Project SfP 983805 – SCADA Testbed Simulator Final Report Summary
The power system is the most critical infrastructure for functioning of our society because other critical infrastructures (web, communication, hospitals, etc.) depend on it. Existing complexity has been proved to be a challenge in order of keeping high reliability and safety of the power system. With changes related to deregulated energy markets, high utilization of distributed energy sources and introduction of smart grids, the complexity becomes extremely high.
Project SfP 983805 ‘Designing Intelligent, Resilient, Scalable and Secure Next Generation SCADA Infrastructure’ was granted to Dr. Stefano Zanero (Politecnico di Milano, Italy) and Dr. Zdenko Šimić (University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, Croatia). Project implementation was carried out with support of ten additional internal and external researchers, three PhD students and nine undergraduate students.
Research focus of this project was on establishment of a simulation platform where different threats to the future power system could be investigated. The major goal is to simplify the process of finding better solutions for the optimal system design and sufficient control. This research is based on utilization of novel concepts and tools, using real systems operating conditions as inputs, as well as planned developments of the grid in the light of global policy changes regarding sustainable development. Considering the scope of the problem hybrid approach was selected as a best way to investigate different dimensions of the reliability and safety and to later integrate them in possible whole system solution.
During three years the project has succeeded to utilize different software platforms and realize several systems. Software platforms were used to model and simulate different aspects of problem: physical (PowerWorld), functional (AnyLogic) and structural (Algor and Ansys). Realized systems were used to generate data about real operation and to connect with software platforms. Four systems a built at the campus: smart grid (measurement & control), hybrid renewable system (wind and PV), PV system and Solar characterization system (also installed outside the campus). Created SCADA could be used to interact with simulations and also real systems. This altogether represents complete platform to investigate realistic and simulated complex behavior of emergent phenomena in the power system.
This implementation has resulted in publication of several journal and dozen conference papers. It is clear that this tremendous software and physical implementation presents very solid potential for years of continuous research.
