This research, conducted throughout the years 2022 and 2023, examines the role of blockchain technology in optimizing Demand Response (DR) within Smart Grids (SGs). It critically assesses a range of blockchain architectures, evaluating their impact on enhancing DR’s efficiency, security, and consumer engagement. Concurrently, it addresses challenges like scalability, interoperability, and regulatory complexities inherent in merging blockchain with existing energy systems. By integrating theoretical and practical viewpoints, it reveals the potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize Demand Response (DR). Findings affirm that integrating blockchain technology into SGs effectively enhances the efficiency and security of DR, and empirical data illustrate substantial improvements in both cases. Furthermore, key challenges include scalability and interoperability, and also identifying opportunities to enhance consumer engagement and foster system transparency in the adoption of blockchain within DR and SGs. Finally, this work emphasizes the necessity for further investigation to address development hurdles and enhance the effectiveness of blockchain technology in sustainable energy management in SGs.

Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and Aggregators benefit from novel Energy Generation Forecasting (EGF) approaches. Improved forecasting accuracy may make it easier to deal with energy imbalances between production and consumption. It also aids operations such as Demand Response (DR) management in Smart Grid architecture. This work aims to develop and test a new solution for EGF. It combines various methodologies running EGF tests on historical data from buildings. The experimentation yields different data resolutions (15 min, one hour, one day, etc.) while reporting accuracy errors. The optimal forecasting technique should be relevant to a variety of forecasting applications in a trial-and-error manner, while utilizing different forecasting strategies, ensemble approaches, and algorithms. The final forecasting evaluation incorporates performance metrics such as coefficient of determination ( $${R^{2}}$$R 2 ), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Squared Error (MSE) and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), presenting a comparative analysis of results.

Integration of distributed generation (DG) in existing distribution networks has been studied thoroughly during the past years as a measure of reducing grid's power losses. However, the optimal DG placement, known as ODGP, toward loss minimisation, has not been studied in depth by considering the possible impact of the reverse power flow (RPF) caused by extended penetration of distributed energy resources. This study uses a constriction factor embedded local particle swarm optimisation algorithm along with the appropriate particle formulation that solves the ODGP problem by taking into account the impact of possible RPF. In this study, the idea of RPF modelling is introduced by providing extended versions of IEEE test systems. Modified versions of the IEEE 30‐bus and IEEE 33‐bus test systems are modelled and results are presented in order to highlight the impact of RPF on the ODGP problem solution. The mathematical formulation is given, results and analysis for both extended systems are presented, while the importance of RPF for different conditions is assessed.