Performance testing Smart Grid applications using a distributed co-simulation approach

Co-simulation is an established approach for Smart Grid simulations as it allows to break down the very complex system into sub-systems. The modularity of co-simulation environments makes easy to distribute it across different sites. One reason for such a distribution may be, that this way confidential software can stay within its secure domain. However the transmission of data between the sites is time consuming. This paper demonstrates how Smart Grid applications can be tested using a co-simulation approach. It investigates the costs of such an approach by measuring the time required for data transmission in a case study.