Call for Papers

The Call for papers for CIRED 2023 is now open. The Technical Committee will welcome abstracts until 14 September 2022.

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