Representatives of distribution system operators (DSOs) from Albania, Kosovo*, and Montenegro, partners in the GIZ project Green Agenda – Decarbonization of the Electricity Sector in the Western Balkans, took an active part in the 10th Annual Global Outage Management Forum for DSOs, held in Berlin. The event brought together DSOs, experts, and innovators to address the pressing challenges of ensuring grid stability while navigating regulatory, technological, and environmental transformations.

The two-day event featured engaging discussions on a wide range of critical topics related to outage management and the future of electricity distribution. One key issue was the integration of electricity generated by prosumers into the low-voltage grid. Participants explored innovative methods for managing outages more efficiently and enhancing the overall resilience of the grid.

The forum also addressed the evolution of electricity distribution networks and their importance in ensuring supply security, especially given the increasing demand and the rise of distributed generation. Another significant topic was the implementation of Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS).

Discussions covered the transition toward automated fault management and the development of digital substations. Additionally, participants examined how environmental factors, such as changes in groundwater levels, can impact the reliability of medium-voltage networks.

Workshop on DSO Roadmaps

The project partners also took part in a half-day workshop focusing on the topic of DSO Roadmaps. The purpose of a DSO Roadmap is to outline the strategic direction and actions required to modernize the distribution network, integrate renewable energy sources, enhance grid reliability, and support the overall energy transition in the Western Balkans. It aims to provide a clear pathway for DSOs to adapt to changing energy landscapes, regulatory requirements, and technological advancements.

“We used the workshop in Berlin with the DSO representatives to introduce State of the Art on DSO-Roadmapping and sound primary results for Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, which were mainly based on a pre-assessment of items based on the ETI of the World Economic Forum, which we used as a Strategic Reference Framework”, said Dr. Marcus Merkel, Senior Strategy Manager at EWE AG.

“Furthermore, we introduced a PESTEL-Methodology to jointly identify further items, which we are now transferring together with more than 500 items identified in the reports of the Energy Community, IEA, ACER, DSO Entity (DSO Vision), EDSO for Smart Grids (Technology Radar) and results from our Questionnaire as well as other Best Practices in the final Draft of the DSO Roadmap. We will present preliminary results and an implementation proposal towards the Energy Community in June and further sound the results with DSOs by July 2025,” he added.

Rodon Miraj, Energy Advisor at GIZ, emphasized the vital role of distribution system operators in driving the energy transition at the local level. He noted that the capillary grid managed by DSOs represents the first line of distributed decarbonization efforts, enabling end-consumers to participate through technologies like prosumption and battery storage.

Miraj highlighted the responsibility of DSOs in the Western Balkans for creating the necessary technical and administrative conditions for these innovations to take root quickly.

“GIZ’s Decarbonization Project is supporting all distributors of the region to plan and have a clear roadmap towards established and new goals for 2030 and beyond. DSO roadmaps can be the missing link that connects the high-level Vision, Mission, and Target set by DSOs to the immediate implementation and budgeting efforts,” he said.

He described the Berlin workshop and participation in the Global Forum as a valuable opportunity for Western Balkan DSOs to collaborate on roadmap development and engage directly with leading industry experts.