Abstract
This study presents Integrid’s project framework to manage low voltage (LV) electrical networks, aiming to avoid both technical and quality constraints, induced by the ever-increasing amount of flexible resources spread all over the grid. These assets cover a large amount of renewable-based energy generation to electrical vehicles and energy storage units. For this to be possible, new advanced tools were developed to exploit the benefits of the so-called distributed energy resources, while overcoming limitations on the metering and communication infrastructures. Hence, this study describes the approach taken to perform the active management of LV networks, without a perfect level of observability, exploiting the flexibility provided by the distribution system operator’s resources combined with the one offered by private consumers through the home energy management systems. Additionally, some results followed by a brief discussion are presented, enforcing the success of the developed tools. The algorithms within these tools allow to forecast both microgeneration, available flexibility and load profiles, as well as to estimate the network’s state, at different time frames.

Abstract
The growing digitalisation, grid complexity and the number of digitally connected devices that communicate with systems in the distribution grid are enabling the continuous development of automation and intelligence, acquisition of data from sensors, meters and devices for monitoring and managing the distribution network, to achieve an enhanced, preventive, resilient and flexible network operation philosophy. This study presents a set of use cases towards the demonstration of the benefits of implementing a platform that collects, aggregates and facilitates horizontal integration and data correlation from various sources, enabling these use cases across the distribution grid. The adequacy analysis of current distribution network architecture considered derived requirements on the characterisation of its evolution taking advantage of key digital technologies, towards the implementation of distributed control and management strategies. It is also presented a benefit analysis of implementing a centralised common data and service platform, i.e. an internet of things (IoT) platform, regarding new functionalities and applications.

Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive study of the technical and economic benefits that a typical residential prosumer may experience when investing in a solar photovoltaic (PV) system with a battery energy storage system (BESS). To this end, a home energy management system has been designed to simulate the prosumer's daily operation, considering a novel method for calculating battery degradation while minimizing its operating costs. In order to contribute to the regulatory review process of the distributed generation underway in Brazil, a set of PV+BESS configurations has been assessed under the current and future regulatory scenarios proposed for discussion by the Brazilian regulatory agency. Although the results demonstrate that the prosumer's self-consumption rate may increase up to 14% with the BESS coupling in the PV system, the investment proved to be economically unattractive in the current regulatory scenario and practically unfeasible in any of the proposed future scenarios. To make PV+BESS systems economically feasible, some business models are proposed and discussed, and for example, provide subsidies for policymakers, financial agents, and battery manufacturers. A sensitivity analysis for each business model showing its economic feasibility spectrum is provided to assist the different sector players, especially the consumers, in their decision-making process.

Abstract
In recent years, the large deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs) in low voltage networks is changing the traditional approach to power systems. This massive change is pushing towards new solutions to improve energy trading in low voltage networks. Consumer-centric options, such as full peer-to-peer (P2P) and energy community markets (CM) are seen as viable options to increase the active participation of end-users in the electricity markets. This work studies the full P2P and CM market approaches applied to the actual regulatory framework in Brazil, evaluating and comparing both approaches to be potentially applied in Brazil. A case study based on a typical Brazilian neighborhood is designed, allowing to assess the behavior of consumers and prosumers in both markets. The results show the economic viability of both models, considering the social welfare and the penetration of distributed generation in the system. An important conclusion under the current regulatory framework is that the full P2P can have greater benefits over the CM, as long as the distributed generation is enough to confer near self-sufficiency to the peer's demand.

Abstract
Renewable energy communities (REC) and local energy markets (LEM) emerge as entities capable, not only to promote the penetration of renewable energy sources into lower levels of the grid, but also to manage distributed energy resources (DER) and local energy exchanges between small players. This paper proposes a benefit assessment among different regulatory frameworks for LEM, considering network constraints and a virtual storage unit. Results show significant savings can be achieved, even without storage. Therefore, the continuous increase of DER can have considerable grid impacts if not complemented by other structures as storage or by alternative market services like flexibility.

Abstract
The circular economy contrasts with the traditional linear economy since it presents a sustainable way both to produce goods and services and to contribute to the development of economies. This paper aims to contribute to a better knowledge of the efficiency of resources productivity, a common indicator to compare how circular economies are, through the estimation of the main determinants for the circular economy in Europe. A systematic analysis and comparison of the performance of all the European Union countries was performed to get further insight into their root causes and to help designing future policies towards a more circular European Union economy. With this purpose, a set of determinant factors for a circular economy in Europe were analysed, under the period between 2000 and 2016. A cluster analysis was applied and complemented with three econometric estimation methods: panel unit root tests, panel cointegration tests and vector autoregression model. The main findings allowed to cluster European countries into three different groups according to the growth rate of their resources productivity and to explain them according to the selected exploratory factors. Special efforts were made to explain the highest productivity growth group, as a way to find relevant drivers towards sustainable productivity growths.