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The paper highlights the need for an Active System Management (ASM) of distribution networks as a key tool for the efficient and secure integration of a high share of Distributed Energy Resources (DER). The paper provides technical and regulatory recommendations that mainly focus on distributed generation but are also largely applicable to flexible loads, electric vehicles and storage.

The 3rd Energy Package stipulates the implementation of network codes in the EU member states. These codes are expected to help overcome the major challenges of the electric system: accommodating a significant amount of renewable energy sources (RES), preserving security of supply, and market integration. They are elaborated in a formal process (part 1) and will cover a wide spectrum of stakeholders' activities (part 2). Distribution system operators (DSOs), as pivotal stakeholders in the electric system's structural paradigm shift, are closely committed to the process, contributing with their comments to its improvement (part 3). The network codes address issues with direct strategic impact on their business (part 4). This article analyses the development of the network codes from a DSO perspective, with a focus on the draft technical codes that were most advanced at the time of writing.