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A range of technologies must be developed and deployed for achieving a decarbonised energy system. A smart grid aims to integrate these different technologies into a single, over-arching system that is at the same time both complex and interoperable, which cannot be achieved without standardisation. Moreover, standardisation is a method of transferring research into successful processes and products. Without this, existing conventional energy systems will not change much longer, as it is more difficult to achieve significant market penetration of new technologies and deployment of new functions and applications. It seems that standardisation issues are not sufficiently addressed in scientific publications and are treated as a very specific topic by community of researchers despite the fact that standards may serve as a knowledge base for further research and improvement of emerging technologies and approaches. This paper presents a bird's-eye smart grid standardisation review based on a unique functionality - technology approach developed within Horizon 2020 project PANTERA.

The paper uncovers the barriers limiting wider involvement of lagging countries in Research and Innovation (R&I) activities in the smart grid domain. The data have been collected through a dedicated stakeholder survey. The analysis presented in the paper underlines the key challenging issues: proposal preparation and consortium building process, insufficient support, lack of information and bureaucracy. An attempt is made to identify pathways to overcome these barriers based on identified best practices in more advanced countries.

Over the last few years, the increased electricity demand coupled with high penetration of intermittent Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and the advent of smart grid technologies have enhanced the role of demand side management in the efficient operation of the electricity network. The potential participation of end-users in the electricity markets has also highlighted the value of demand response (DR) in the power system through new market entities, called DR Aggregators. The DR Aggregators undertake the representation of a sum of domestic users, acting as third party intermediaries. This paper examines the current participation schemes of the DR Aggregators in European spot and balancing markets, following the concept of the Target Model. Furthermore, the case of a non-interconnected distribution grid, like the one encountered in the island of Cyprus, is examined. Opportunities and challenges of introducing the role of the DR Aggregator are explored, while the results are validated by demonstrating the DR Aggregator role in the case of the University of Cyprus (UCY) campus, acting as a microgrid.

The continuously increasing complexity of modern and sustainable power and energy systems leads to a wide range of solutions developed by industry and academia. To manage such complex system-of-systems, proper engineering and validation approaches, methods, concepts, and corresponding tools are necessary. The Smart Grid Architecture Model (SGAM), an approach that has been developed during the last couple of years, provides a very good and structured basis for the design, development, and validation of new solutions and technologies. This review therefore provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art and related work for the theory, distribution, and use of the aforementioned architectural concept. The article itself provides an overview of the overall method and introduces the theoretical fundamentals behind this approach. Its usage is demonstrated in several European and national research and development projects. Finally, an outlook about future trends, potential adaptations, and extensions is provided as well.

This paper presents the main objectives, approach, results and challenges achieved so far of the H2020 project PANTERA (PAN European Technology Energy Research Approach). A special highlight of the work carried out in the Balkan region considering the first PANTERA workshop in Sofia, Bulgaria is given. Based on analysis of the results achieved, the potential for improvements and future steps are elaborated.

This paper presents a concept for flexible and self-adaptable classification of ETIP SNET technologies and functionalities that form the basis to analyze the research and innovation (R& I) progress towards the achievement of decarbonised smart grid network by 2050. Based on analysis of the currently adopted “static” classification of ETIP SNET technologies, functionalities, and methodology for evaluating project results, the main fast evolving research and innovation drivers and needs are identified. A linking chain between functionalities and serving technologies is identified and a solid measurable process of quantification of the progress of functionalities is determined. As a result a methodology for transition of this process to flexible and adaptable for the ETIP SNET’s 10-year plan is proposed.

The continuously increasing complexity of modern and sustainable power and energy systems leads to a wide range of solutions developed by industry and academia. To manage such complex system-of-systems, proper engineering and validation approaches, methods, concepts, and corresponding tools are necessary. The Smart Grid Architecture Model (SGAM), an approach that has been developed during the last couple of years, provides a very good and structured basis for the design, development, and validation of new solutions and technologies. This review therefore provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art and related work for the theory, distribution, and use of the aforementioned architectural concept. The article itself provides an overview of the overall method and introduces the theoretical fundamentals behind this approach. Its usage is demonstrated in several European and national research and development projects. Finally, an outlook about future trends, potential adaptations, and extensions is provided as well.