Call for Papers

The Call for papers for CIRED 2023 is now closed. Authors will be notified on 14 November 2022. Authors of selected abstracts will be asked to submit a full paper by 23 January, 2023.

The complete Call for Papers is available online.

Six technical sessions

SESSION 1 Network Components

SESSION 2 Power Quality & Electromagnetic Compatibility

SESSION 3 Operation

SESSION 4 Protection, Control & Automation

SESSION 5 Planning of Power Distribution Systems

SESSION 6 Customers, Regulation, DSO Business & Risk Management

For more information on the technical session, see our complete Call for Papers.

SESSION 1 Network Components

Session 1 deals with all aspects related to the components used in the electricity distribution networks: cables, overhead lines, primary and secondary substations, transformers, switchgear, protection and monitoring systems, power electronics. It covers topics related to the life cycle of assets from design to end of life management. The session also covers environmental concern including eco-design and life cycle analysis, standardisation, ergonomics and safety. It aims at providing an overview of the state-of-the-art and proposals for future components, including those needed for smart grids, e-mobility, smart cities and microgrids, as well as components for more resilient networks in the context of climate change anticipation. This session is an opportunity for DSOs and manufacturers to share their objectives.

Components for smart distribution grids

Smart substations
Components with capabilities for data acquisition, information generation, communication and cybersecurity
Components and sensors for voltage and power flow management
Power electronics based grid components
Components for DC and AC/DC hybrid networks
Components for integration of distributed generation
Storage devices
Components for e-mobility
Components for the disconnection and reconnection of microgrids

Components reliability, diagnosis and maintenance strategy

Condition assessment, aging models, lifetime assessment
Diagnostics of network components
Online monitoring of distribution system assets
Use of new solutions like digital tools, big data, machine learning, drones for diagnostics and maintenance
Life extension, upgradeability, increased power capacity, retrofit operations of existing components,
Reliability and lifetime assessment of smart components and their integration in existing systems
Components for more resilient networks
Impact of climate change on network components.

Components for large cities distribution networks

Compact substations
Modular components for fast installation and extensibility
High reliability solutions
Short circuit current mitigation solutions
Components with increased power capabilities

Towards “greener components”

Circular Economy, eco-design, use of bio-sourced and recycled materials, life-cycle analysis
Reduction of losses
Limitation of visual and noise impact
Management of hazardous substances

Innovation in design of components

Modelling including digitalization e.g. Digital twins of components
Testing
New materials
Safety aspect, ergonomics and usability
Evolution of standards
New functional specifications

SESSION 2 Power Quality & Electromagnetic Compatibility

Session 2 deals with any phenomena related to power quality (PQ). This includes e.g. flicker, unbalance, distortion in the frequency range from DC up to 500 kHz as well as events like sags or swells. The session covers also all aspects of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) including emission, immunity, its coordination and the related standardisation. Conducted and radiated electromagnetic interferences, electric and magnetic fields (EMF) as well as grounding issues are addressed.

PQ related to new technologies

Modern equipment, like storage and DER, EV, LED
Future grids with high share of power electronic devices
Challenges and opportunities in microgrids, including islanded operation
DC distribution networks and DC equipment
Requirements for advanced distribution automation schemes

PQ measurement, analysis and system monitoring

Resonances and frequency-dependent network impedance
Measurement techniques and indices from DC up to 500 kHz
Integration of PQ functionalities into secondary equipment
Accuracy of measurement systems including voltage and current transducer
Strategies to include PQ management in planning and operation
Efficient design and implementation of monitoring campaigns
Techniques for data analytics and visualization, including AI
PQ data format and data interchange

Continuity of supply, PQ standards and regulatory issues

Fault ride through capability of grid-interactive inverters and converters
Concepts for improvement of voltage dip immunity
Voltage and frequency stability in future grids including islanded grids
Allocation principles for emission limits and compliance verification
Need to revise EMC concepts driven by energy transition and climate change

Electric and magnetic fields, immunity and safety issues

Low frequency electromagnetic interference
Immunity issues related to PLC, ripple control systems and smart electronic devices
Impact of PQ on life time of equipment
Earthing systems, step and touch voltages, neutral grounding practices, risk evaluation
Immunity and safety issues related to DC and microgrids

PQ issues at the interface between distribution and transmission grids

PQ management at the interface, including coordination of planning levels and emission limits
Interactions related to large PV and wind farms, HVDC, FACTS
Resonances related to long cables and increased cabling

SESSION 3 Operation

Session 3 deals with operational use of components (Session 1) and systems (Session 4) in public, industrial and private distribution networks in normal operation as well as in any case of disturbance.

Session 3 covers all aspects of grid operation including strategies and management topics, challenges and new application, the integration of DER and special applications. Focus is on the use of new technologies like artificial intelligence and the operational challenges to integrate and operate new types of load like electric vehicles and storages.

Strategies and Management

Organization strategies and schemes for grid operation
Training and Education
Maintenance strategies
Condition monitoring
Management strategies for DER, generation, storage and flexible loads (electric vehicles, heat pumps)
Larger scale DER integration data analytics and intelligence for distribution network management

Operation Center

Energy efficiency in operation (use of e.g. optimized power flow)
Reactive power management
Capacity calculation and management
Planning of operation
Detection and operation of islanded grids
Interaction between DSO and TSO
Crisis management
Blackout and restoration strategies
Operation in case of cyber security disturbances
Ergonomics of operation center

Operation in the Field

Occupational safety in grid operation (acc. EN 50110)
Augmented reality in manual operation and for inspection
Workforce management tools and techniques to improve operation efficiency

New Use Cases & Special Applications

New applications in grid operation (e.g. Artificial Intelligence)
Role of distribution networks in delivering low carbon, sustainable energy supplies
Multi-energy system operation – storage and power2X (gas, heat, …)
Operation of microgrids and local energy communities

SESSION 4 Protection, Control & Automation

Session 4 deals with design and implementation of systems for protection, control and automation in distribution networks.

The consideration of historical grown concepts as well as the latest developments in the world of protection, control, communication, and automation are topics in this session. Emphasis is also placed on practical application and experience in operating the systems. But the latest developments, scientific findings and considerations as well as algorithms and simulations are also of great importance.

Protection

New protection schemes and functions for up-to-date grid structures
Protection algorithms and simulation models as well as tools for protection virtualization
Protection management considering remote access and IT security
Impact of distributed generation on existing, traditional protection systems
Protection communication, interface, reliability, IT security
Fault location, fault records and analyses
Testing of protection relays, functions and systems as well as type tests

Control and Monitoring

SCADA systems merging with different databases (weather, lightning detector etc.)
Concepts for SCADA systems in a productive environment in coordination with decentralized control (topological concept) as well as their development environment
Management systems of power flow, voltage, stability and ancillary services
Challenges associated with the integration of new DER assets and technologies, including energy storage, flexibility, demand side management and control solutions
TSO/DSO-Interface, providing system services and flexibility on distribution level

Communication and IT-Security

Requirements for communication technology in technical systems at different levels, including connection to customer sites
Convergence of power grids and communication grids
IT-Security and resilience aspects of information access and information exchange
Measures to ensure confidentiality in integrity in communications (e.g. encryption, key exchange, certificate management)
Centralized management and monitoring of communication networks

Automation

Automation on distribution level e.g. voltage and load control
Manufacture-independent multi-vendor solutions and interoperability
Optimization potential of digital substations with regard to new automation tasks
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the automation environment (analyses, diagnostics etc.)

SESSION 5 Planning of Power Distribution Systems

Session 5 deals with short- and long-term development of high, medium and low voltage distribution networks, concerning the changing requirements for electricity distribution including, but not limited to, smart grids and active distribution networks, electrification and electromobility, energy storage, flexibility, distributed energy resources integration, present and future customer quality of supply requirements, and optimum asset utilisation techniques and strategies. Papers dealing with meeting the energy transition goals, rural electrification, and strategies to increase resiliency are also expected.

Demand and generation forecast

Evolution of the demand (e.g., the electrification, electromobility and transport systems, hydrogen and green gas production, etc.)
Methodologies for demand and generation forecast
Impact of COVID on-demand and generation

Performance requirements, results, and benchmarking

Economical versus technical performance
System reliability and degree of adequacy
Performance assessment and benchmarking
Evaluation of technical and non-technical losses
Increasing resiliency against low probability high-risk extreme events
Microgrids and local energy communities to provide security of supply

Network schemes and design criteria

Innovative solutions for enabling energy transition (e.g., RES integration, electric vehicles, DC distribution, flexibility procurement, etc.)
Active networks and smart grids
Distribution systems for offshore wind farms
Low-losses distribution systems
Sector-coupling and distribution development
Design criteria for increasing resiliency
Distribution network schemes for developing countries

Network planning

Distribution planning and flexibility (forecast, uncertainties, market, standardisation, etc.)
Integrated/coordinated transmission and distribution planning with flexibility
Sector-coupling and distribution development
Improving efficiency in distribution networks
Integration of distributed energy resources (distributed generation, storage, EV, etc.)
Planning criteria for electrification in low load density areas
Integration of EV fast-charging installations in the network
Microgrids and local energy communities in distribution planning
The resilience of smart grid when deployed at scale and the impact on network planning standards (i.e., IT/telecoms requirements, common-mode failures)

Investment strategies

Least cost investment plans
Financial planning and cash flow for investment
Network ageing
Risk analysis and asset management implications
Non-network solutions
Obsolescence: shorter life-cycles due to automation and ICT technologies

SESSION 6 Customers, Regulation, DSO Business & Risk Management

The energy transition is impacting the DSO’s business management. The vision to be the enabler of the transition is clear; however, the grid infrastructure is nothing that can be changed over-night. While traditional assets typically have long life-times, new business tools, methods and processes need to be adapted and demonstrated to match new priorities and the necessary speed of transition.

The focus of Session 6 is to take the DSO business perspective including regulation compliance, cooperation with stakeholders including sector integration, reasonable risk management for flexibility and cybersecurity, customer expectation and overall business digitalization.

Regulation, Markets, Network Codes & DSO/TSO Coordination

Incentive regulation for smart grid technologies, flexibility, lower loses and more efficient use of the grid
Regulation enabling energy transition
Local flexibility markets and market integration
DSO-TSO interaction in system flexibility
Implementing network codes
Regulation benchmarking and sandboxes
Tariff structures and designs
WACC / financing of investments in a regulated regime

DSO Business Risk Management

Novel DSO business models and model innovations
Efficient business processes for the evolving DSO roles
New DSO competence needs
Adapting DSO business processes for flexibility
Risk management methods, processes & tools
Balance investment risk, cost and timing
Short and long-term forecasting
Standardization ISO55000 & PAS55
Climate risk management

Customers, Energy Communities & E-Mobility, Electrification, Sector integration

Role of DSOs in relation to energy communities, microgrids, storage and off-grid possibilities
Active customers – new needs (incl energy poverty), requirements and incentives
Improving customer engagement and interaction
Sector integration for DSOs including electrification of transport, heating/cooling and local energy optimization
Challenges, opportunities and solutions in E-Mobility
Impacts of hydrogen economy
Capacity maps and other real-life experiences – communicating with transparency

Digitalization, Metering, IT-systems & Cybersecurity

Progress in digitalization and AI application of DSO business
Cybersecurity-physical threats and protection
Social factors and data privacy by design
Next generation AMR and usage of smart meter data
Managing information and data integration
Data platform and hub solutions
Innovations in information exchange (e.g. data hubs)
IoT for DSOs

How to submit a paper

Prospective authors are invited to submit an abstract of 2 A4 pages (including diagrams and illustrations) by 14 September 2022.

All the papers will be peer reviewed by the Technical Committee and by the National or Liaison Committee of the author’s country, if any.

Successful authors will be invited to submit a full paper by 23 January 2023.

Download the mandatory template and submit your abstract on the submission website before 14 September.

Submission process

Important Dates

14 September 2022	Abstract submission deadline
14 November 2022	Notification of acceptance
23 January 2023	Full paper submission deadline
February 2023	Registrations open
24 April 2023	Deadline for early bird registration
12-15 June 2023	CIRED 2023 in Rome