The paper presents a decision-making algorithm that has been developed for the optimum size and placement of distributed generation (DG) units in distribution networks. The algorithm that is very flexible to changes and modifications can define the optimal location for a DG unit (of any type) and can estimate the optimum DG size to be installed, based on the improvement of voltage profiles and the reduction of the network’s total real and reactive power losses. The proposed algorithm has been tested on the IEEE 33-bus radial distribution system. The obtained results are compared with those of earlier studies, proving that the decision-making algorithm is working well with an acceptable accuracy. The algorithm can assist engineers, electric utilities, and distribution network operators with more efficient integration of new DG units in the current distribution networks.

Many citizens of European countries may soon experience a long and extensive blackout. The lack of predictability in the output of renewable energy sources, aggravating the problem of consistently matching supply with demand on electric grids, along with cyber-attacks or even worse unpredictable incidents in the electric grid are some factors that may mean a blackout is much more likely than in previous years. This paper covers the possibility of an extensive blackout in a country of the interconnected European electricity transmission system or, even worse, a blackout in a wide area of the European continent. The topic of this paper becomes even more important and timely given the energy crisis due to the war in Ukraine, which has made the possibility of a blackout in the winter of 2022–2023 high. First, the major European blackouts that occurred in the past 20 years are presented, examining their causes. On 8 January 2021, the European electricity grid was divided into two separate sections, with different frequencies; some additional scenarios are considered which, if they had happened, could have led to blackouts in some European countries or, even worse, a wide area of Europe. This work also examines how to avoid such an eventuality, as well as how European TSOs should react in case a blackout occurs. Focused on the fast and reliable supply of consumers after a blackout, a novel restoration strategy based on the A* Algorithm is presented. Its efficiency is validated in the IEEE-39 and IEEE-68 bus systems.

Precise anticipation of electrical demand holds crucial importance for the optimal operation of power systems and the effective management of energy markets within the domain of energy planning. This study builds on previous research focused on the application of artificial neural networks to achieve accurate electrical load forecasting. In this paper, an improved methodology is introduced, centering around bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks (NN). The primary aim of the proposed bidirectional LSTM network is to enhance predictive performance by capturing intricate temporal patterns and interdependencies within time series data. While conventional feed-forward neural networks are suitable for standalone data points, energy consumption data are characterized by sequential dependencies, necessitating the incorporation of memory-based concepts. The bidirectional LSTM model is designed to furnish the prediction framework with the capacity to assimilate and leverage information from both preceding and forthcoming time steps. This augmentation significantly bolsters predictive capabilities by encapsulating the contextual understanding of the data. Extensive testing of the bidirectional LSTM network is performed using multiple datasets, and the results demonstrate significant improvements in accuracy and predictive capabilities compared to the previous simpleRNN-based framework. The bidirectional LSTM successfully captures underlying patterns and dependencies in electrical load data, achieving superior performance as gauged by metrics such as root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE). The proposed framework outperforms previous models, achieving a remarkable RMSE, attesting to its remarkable capacity to forecast impending load with precision. This extended study contributes to the field of electrical load prediction by leveraging bidirectional LSTM neural networks to enhance forecasting accuracy. Specifically, the BiLSTM’s MAE of 0.122 demonstrates remarkable accuracy, outperforming the RNN (0.163), LSTM (0.228), and GRU (0.165) by approximately 25%, 46%, and 26%, in the best variation of all networks, at the 24-h time step, while the BiLSTM’s RMSE of 0.022 is notably lower than that of the RNN (0.033), LSTM (0.055), and GRU (0.033), respectively. The findings highlight the significance of incorporating bidirectional memory and advanced neural network architectures for precise energy consumption prediction. The proposed bidirectional LSTM framework has the potential to facilitate more efficient energy planning and market management, supporting decision-making processes in power systems.

Power transformers’ reliability is of the highest importance for distribution networks. A possible failure of them can interrupt the supply to consumers, which will cause inconvenience to them and loss of revenue for electricity companies. Additionally, depending on the type of damage, the recovery time can vary and intensify the problems of consumers. This paper estimates the maintenance required for distribution transformers using Artificial Intelligence (AI). This way the condition of the equipment that is currently in use is evaluated and the time that maintenance should be performed is known. Because actions are only carried out when necessary, this strategy promises cost reductions over routine or time-based preventative maintenance. The suggested methodology uses a classification predictive model to identify with high accuracy the number of transformers that are vulnerable to failure. This was confirmed by training, testing, and validating it with actual data in Colombia’s Cauca Department. It is clear from this experimental method that Machine Learning (ML) methods for early detection of technical issues can help distribution system operators increase the number of selected transformers for predictive maintenance. Additionally, these methods can also be beneficial for customers’ satisfaction with the performance of distribution transformers, which would enhance the highly reliable performance of such transformers. According to the prediction for 2021, 852 transformers will malfunction, 820 of which will be in rural Cauca, which is consistent with previous failure statistics. The 10 kVA transformers will be the most vulnerable, followed by the 5 kVA and 15 kVA transformers.

In this paper, detailed scalability and replicability plans have been developed to facilitate the adoption of innovation technologies in the pan-EU market. Smart grid development must enable both information and power exchange between suppliers and customers, thanks to the enormous innovation in intelligent communication, monitoring, and management systems. Implementing physical infrastructure alone is not enough, but a smart grid must include new business models and new regulations. In recent years, the number, participants, and scope of smart grid initiatives have increased, with different goals and results. FLEXITRANSTORE project integrates hardware and software solutions in all areas of the transmission system and wholesale markets, unleashing the potential for full flexibility of power systems and promoting the penetration of renewable energy sources and pan-EU markets. Full deployment of these demonstrated solutions requires a reasonable level of scalability and replicability to prevent project demonstrators from continuing local experimental exercises. Scalability and replicability are fundamental requirements for successful scaling-up and replication. Therefore, scalability and replicability enable or at least reduce barriers to the growth and reuse of project demonstrator results.

The danger of a total blackout in a wide area or, even worse, in a country is always present. The restoration methods after a blackout mainly focus on the strategy that the dispatchers in the control centers of the Transmission System Operator will follow than the abilities that the distribution’s microgrids have. This study suggests a restoration technique to improve distribution system resilience following a blackout, using distributed generation for the restoration of important loads. The goal of the restoration problem is to maximize the number of critical loads that are restored following the catastrophic incident. Under the restrictions of the DGs and the network, the DGs with good black start capability are restored first. Load weight and node importance degree are suggested during the recovery path selection procedure, while taking node topological importance and load importance into account. A mixed-integer linear program (MILP) is used to simulate the issue, and the modified IEEE 39-bus test system is used to verify the efficacy of the suggested restoration approach.