Real-Time Simulation and Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing for the Evolving Power Grid
The transformation of power grids is accelerating with the integration of inverter-based resources (IBRs), widespread deployment of EV charging infrastructure, and the growing energy demands of datacenters and other large loads. These changes introduce unprecedented challenges in system stability, protection, and cybersecurity. Traditional validation and testing methods, for example, with offline simulation or lab-testing, have limitations in addressing these complexities. With offline simulations, the time required to run simulations that have sufficient fidelity including real-world behavior of components, can be a limiting factor. On the other side, creating lab tests that can be scaled is often not possible.
Real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing have emerged as essential tools to validate and de-risk new technologies, covering a wide range of test cases under realistic conditions. These approaches extend the toolchain of engineers, enabling them, for example, to model highly dynamic behaviors, assess grid-forming inverter performance, and integrate blackbox controllers that ensure a high level of fidelity while respecting intellectual property constraints. By coupling RMS and EMT domains through large-scale co-simulation in real-time, researchers can analyze interactions across multiple time scales and voltage levels, ensuring robust system design.
Real-time platforms also allow low-threshold testing of protection devices and controllers, accelerating commissioning and improving confidence in planning decisions. Furthermore, cybersecurity considerations demand integrated testing of communication protocols as well as methods to increase resilience against cyber-physical threats, and this is a critical area where real-time simulation can offer benefits. Other key emerging trends include power hardware-in-the-loop validation of grid-forming units, component and system-level testing of hybrid AC/DC control architectures, and the use of AI for simulation-based testing.
This webinar, organized by IEEE Industry Applications Society, will explore these advancements, highlighting how real-time simulation and HIL testing empower stakeholders to address evolving grid challenges and ensure reliable, secure, and sustainable power systems, and showcase them in real-world application
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Dr Mohamed Dahidah,
Chair of IEEE IAS Chapter, UK and Ireland Section
mohamed.dahidah@ncl.ac.uk
Dr Yahya Naderi,
Secretary of IEEE IAS Chapter, UK and Ireland Section
dnaderi@spenergynetworks.co.uk
- Starts 08 December 2025 09:31 PM UTC
- Ends 18 December 2025 10:30 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Sebastian of OPAL-RT TECHNOLOGIES
Real-Time Simulation and Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing for the Evolving Power Grid
The transformation of power grids is accelerating with the integration of inverter-based resources (IBRs), widespread deployment of EV charging infrastructure, and the growing energy demands of datacenters and other large loads. These changes introduce unprecedented challenges in system stability, protection, and cybersecurity. Traditional validation and testing methods, for example, with offline simulation or lab-testing, have limitations in addressing these complexities. With offline simulations, the time required to run simulations that have sufficient fidelity including real-world behavior of components, can be a limiting factor. On the other side, creating lab tests that can be scaled is often not possible.
Real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing have emerged as essential tools to validate and de-risk new technologies, covering a wide range of test cases under realistic conditions. These approaches extend the toolchain of engineers, enabling them, for example, to model highly dynamic behaviors, assess grid-forming inverter performance, and integrate blackbox controllers that ensure a high level of fidelity while respecting intellectual property constraints. By coupling RMS and EMT domains through large-scale co-simulation in real-time, researchers can analyze interactions across multiple time scales and voltage levels, ensuring robust system design.
Real-time platforms also allow low-threshold testing of protection devices and controllers, accelerating commissioning and improving confidence in planning decisions. Furthermore, cybersecurity considerations demand integrated testing of communication protocols as well as methods to increase resilience against cyber-physical threats, and this is a critical area where real-time simulation can offer benefits. Other key emerging trends include power hardware-in-the-loop validation of grid-forming units, component and system-level testing of hybrid AC/DC control architectures, and the use of AI for simulation-based testing.
This webinar, organized by IEEE Industry Applications Society, will explore these advancements, highlighting how real-time simulation and HIL testing empower stakeholders to address evolving grid challenges and ensure reliable, secure, and sustainable power systems, and showcase them in real-world application
Biography:
Sebastian Hubschneider completed his studies in electrical engineering and information technology at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in June 2015. Following his master's degree, he worked as a research associate at the Institute of Electric Energy Systems and High-Voltage Technology at KIT. In 2022, he successfully defended his PhD thesis on Power Hardware-in-the-Loop systems and their application in distribution system testing.
Since April 2022, Sebastian has been working as an R&D Engineer and PHIL specialist at the German subsidiary of OPAL-RT TECHNOLOGIES and currently leads the R&D team. In this role, he focuses on digital twins, real-time simulation, power grid simulation, Power Hardware-in-the-Loop, and various research projects in these fields
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Ravinder of OPAL-RT TECHNOLOGIES
Real-Time Simulation and Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing for the Evolving Power Grid
The transformation of power grids is accelerating with the integration of inverter-based resources (IBRs), widespread deployment of EV charging infrastructure, and the growing energy demands of datacenters and other large loads. These changes introduce unprecedented challenges in system stability, protection, and cybersecurity. Traditional validation and testing methods, for example, with offline simulation or lab-testing, have limitations in addressing these complexities. With offline simulations, the time required to run simulations that have sufficient fidelity including real-world behavior of components, can be a limiting factor. On the other side, creating lab tests that can be scaled is often not possible.
Real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing have emerged as essential tools to validate and de-risk new technologies, covering a wide range of test cases under realistic conditions. These approaches extend the toolchain of engineers, enabling them, for example, to model highly dynamic behaviors, assess grid-forming inverter performance, and integrate blackbox controllers that ensure a high level of fidelity while respecting intellectual property constraints. By coupling RMS and EMT domains through large-scale co-simulation in real-time, researchers can analyze interactions across multiple time scales and voltage levels, ensuring robust system design.
Real-time platforms also allow low-threshold testing of protection devices and controllers, accelerating commissioning and improving confidence in planning decisions. Furthermore, cybersecurity considerations demand integrated testing of communication protocols as well as methods to increase resilience against cyber-physical threats, and this is a critical area where real-time simulation can offer benefits. Other key emerging trends include power hardware-in-the-loop validation of grid-forming units, component and system-level testing of hybrid AC/DC control architectures, and the use of AI for simulation-based testing.
This webinar, organized by IEEE Industry Applications Society, will explore these advancements, highlighting how real-time simulation and HIL testing empower stakeholders to address evolving grid challenges and ensure reliable, secure, and sustainable power systems, and showcase them in real-world application
Biography:
Ravinder Venugopal is OPAL-RT’s vice-president of business development and R&D(EMEA). He has over 30 years of experience in real-time simulation, dynamic system modeling and control system development in the energy, aerospace and automotive sectors. He holds a Ph. D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and is passionate about the transition of research to industry practice
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