Navigating the energy transition: Identifying critical success factors for ancillary services provision and sustainable energy solutions in Germany

The provision of ancillary services (AS) is subject to changes associated with the energy transition. Due to new requirements, the power supply quality, reliability, and safety must be achieved by simultaneously complying with technological, economic, and environmental constraints. To mitigate these challenges, we derive factors responsible for a successful venture of all stakeholders, referred to as critical success factors (CSFs). In a Design Science Research (DSR)-based approach, twelve specific CSFs are deduced from expert interviews with transmission-, plant-, and distribution system operators. These CSFs are evaluated in a focus group discussion with academic experts afterward. We summarize practical results and findings from failed and successful projects concerning energy trading strategies, asset portfolios, grid expansion, and communication technologies. We contribute to AS knowledge and derive recommendations for further research and practice.