The proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs)—notably photovoltaics (PV), controllable loads, and storage systems—in low-voltage (LV) distribution networks, alongside the anticipated widespread deployment of intelligent metering systems and Smart Meter Gateways (SMGWs) in Germany, provides distribution system operators (DSOs) with new opportunities to harness system flexibility. As the integration of these technologies increases, the active management of distributed assets is becoming a routine operational paradigm and a core objective in grid operation. In the German regulatory context, the legal framework for active LV grid operation is currently defined by the Energy Industry Act (EnWG), specifically through Sections §14a (grid-oriented congestion management) and §14c (market-based flexibility mechanisms).

Alongside these initial regulations, PV evolves to become the main energy source connected to LV grids. The German Renewable Energy Act (EEG) 2023 establishes national targets for PV capacity, specifying an increase from 88 GW in 2024 (with an anticipated 89 GW in 2025) to 400 GW by 2040. Hence, active control of all connected and flexible assets— such as generation plants, prosumers and loads—will become the normal case, at least while they are active (for pure PV installation, e.g., during daytime), and will replace grid-oriented congestion management. Delivering active operation in large scale and/or for nearly all connected prosumers requires coordinated interaction across grid and market actors. These need to be supported by interoperable, secure and compliant digital processes and data flows, and a concrete roadmap aligning regulation, measurement and observability, communications and data management. All these constraints might be part of an optimization problem due to its complexity and might be realized as a market-based optimization with grid-oriented safeguards.

Previous works by (parts of) the authors identified three main pillars for the active operation of LV distribution grids:

• placement and selection of measurements to achieve system awareness by means of state estimation,
• secure, resilient and efficient information and communication architectures and interfaces,
• integration of market-based and grid-oriented optimizations to control PV and generation, consumption, and prosumers such as storage systems.

This work investigates the systemic active control of all assets and grid-connected prosumers, outlining concepts for holistic and coordinated optimization involving hundreds to thousands of LV-connected generators and additional flexible resources. The analysis also identifies the current operational and regulatory constraints and gives recommendations for future delevopment. Consequently, the objective is to derive technical recommendations for the design of such power systems, with respect to the three primary pillars discussed above.