Distributed Real-Time Simulations of Power Systems: A Review

Real-time simulations (RTS) are widely used to study the behavior of power systems and their components. However, significant computational resources are required to model large-scale grids and guarantee high-fidelity simulations. To alleviate this issue, distributed real-time simulations (D-RTS) have risen as functional alternatives that can combine remote and multi-vendor resources enabling large-scale power system simulations. The utilization of D-RTS can increase computational capability and improve the flexibility of resources. This paper provides the essential context of existing D-RTS use cases, focusing on setups, subsystem configurations, and type of simulator. Based on a direct comparison of existing use cases, this paper identifies the features of different applications, current research gaps, future opportunities for the development of D-RTS and their potential to facilitate the testing of advanced technologies in modern power systems.