Smart and secure integration of renewable energy into the electrical grid

The integration of residential photovoltaic (PV) systems challenges low-voltage grid stability, necessitating strict compliance with modern grid codes such as the widely influential German standard VDE-AR-N 4105. However, a critical disconnect persists: Energy Management Systems (EMS) optimize locally without real-time grid awareness, causing frequent, unnecessary disconnections by protection devices. This work bridges this gap through a co-designed framework that tightly couples a hardware-based Network and System (NS) protection unit (Raspberry Pi) with a predictive EMS (MATLAB linear programming). The NS unit provides real-time grid constraints and predictive violation alerts, enabling the EMS to proactively adjust power flows—preventing breaches before they occur. This transforms compliance from a passive safety requirement into an active control objective. Simulation and hardware validation confirm the strategy ensures full VDE-AR-N 4105 compliance while improving economics and resilience, guaranteeing 92.8% energy autonomy during grid disturbances. The framework represents a shift from reactive protection to proactive, grid-supportive energy management.