**6. Conclusions**

The initial premise of the presented research was to identify scientific breakthroughs and papers that can be delivered as a working solution for future power grids.

The research was conceived in five key steps that begin with the selection of papers and continues with the modeling of the described procedures and testing of the solutions traceability. Finally, the usefulness and applicability were discussed at the research team level, and conclusions are given in this paper.

Papers with precise models and comprehensive descriptions of computational intelligence–based methods proved to be highly usable in the development of real solutions for Smart Grid operational management. Modern systems for monitoring and

managing an advanced distribution network according to the assumed European Smart Grid framework will have to integrate scientifically validated and model-tested solutions that consistently provide accurate data.

Within the space–time possibilities and within the available literature, the authors of this paper collected, processed, examined and evaluated as many papers as possible, which with their content promise applicability of computational intelligence in real-world systems. If any work was missed, it was certainly not intentional, and the knowledge and information presented in this article were compiled with the idea of serving anyone involved in optimization and managemen<sup>t</sup> in the Smart Grid environment. The presented works systematically and precisely present the advantages of the applicability of metaheuristic methods in the optimization of various challenges in the power industry, with an emphasis on the optimization of operating conditions in the distribution network. Although the emphasis of the paper was placed on metaheuristics—because only with it does it become possible to solve very complex systems—the paper also presents simpler analytical methods that can be used to solve the optimization problems of smaller systems. However, scalability of potential real-world solutions can only be ensured with computational intelligence and advanced custom-made metaheuristics.

This paper illustrates the problem of planning the optimal operation of an advanced distribution network with a significant number of distributed generation units and provides the cognitive process of deciding on the framework for the development of contemporary managemen<sup>t</sup> solutions. Metaheuristic proves to be a necessity in large and complex systems, such as the modern Smart Grid, and modern control solution that integrate metaheuristic methods will provide good-enough solutions for everyday usage. Operators of the future grid will need to settle with such "good-enough" solutions as the grid becomes more complex and variable in nature.

A detailed overview of more than a hundred key papers with important mathematical indicators provides a unique insight into the application of computer intelligence in power engineering. According to the authors of this paper, population methods in a limited search space can yield the best result in terms of repeatability and usability, and with increasing computing power, such optimization procedures based on computational intelligence can take place within the market conditions of real systems.

Finally, methods, procedures and paradigms that can provide reliable operational managemen<sup>t</sup> in advanced distribution networks were explained, and features of each of them were discussed with the mark-up of leading algorithms, PSO and GA, which can be, to a greater or lesser extent, applied in real-world applications.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, M.V. and P.M.; methodology, M.V. and G.H.; validation, Z.B. and S.S.; formal analysis, Z.B.; resources, P.M.; writing—original draft preparation, M.V.; writing— review and editing, M.V. and P.M.; visualization, M.V. and G.H.; revision, M.V. and P.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research was co-funded by project "PEGASOS", through the gran<sup>t</sup> of Croatian Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds "Increasing the development of the new products and services arising from research and development activities—phase II/KK.01.2.1.02" of the program "Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014–2020" from the European Regional Development Fund. The information and views set out in this study are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Union and national implementing bodies. Neither the European Union institutions and bodies nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.

**Acknowledgments:** The authors of this paper express their deepest gratitude to the external domain experts from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology Osijek. Special appreciation authors declare to the experts from Konˇcar—Power Plant and Electric Traction Engineering, Inc., who contributed to validity and analysis. Finally, the authors are grateful to the whole team of Base58 for their technical virtuosity in modeling and testing, administrative skills in project preparation and management, and finally, their motivation and support.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.
