Next-Generation Power and Energy Management in Active Distribution Networks: ADMS, DERMS, and Cybersecurity Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on "Next-Generation Power and Energy Management in Active Distribution Networks: ADMS, DERMS, and Cybersecurity Perspectives" serves as a natural extension of our previous Special Issue, "Advances in Power and Energy Management for Distribution Systems with High Penetration of Distributed Energy Resources".

Building upon the foundations established in the first edition, this new Special Issue focuses on the critical challenges, innovative solutions, and emerging technologies driving the transformation of modern distribution systems with high penetration of distributed energy resources (DERs). As the energy landscape evolves toward sustainability and resilience, distribution networks are increasingly characterized by a proliferation of solar photovoltaics, wind energy, electric vehicles (EVs), battery energy storage systems (BESS), and flexible loads.

Effectively managing this complex, dynamic environment demands the deployment of intelligent grid-management solutions. Two pillars of this transformation are Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS) and Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS), while cybersecurity becomes paramount in protecting these increasingly digitalized and interconnected systems.

ADMS acts as the operational backbone for active distribution grids, offering real-time monitoring, advanced control, outage management, and system optimization. This Special Issue explores the latest innovations in ADMS, including artificial intelligence (AI) applications, predictive analytics, advanced fault location, isolation and service restoration (FLISR), and distribution state estimation, enabling utilities to optimize performance and reliability under high DER conditions.

In parallel, DERMS platforms orchestrate the efficient integration, aggregation, and real-time dispatch of distributed resources. This Special Issue delves into recent DERMS advancements, covering DER forecasting, flexibility services, virtual power plants, demand response integration, and grid-edge intelligence, all essential for achieving a stable and sustainable distributed-energy ecosystem.

At the same time, the increasing digitalization of distribution networks raises critical cybersecurity challenges. Securing grid operations, DER communications, and operational technology (OT) assets against cyber threats is fundamental for ensuring safe, reliable, and resilient energy delivery.

Together, ADMS, DERMS, and cybersecurity strategies form the cornerstone of next-generation distribution grid management. This Special Issue brings together cutting-edge research, case studies, and practical insights from leading experts, highlighting the pathways to building smarter, stronger, and more secure active distribution systems for the future.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to:

• The integration of a high penetration of DERs, including distributed generation (DG), electric vehicles (EVs), and energy-storage technologies;
• The active management of distribution grids with large-scale DER deployments;
• Non-Wire Alternatives (NWAs) and flexibility solutions;
• Advancements in ADMS functionalities, such as advanced DMS analytics, outage management, and predictive grid operations;
• DERMS developments for DER aggregation, grid services, and decentralized energy management;
• Harnessing behind-the-meter DERs and enabling customer participation in grid operations;
• Electric vehicles as grid-edge flexibility assets for real-time distribution operations;
• AC and DC microgrid design, control, protection, and operation;
• Cybersecurity for distribution management systems, DERMS platforms, and grid-edge devices;
• Risk assessment, threat modeling, and resilience strategies for active distribution networks.

Dr. Luka Strezoski
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

• distributed energy resources
• distributed generation, electrical vehicles, energy storage
• distributed energy resource management system (DERMS)
• advanced distribution management system (ADMS)
• active network management non-wires alternatives
• microgrids

• Advances in Power and Energy Management for Distribution Systems with High Penetration of Distributed Energy Resources in Energies (8 articles)