Abstract
The local flexibility market models have emerged as a market-based solution to respond to the challenges that the increase in distributed energy resources caused in the power and energy systems. Using Smart Grid enabling technologies, consumers and prosumers are prepared to respond to any possible demand-side flexibility event. In this scope, this work presents an advanced bidding model for the prosumers/consumers' participation in a local flexibility market to solve existing issues in the local grid. The proposed advanced model consists of a single-sided auction-based clearing method where prosumer offers are ranked and chosen according to the price and other characteristics, such as their location and distance to the problem to be solved. The aim is to prioritize and select the offers that have a more positive impact on the situation to solve at the lowest possible cost. © 2022 IEEE.

Abstract
The growth of renewable energy sources usage at the local level contributes to decentralizing the power and energy systems. Nowadays, there is an increment of residential consumers becoming prosumers able to consume their generation or sell it to the public grid to reduce the electricity bill. This great penetration of electricity compromises the proper functioning of the system. Local electricity markets (LEM) are market platforms aimed at electricity end-users to be able to negotiate and transact it between them, thus becoming active players in the system, being a possible solution to balance local systems. Different approaches for LEM design and implementation are proposed in the literature, usually based on community markets and peer-to-peer. Despite their value, these solutions' scalability is compromised as these are centralized solutions, and processing can become very heavy. In this sense, this work proposes a blockchain-based distributed and decentralized optimal solution for implementing LEM. © 2022 IEEE.

Abstract
The integration of distributed energy resources contributes to accomplishing a balance between the supply and demand inside a local market. The operation of these markets is based on the peer-to-peer negotiations between users, whose cooperation leads to an increase in the social welfare of the community, thus creating a more user-centric market. This work fits in the context of the energy community, where members of a community can exchange energy in peer-to-peer transactions and use the public electricity grid as a backup. The market aims at maximizing the social welfare of the community considering the operational costs of all community members. A particle swarm optimization algorithm implemented in Python is used to solve the problem. © 2022 IEEE.

Abstract
Recent commitments and consequent advances towards an effective energy transition are resulting in promising solutions but also bringing out significant new challenges. Models for energy management at the building and microgrid level are benefiting from new findings in distinct areas such as the internet of things or machine learning. However, the interaction and complementarity between such physical and virtual environments need to be validated and enhanced through dedicated platforms. This chapter presents the Multi-Agent based Real-Time Infrastructure for Energy (MARTINE), which provides a platform that enables a combined assessment of multiple components, including physical components of buildings and microgrids, emulation capabilities, multi-agent and real-time simulation, and intelligent decision support models and services based on machine learning approaches. Besides enabling the study and management of energy resources considering both the physical and virtual layers, MARTINE also provides the means for a continuous improvement of the synergies between the Internet of Things and machine learning solutions.

Abstract
Complex optimization problems are often associated to large search spaces and consequent prohibitive execution times in finding the optimal results. This is especially relevant when dealing with dynamic real problems, such as those in the field of power and energy systems. Solving this type of problems requires new models that are able to find near-optimal solutions in acceptable times, such as metaheuristic optimization algorithms. The performance of these algorithms is, however, hugely dependent on their correct tuning, including their configuration and parametrization. This is an arduous task, usually done through exhaustive experimentation. This paper contributes to overcome this challenge by proposing the application of sequential model algorithm configuration using Bayesian optimization with Gaussian process and Monte Carlo Markov Chain for the automatic configuration of a genetic algorithm. Results from the application of this model to an electricity market participation optimization problem show that the genetic algorithm automatic configuration enables identifying the ideal tuning of the model, reaching better results when compared to a manual configuration, in similar execution times.

Abstract
As IoT technologies mature, they are increasingly finding their way into more sensitive domains, such as Medical and Industrial IoT, in which safety and cyber-security are paramount. While the number of deployed IoT devices continues to increase annually, they still present severe cyber-security vulnerabilities, turning them into potential targets and entry points to support further attacks. Naturally, as these nodes are compromised, attackers aim at setting up stealthy communication behaviours, to exfiltrate data or to orchestrate nodes of a botnet in a cloaked fashion. Network covert channels are increasingly being used with such malicious intents. The IEEE 802.15.4 is one of the most pervasive protocols in IoT, and a fundamental part of many communication infrastructures. Despite this fact, the possibility of setting up such covert communication techniques on this medium has received very little attention. We aim at analysing the performance and feasibility of such covert-channel implementations upon the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol. This will enable a better understanding of the involved risk and help supporting the development of further cyber-security mechanisms to mitigate this threat.