A review of integrated modeling and simulation of control and communication systems in Smart Grid

In order to provide effective, safe, and dependable grid operation, the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) for real-time monitoring and control of the Smart Grid (SG) has grown in recent years. With such technologies, our system evolved into a complex cyber-physical system (CPS) in which communications networks play an important role in the dynamic performance of SG. Therefore, it is imperative to perform integrated modeling and simulation (IMS) of control and communication systems to evaluate the SG CPS for new control strategies or select appropriate communication technologies for specific applications before implementing them on a larger scale. This paper provides a state-of-the-art literature review about co-simulation, one of the key methods to perform an IMS. The paper starts with a brief review of the SG communication infrastructure, communication, and SG simulators used for co-simulations to give the readers an understanding of the requirements and issues for modeling and simulating SG communication systems. Then, detailed literature about the co-simulation platform covers the individual simulators used, the key features, test case advantages, and the limitations of different co-simulation platforms. In the discussion section, comparative analyses of co-simulation platforms are provided. The review summarizes critical challenges and opportunities in co-simulation, emphasizing the potential of IMS for advancing SG design and operation.