Guest Editorial: Advanced Hardware-in-the-Loop Methodologies for Breakthrough Validation and Testing of Next Generation Power Systems

Power system validation approaches, such as digital real-time simulation (DRTS), controller hardware-in-the-loop (CHIL), power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL), and geographically distributed real-time simulation, have played a vital role in supporting the development and deployment of novel technologies in the power industry. These methods have attracted significant interest from both academic researchers and industrial practitioners.

However, the complexity of power systems is rapidly increasing with the emergence of a smarter grid that accommodates ever-higher penetrations of distributed generation, novel control and protection devices, and advanced monitoring systems. This evolution is crucial in the run-up to realizing net-zero targets. Consequently, this increasing complexity presents novel challenges to existing validation approaches.

There is a growing need for novel techniques in DRTS and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) methodologies to support the smooth transition to net-zero power systems. These techniques must identify the intricate dependencies and interactions within holistic power systems and enable testing of the interactions between physical power apparatus/networks and complex systems under broad operating conditions.

This Special Section aims to present novel contributions, new methodologies, and advanced setups that address key challenges of real-time HIL approaches for validating complex power systems and smarter grids. Issues, such as stability, accuracy, and practical implementation of new interface algorithms, as well as the application of HIL simulation to emerging research problems in power systems, are particularly covered.