This casebook is one of the outcomes of the Lighthouse Project on Long-Term Planning and Implementation for the Evolution of Smart Distribution Grids. It combines contributions from ISGAN’s working groups with a dedicated knowledge-sharing process involving internal and external stakeholders.
The casebook brings together fifteen cases from ten countries, highlighting innovations in smart distribution grid planning across a structured matrix of five planning phases: foresight, strategic decision-making, long-term planning, assessment and decision support, and implementation. These phases are influenced by three cross-cutting framework conditions: legal and governance arrangements, actor coordination and collaboration, and information and knowledge infrastructure. Particular attention is given to the roles of policymakers, regulators, local and regional governments, distribution system operators, utilities, and grid owners.
The cases cover communication and coordination platforms, network planning tools, asset management, flexibility needs and markets, distributed energy resource management, and energy communities.
Through comparative analysis, the casebook explores different approaches and their relevance across national contexts. The publication supports international knowledge exchange and provides practical insights for grid operators, policymakers and other planning actors, including those in emerging economies and countries expanding electricity access and use.
The findings show that distribution system operators are actively investing in innovative planning methods and technologies, with clear benefits for customers and communities. At the same time, successful implementation depends on high-quality data, continued technology demonstration, supportive legal frameworks, and evolving actor roles and interactions across the power system.
