Demand-Side Integration (DSI) refers to all aspects of the relationships between the electric power system, the energy supply, and the end-user load. In many countries, the power infrastructure is ageing and is being increasingly used as the demand for electricity rises. This overloading will worsen as large numbers of electric vehicles, heat pumps, and other new loads use low-carbon energy from the electric power system.

Obtaining planning permission for the installation of new power system equipment, particularly overhead lines, is becoming increasingly difficult. Therefore, demand-side programmes have been introduced widely to make better use of the existing power supply infrastructure and to control the growth of demand. There is very little interaction between the loads and the power system other than the supply of load energy whenever it is demanded. The present revolution in communication systems, particularly stimulated by the internet, offers the possibility of much greater monitoring and control throughout the power system and hence more effective, flexible, and lower cost operation.

The Special Issue welcomes original research and review articles focusing on Demand Side Integration in smart grids. Demand-Side Integration (DSI) refers to all aspects of the relationships between the electric power system, the energy supply, and the end-user load. The smart grid is an opportunity to use new ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) to revolutionize the electrical power system. Smart meters, communications, displays, and associated software allow customers to have greater choice and control over electricity and gas use. They will provide consumers with accurate bills, along with faster and easier supplier switching, to give consumers accurate real-time information on their electricity and gas use and other related information and to enable demand management and demand side participation.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Stability of distributed electric power generation system
• Real dynamics of power generators
• Power electronics and synchronization issues and solutions of distributed power units
• Integration of DC and AC power units in power grids
• Power quality of produced electric power and set power levels considering no disturbance
• Synchronization between distributed thermal power units (steam turbine-based or gas turbine-based) and control levels of the produced electric power
• Synchronization between renewable AC power units such as distributed wind power generators, distributed marine power generators, and distributed hydro-power generators, and control of the levels of the produced electric power
• Synchronization of distributed renewable DC power units, such as photovoltaics and solar power plants, and control of the levels of the produced electric power
• Synchronization in DC, AC, and hybrid microgrids and control of the levels of the produced electric power
• Control of the associated power electronics, such as AC/DC converters, DC/AC inverters, VSC-HVDC transmission systems
• State estimation and placement of measurement devices
• Data acquisition and analysis in smart grids
• Employing machine learning and deep learning techniques in smart grids
• Robust optimization