*4.2. Conclusions*

This review paper is a comprehensive analysis of various aspects of smart grid software architecture. It requires multi-disciplinary research, which involves power system, communication, and information technology. Even though various researchers follow a different naming convention for their layered architecture, a commonality exists in the functionality. A synergy in the functionality of the layers is also observed in many research papers. Agent technology directly enables all required features in a smart grid due to their autonomous nature. Self-centric (not Master–Slave) agents are directly suitable for the distributed smart grid software architecture. Most of the research work focuses on building a standard software architecture based on smart grid elements. The experimental methods and interfacing technologies are also analyzed with software architectures available in the literature. Some architectures, such as ScorePlus and GridOptics, are reconfigurable and implemented in hardware. BEMOSS is an open source software architecture for building energy management. FREEDM, known as Energy Internet, implements various smart grid elements and features. Basic research, architectural proposals, application of adjacent technologies, all demonstration with pilot projects shall all lead to smarter (i.e., intelligent, automated, decentralized, self-healing, adaptable, dynamic) intelligent power grids.

**Author Contributions:** All authors contributed equally to the final dissemination of the research investigation as a full article.

**Funding:** The authors would like to acknowledge the funds received from the VIT University, Vellore, India. The project VEGA 1/0187/18 for its support (VEGA is Slovak Research and Development Agency with the seat in Bratislava). The project title is Development of Optimal Electromechanical Systems with High Dynamics.

**Acknowledgments:** The authors would like to acknowledge the technical assistance received from the Center for Bioenergy and Green Engineering, Center for Reliable Power Electronics (CORPE), Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark for making this technical survey a full article.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
