Review of Computational Intelligence Methods for Local Energy Markets at the Power Distribution Level to Facilitate the Integration of Distributed Energy Resources: State-of-the-art and Future Research

The massive integration of distributed energy resources in power distribution systems in combination with the active network management that is implemented thanks to innovative information and communication technologies has created the smart distribution systems of the new era. This new environment introduces challenges for the optimal operation of the smart distribution network. Local energy markets at power distribution level are highly investigated in recent years. The aim of local energy markets is to optimize the objectives of market participants, e.g., to minimize the network operation cost for the distribution network operator, to maximize the profit of the private distributed energy resources, and to minimize the electricity cost for the consumers. Several models and methods have been suggested for the design and optimal operation of local energy markets. This paper introduces an overview of the state-of-the-art computational intelligence methods applied to the optimal operation of local energy markets, classifying and analyzing current and future research directions in this area.