A secure automation solution to provide flexibility at low-level grid - middleware services

The digitalisation of the grid at the DSO and consumer levels has created new challenges for the operators and stakeholders involved that require significant coordination and cooperation. More importantly, it requires secure, scalable and interoperable software automation solutions. These solutions should be comprehensive; in essence, that information and data can be used and traced from the low and medium-level transformers to the end user's smart meters and energy management systems. As part of the balance-plus (H2020) project, an interoperable and secure middleware framework has been developed and tested in three demo sites in Italy, France and Denmark. The framework provides greater observability, monitoring and control power to the stakeholders, such as DSOs and aggregators, to utilise the available flexibility from the end-users. The low-level grid is equipped with IoT devices and control systems from vendors and manufactures that are not always interoperable.