Digitalisation in Energy: New Frontiers for Smart Monitoring

The digitisation of the energy sector represents a strategic lever to respond to global challenges in terms of sustainability, efficiency, interoperability and resilience, ori enting systems towards a full application of the Smart Energy concept. This research investigates the central role played by measurements and Smart Meters in Smart Monitoring processes, a strategic concept in the reference con text, irrespective of the type of energy vector under consideration. The analysis is centred on two pivotal parameters: this investigation elucidates the direct influ ence of Electrical Signature Quality and Monitoring Quality on the performance of advanced digital tools in the smart field, including Load Profiling, Digital Twin, Predictive Diagnosis and Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring. The investigation is conducted with a concrete and methodological approach, analysing the digital po tential of smart meters currently on the market and proposing a new ad-hoc smart meter architecture for the implementation of the aforementioned digital tools. Fur thermore, the research addresses the issue of cyber security, proposing non-invasive methodologies based on side-channel for the protection of critical infrastructures. It demonstrates how electromagnetic emissions can be used to detect potential threats without compromising business continuity. The findings demonstrate that a comprehensive approach to measurement qual ity and digital security can facilitate and expedite the transition to safer, more efficient, and sustainable energy systems. The author posits that Smart Monitor ing not only represents an advanced energy management tool but also a strategic enabler of new services and functionalities to address the challenges of the global energy transition.