Virtual integration of laboratories over long distance for real-time co-simulation of power systems

The interest in the virtual integration of hardware and software assets located at geographically dispersed locations, although not new, has spiked recently. However, realizing joint real-time simulation in connected laboratories is posing new challenges. This paper discusses the generalized requirements of a framework for the virtual integration of laboratories and presents the architecture of the platform that integrates two real-time digital simulators (RTDS located at ACS, RWTH Aachen University, Germany, and OPAL-RT at Politecnico di Torino, Italy). The platform enables remote and online monitoring of the entire interconnected system which is a step towards developing Simulation as a Service concept. The application of this platform for real-time co-simulation of interconnected transmission and distribution systems is demonstrated.