Articles
Vol. 2 (2026)
Enterprise Architecture Software Tools for Sustainable Smart Energy Governance, Information Systems and Infrastructure: A Multi Criteria Evaluation Across Regulated Sectors from the Czech Republic
Faculty of Economics and Management, Department of Information Technologies Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech Republic
Abstract
Digital transformation (DT) in smart energy systems requires Enterprise Architecture (EA) tools capable of modeling complex digital energy infrastructures, including smart metering ecosystems, distributed energy resources (DERs), flexibility market platforms, and grid‑edge systems. To support these increasingly data‑driven environments, EA tools must provide strong modeling capabilities, interoperability, and governance functions suitable for smart grid and energy platform development. This study applies a structured multi‑criteria evaluation of seven widely used EA tools (Enterprise Architect - Sparx, Archi - freeware, Horizzon - BizzDesign, LeanIX - SAP, Hopex - MEGA International, VisualParadigm - Visual Paradigm, Abacus - Avolution: based on modeling expressiveness, repository features, usability, visualization, and decision‑support functions. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), weights were assigned to reflect priorities of digital energy infrastructures, including DER integration, energy data governance, lifecycle planning, and regulatory compliance. The evaluation, conducted in the energy utilities and public administration sectors in the Czech Republic, highlights significant variation in standards support, integration with smart metering, and collaborative modeling functions relevant to smart grid planning. Findings show that EA tools differ notably in their suitability for representing energy system architectures and supporting sustainable digital transformation. The study offers practical guidance for selecting EA tools aligned with the needs of smart energy organizations pursuing scalable, interoperable, and resilient digital energy ecosystems.
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