a novel peer-to-peer energy trading mechanism for next-generation power systems. In the peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading landscape, the prosumers and consumers self-organize and trade energy among themselves. In recent years, the large penetration of distributed energy resources, as well as the advancement of technologies in the fields of protection, power electronics, and storage devices, led to the use of direct current (DC) home appliances by the end-users, i.e., consumers in a community. In this paper, the operational costs of an individual household and community when operated with alternating current (AC) and DC home appliances are calculated using bill sharing and the mid-market rate method for various degrees of PV penetration. The bill sharing method shares the operational cost and income among all the peers in proportion to the amount of energy they consume/generate. The mid-market rate method calculates the P2P internal price at the median of the import and export price based on the relationship between total generation and demand. In terms of operational cost, both producers and consumers benefit fairly when the mid-market rate method is used when the households in a community are operated with DC home appliances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Good governance practices through electronic government (eGov) platforms can be suitable instruments for strengthening the outcomes of smart city policies. While eGov is the application of information and communication technologies to public services, good governance defines how well public authorities manage public and social resources. Contemporary public management views, such as 'new public service', include citizen participation as a critical factor to sustainable government in smart cities. Public services, in the age of digital technology, need to not only be delivered through eGov platforms, but also need to be coproduced with the engagement of social players, e.g., citizens. In this sense, eGov platforms act as digital commons, and conceived as digital spaces, where citizens and public agents interact and collaborate. In this paper, we presented the Municipal eGov Platform Assessment Model (MEPA), which is a model specifically developed to evaluate eGov platforms regarding their potential to promote commons in smart cities. The study applied MEPA to 903 municipal websites across Brazil. The results revealed that the majority of investigated Brazilian eGov platforms have only a low level of digital commons maturity. This finding discloses less citizenship coproduction, and fewer opportunities for city smartness. As the MEPA model offers public authorities an instrument to depict weaknesses and strengths of municipal eGov platforms, its adoption provides an opportunity for authorities to plan and manage their platforms to act as promoters of digital commons and citizen coproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the application of information and communication technology (ICT), the modern power system has gradually been updated to a typical cyber physical power system (CPPS). The deployment of distributed measurement devices enriches the application range of power communication services. However, due to the easy accessibility of distributed devices, it also creates favorable conditions for distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. In this paper, we focus on the security performance and defense strategies of the CPPS against DDoS attacks. In order to construct a coordinated defense in the power and information space, the cyber-attack process with a complete data flow of the CPPS needs to be described precisely. Therefore, a co-simulation technology-based platform is utilized to coordinate various layers in the CPPS and provide a unified research tool for the attack-defense test. On this basis, OPNET is used to replicate DDoS attacks in the information layer. Then, through the load frequency control (LFC) service of a multi-area interconnected power system, the influence of delays resulting from attacks on the control effect of the power layer is analyzed. Finally, to cope with the attack effects in both layers, detection measures of information and recovery measures of power quality are coordinated to eliminate attack consequences. Therefore, the stable operation of power services can be enabled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By focusing on a distributed energy system that has been widely diffused for efficient utilization of renewable energy generation in recent years, this paper investigates the relationship between productivity growth and information and communications technology capital in the energy sector. Information and communications technology is a key factor in operating distributed energy systems in a way that balances energy supply and demand in order to minimize energy loss and to enhance capacity utilization. The objective of this study is to clarify the determining factors that affect productivity growth, focusing on three different information and communications technologies: information technology capital, communication technology capital and software capital. Our estimation sample covers energy sectors in 14 countries from 2000 to 2014. The results show that information technology and software capital contribute to increasing material productivity and capital productivity in the energy sector, respectively. Meanwhile, communication technology capital negatively affects these two productivity indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart grid software interconnects multiple Engineering disciplines (power systems, communication, software and hardware technology, instrumentation, big data, etc.). The software architecture is an evolving concept in smart grid systems, in which system architecture development is a challenging process. The architecture has to realize the complex legacy power grid systems and cope with current Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The distributed generation in a smart grid environment expects the software architecture to be distributed and to enable local control. Smart grid architecture should also be modular, flexible, and adaptable to technology upgrades. In this paper, the authors have made a comprehensive review of architectures for smart grids. An in depth analysis of layered and agent-based architectures based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conceptual model is presented. Also presented is a set of smart grid Reference Architectures dealing with cross domain technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an approach to schedule and allocate regulating reserve in systems with a large share of generation from wind power plants (WPPs). The method for scheduling regulating power is based on the correction of day-ahead schedules planned by the known variations of the load- and wind-power from the previous hour. The correction term incorporates the tendency of changes for previous hours. In this way, more of the regulating power can be reserved during sudden changes in the intensity of the wind. Hence, available existing operational data are required, instead of historical data. The method for allocation of regulating power to regulating units is based on minimization of the transmission losses with optional correction according to economic criteria. The qualitative analysis of the relevant economic features is introduced, as well as the possibilities for applying advanced information and communications technology. The methods discussed were tested for the standard test network RTS 96 and for the Croatian transmission network. Test results showed considerable reduction of the unnecessary positive and negative regulating reserve with increased safety compared to the classic method. Furthermore, optimal allocation of regulating reserve reduced transmission losses for all the cases discussed. Reductions were more significant when the layouts of WPPs and regulating capacities were more geographically dispersed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores and analyzes the context of the renewable energies industry sector of Baja California, Mexico, regarding the adoption, appropriation, knowledge and usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) by focusing on human resources, mainly its business managers and directors, as key actors of strategic plans in terms of research and technological development. For this task, a Technological Competencies Profile (TCP), meant for evaluating the incorporation of ICTs by business leaders, was constructed by reviewing the definition of "technological competency" in 140 publications, and by considering the European e-Competence Framework (e-CF), the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA), and other related guidelines. This profile was later applied to analyze 13 SMEs and their leaders' technological competencies. The investigation was further enriched with the information extracted from 13 interviews made with renewable energy experts in Baja California. The conclusions of this study show that, although SME leaders do have knowledge of ICTs and use them effectively for their own communicative and personal purposes, they do not consider them as a part of their business operation that can optimize their processes and impact its innovative capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on society. Scientists are working to mitigate the impact in many ways. As a field closely related to human life, building engineering can make a great contribution. In this article, we started with the concept of the smart building as our guide. The impact of COVID-19 on daily energy consumption, information and communication technology, the ventilation of the interior environment of buildings, and the higher demand for new energy technologies such as electric vehicles is an entry point. We discuss how the concept of the smart building and related technologies (refrigeration, measurement, sensor networks, robotics, local energy generation, and storage) could help human society respond to the pandemic. We also analyze the current problems and difficulties that smart buildings face and the possible future directions of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric power grids, which form an essential part of the critical infrastructure, are evolving into highly distributed, dynamic networks in order to address the climate change. This fundamental transition relies on extensive automation solutions based on communications and information technologies. Thus, it also gives rise to new attack points for malicious actors and consequently, increases the vulnerability of the electric energy system. This study presents a qualitative assessment of power grid cybersecurity through expert interviews across countries in Europe and the U.S. to gain understanding of the latest developments and trends in the cybersecurity of future electric energy systems. The horizon of the assessment is 10 years spanning until the early 2030s. Thereafter, the study identifies how and to which extent the risks identified to be most significant are understood and addressed in the latest research and industry publications aiming at identifying areas deserving specific further attention. The most significant threats based on the assessment are False Data Injection (FDI), Denial of Service (DoS) supply chain, and ransomware and malware attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the relationships between information and communication technology (ICT) usage and CO2 emissions considering economic growth, trade openness, and renewable electricity in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries for the period 1990–2018. It adopts pooled mean group (PMG) estimation based on the autoregressive distributed lag model. The PMG estimates indicate that although the coefficient value is small, ICT progress acts as a factor in increasing CO2 emissions in the long run. However, there is no significant short-run relationship between these two variables. Furthermore, economic growth increases CO2 emissions in the short and long run. The expansion of renewable electricity and trade openness reduces CO2 emissions in the long run. To mitigate the CO2 emissions originating from ICT, energy-saving technologies that use ICT as an energy management system should be further enhanced. The expansion of renewable electricity and the promotion of trade openness will also contribute to the mitigation of CO2 emissions in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modernization of the distribution grid requires a huge amount of data to be transmitted and handled by the network. The deployment of Advanced Metering Infrastructure systems results in an increased traffic generated by smart meters. In this work, we examine the smart meter traffic that needs to be accommodated by a real distribution system. Parameters such as the message size and the message transmission frequency are examined and their effect on traffic is showed. Limitations of the system are presented, such as the buffer capacity needs and the maximum message size that can be communicated. For this scope, we have used the parameters of a real distribution network, based on a survey at which the European Distribution System Operators (DSOs) have participated. For the smart meter traffic, we have used two popular specifications, namely the G3-PLC–"G3 Power Line communication" and PRIME–acronym for "PoweRline Intelligent Metering Evolution", to simulate the characteristics of a system that is widely used in practice. The results can be an insight for further development of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems that control and monitor the Low Voltage (LV) distribution grid. The paper presents an analysis towards identifying the needs of distribution networks with respect to telecommunication data as well as the main parameters that can affect the Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) system performance. Identifying such parameters is consequently beneficial to designing more efficient ICT systems for Advanced Metering Infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, a growing number of enterprises have taken different steps to reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of information and communication technology (ICT) assets. Because of the expansion of digitalization and the need for rapid access to information, enterprises have been compelled to optimize the location and utilization of their ICT hardware. In this context, this paper presents a novel method based on a mixed-integer linear programming approach for optimizing the physical location and task allocation of printing devices in office floor plans considering the power usage of the ICT assets, the costs related to the purchase and service of the individual devices, operating costs, and distance between employees and printing devices. The applicability of the proposed model is illustrated using the case study of a company with 100 functional departments located in several office buildings across Poland. The results reveal that the model guarantees the execution of all printing tasks and satisfies the functionality requirements expressed by the users of the workstations. Moreover, the selection of more energy-efficient printing devices leads to a considerable reduction in electricity consumption, related not only to the direct operation of these devices but also to their modes of operation (work, idle, or sleep). Such results also bring tangible effects in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, which is particularly important for businesses operating in countries where fossil fuels still dominate the energy mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring resilient operation and control of smart grids is fundamental for empowering their deployment, but challenging at the same time. Accordingly, this study proposes a novel methodology for evaluating resilience of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems for smart distribution grids. Analysing how the system behaves under changing operating conditions a power system perspective allows to understand how resilient the smart distribution grid is, but the resilience of the ICT system in charge of its operation affects the overall performance of the system and does, therefore, condition its resilience. With the aim of systematising the evaluation of ICT systems' resilience, this study proposes to combine a standardized modelling of Smart Grids, the Smart Grid Architecture Model (SGAM), with a data structured diagram, the Entity Relationship Model (ERM). The architecture of smart distribution grids is analysed through SGAM. Then, their technical characteristics and functionalities are defined and represented in a ERM diagram. Finally, the attributes or properties of the system components are used to formulate resilience indicators against different types of disturbances. This methodology is then applied to analyse the resilience of a ICT platform being developed in EMPOWER H2020 project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital technologies, especially information and communication technologies, paved the way for social welfare by providing efficient and effective means for services. In the energy sector, advanced metering infrastructures (AMIs) are essential for providing various services through information measurement. In this article, we focus on the deployment of an AMI in multi-dwelling units where automated meter reading (AMR) infrastructures are installed. In particular, we explore whether the AMR should substitute the AMI with few alterations, while ensuring desirable accuracy. To determine the adequacy of technology, information measurement performance, service performance, and implementation cost are used as the indicators. Through a case study using real data recorded in Korea, we quantitatively estimate that AMR-based information measurement can exhibit adequate performance and performance degradation of less than 1% in a service environment utilizing AMI with a low-cost investment. We also discuss several technologies and implementation issues in the upcycling of AMR for more reliable service. This study provides a guide for when configuring an information measurement system for a new energy service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing energy consumption should be treated as crucial for contemporary information and communication technology (ICT) projects under conditions of Industry 4.0. This research proposes a wider look at the factors influencing the success of ICT industry projects, considering not only technological and procedural conditions or implementation methods but also information and competency resources, thus allowing for correct decisions to be taken during project implementation. The article analyzes the information gap in Industry 4.0 projects completed in enterprises based in Poland, following the concept of sustainable development and minimization of energy consumption. The research was completed between 2018 and 2021 in medium enterprises, and the result is a qualitative characteristic of the information gap in ICT projects from the client's perspective. The research can help develop a complete methodology for Industry 4.0 ICT projects to limit the level of uncertainty and risk while reducing energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]