Interoperability in Energy Systems: Identifying Challenges and Innovations in Metering Operations and Data Sharing in Germany

The transition of the German energy market towards digitalization and smart grid integration presents both challengesand opportunities in smart metering operations and data sharing. This paper examines the complexities of interoperabilityamong energy market participants, emphasizing the need for robust data handling frameworks as competition increases.Key findings suggest that while submetering is underutilized, its integration into the smart metering infrastructure couldenhance its degree of utilization. The analysis underscores the importance of standardized communication infrastructuresand indicates that star-shaped communication models as well as enhanced Web-APIs offer promising solutions for efficient data flows regarding near-real-time grid status data. Ultimately, the paper advocates for collaborative data exchangethrough cloud-to-cloud solutions, prioritizing data protection and trust among stakeholders.