The onslaught of advanced technologies is going to significantly impact our energy systems, and implies an essential re-engineering of the infrastructure to enable new and legacy energy systems to work together. More broadly, the interconnectedness of infrastructure systems, both physical and cyber—coupled with factors including climate change, population shifts and aging infrastructure—amplify the risk to infrastructure and community resilience. How do we best address these changes and adapt today’s infrastructure to tomorrow’s needs?

Modeling and simulation (M&S) tools are vital to understand the vulnerabilities of both individual infrastructures and the entire interconnected system, as well as to analyze and predict their performance. This report, Modeling and Simulation: Envisioning Interconnected Infrastructure Systems, traces the evolution of M&S, and the challenges and opportunities associated with M&S projects. We also explore the work going on at laboratories, universities and utilities—and what’s next. The report also includes a detailed appendix of M&S offerings.

Key findings from the report include:

  • Although power system or communication network simulators are being used extensively in both domains, it is the combined simulation of the power system and communication network that is critical to explore further.
  • Smart grids promise to facilitate the integration of highly variable and widely distributed resources such as solar and wind power. Likewise, new types of loads, such as plug-in electric vehicles and their associated vehicle-to-grid potential, will offer opportunities. However, these technologies will require the use of advanced control techniques for which M&S can be an enabler.
  • The ever-increasing integration and deployment of wind, solar and electric vehicle resources into the grid will force drastic changes in rate structures, government and utility incentives, customer loyalty, the sale of excess consumer electricity to a utility, the ownership of microgrids, and the consumption of power. States would be well advised to begin discussion and planning to address these variables before they are plopped in their laps as realities.
  • The basic models for various dynamic equipment such as smart inverters, battery storage and grid power electronics must continue to evolve. Today, most of these models lack the degree of accuracy necessary to simulate the effects of placing multiple devices on a single feeder. Efforts to improve these models need to continue in the realm of open-source analysis and simulation solutions such as OpenDSS and GridLAB-D.

Organizations mentioned in the report include:

  • Alstom
  • American Electric Power
  • Argonne National Laboratory
  • Battelle
  • BMW
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Duke Energy
  • Electric Power Research Institute
  • Georgia Tech Research Institute
  • Google
  • Hawaiian Electric Companies
  • Johnson Controls Inc.
  • Joint Center for Energy Storage Research
  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • New Power Technologies, Inc.
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District
  • San Diego Gas & Electric
  • Siemens
  • SolarCity
  • Tennessee Valley Authority
  • S. Department of Energy
  • S. Department of Homeland Security
  • University of Chicago
  • WiTricity Corp.

Offerings and tools discussed include:

  • Cymdist
  • DigSilent Power Factory
  • EMTP-RV
  • ETAP PSMS
  • EuroStag
  • GridLAB-D
  • GridSim
  • GridSpice
  • HOMER
  • IBCN
  • Matlab/Simulink
  • NeSSi (Network Security Simulator)
  • Network Simulator
  • OMNeT++
  • OPNET Modeler
  • Opal-RT
  • OpenDSS
  • PowerWorld Simulator
  • PSCAD/EMTDC
  • Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS)
  • Siemens Power Systems Simulator (PSS)
  • Smart Grids Information & Communication (SGiC)