ZerOBNL: A framework for distributed and reproducible co-simulation

Co-simulation combines multiple tools depending on a range of various requirements. This creates a mix of coexisting computation environments and makes co-simulation difficult to deploy and reproduce. On the other hand, due to its partitioned structure, it also offers a way to split and distribute the computation over multiple cores, potentially reducing simulation time. This paper addresses a way for handling and taking advantages of these aspects. An innovative framework providing simplified deployment, distributed computation and encapsulation for enhanced and reproducible co-simulation is presented, based on state-of-the-art open-source information technology tools and applications. By applying this framework to the simulation of a multi-network urban energy system, a proof-of-concept for the presented approach is given. The presented framework intends to enable researchers and engineers to not only simulate complex systems, but also create reproducible execution environments and workflows.