Implementation and development of an offline co-simulation testbed for studies of power systems cyber security and control verification

Smart power systems have recently shifted to accommodate distributed control systems, renewable sources of energy, consumer-centric energy management systems, and active distribution systems. The smart grid evolution is modeled by the integration of power systems and a communication network overlay to facilitate a bi-directional flow of information and energy in the grid. This article provides a detailed description of an offline co-simulation testbed for smart grids, that is developed by integrating well-established power and communication systems simulators. The testbed development approach, setup and implementation are described at a detailed level to enable similar test-bed developments. The developed testbed is envisioned as a tool to help smart grid researchers with the study of relevant research problems such as assessing power system resilience against cyber attacks and threats, and verifying the performance of cyber-enabled control schemes.