Towards Smart and Flexible Distribution Grids: Enhancing Hosting Capacity and Energy Sharing in Decentralized Energy Systems
A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A1: Smart Grids and Microgrids".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2026 | Viewed by 31
Special Issue Editors
Interests: optimization; energy management systems; electric mobility; microgrids; distributed energy resources; distribution networks; renewable energy communities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: energy management systems; microgrids; distributed energy resources; distribution networks; electricity markets
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: optimization; energy management systems; electric mobility; microgrids; distributed energy resources; distribution networks; renewable energy communities
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The ongoing energy transition is reshaping the operation and planning of electricity distribution networks. The massive integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs), the rapid expansion of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, and the emergence of collective energy sharing configurations, such as Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), are leading to a fundamental shift in the traditional production-consumption paradigm. These trends are introducing new operational challenges in distribution networks, including potential congestion, increased variability, and bidirectional power flows.
This Special Issue aims to explore the evolving role of distribution networks in supporting decentralized, renewable energy production and consumption. Particular emphasis is placed on the concept of hosting capacity, a critical metric in assessing the ability of existing networks to accommodate new RES and EV loads without compromising reliability or power quality.
Contributions are invited that address modelling, control, planning, and real-world implementation of solutions enabling the smart and flexible management of distribution networks. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Energy management systems for microgrids, renewable energy communities, and EV charging hubs;
- Coordination of EV charging with Vehicle-to-X techniques;
- Flexibility and demand-side optimization strategies;
- Grid-supportive operation of distributed energy resources;
- Innovative approaches to assess and enhance hosting capacity in increasingly complex distribution networks.
Dr. Stefano Bracco
Prof. Dr. Federico Delfino
Dr. Matteo Fresia
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- renewable energy sources
- electric vehicles
- vehicle-to-X
- renewable energy communities
- hosting capacity
- flexibility services
- smart distribution networks
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