Using Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop Experiments together with Co-simulation for the Holistic Validation of Cyber-Physical Energy Systems

TL;DR

This paper explores combining co-simulation and Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop experiments to create a comprehensive validation environment for complex cyber-physical energy systems like smart grids.

Contribution

It introduces a joint setup of co-simulation and hardware-in-the-loop techniques, addressing technical challenges for holistic smart grid validation.

Findings

Combined approach provides realistic hardware behavior simulation.

Joint setup enhances the validation of complex cyber-physical interactions.

Addresses key technical challenges in integrating co-simulation with hardware-in-the-loop.

Abstract

Composed of a large variety of technologies and applications with unprecedented complexity, the smart grid, as a cyber-physical energy system, needs careful investigation of the interactions between the various domains involved, especially the coupling between the power and information systems. In this paper, two modern ways of modeling and simulating complex cyber-physical energy systems are considered: Co-simulation and Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop experiments. An analysis of these two approaches shows that a complementary and joint setup with realistic behaviors of hardware equipment under a variety of complex environments, co-simulated by several simulators from different domains, create a complete and high performance environment to achieve a holistic approach for smart grid validation and roll out. In the scope of coupling these two techniques, major technical challenges are identified and advanced solutions are outlined.