News on the ACS Global Real-Time Super Lab project

The innovative project ‚Global Real-Time Super Lab‘ of the ACS for coupling ten simulators for a transatlantic real-time simulation is characterized by the international cooperation. Here, scientists from the USA and Europe bring their knowledge, their experiences and their most efficient real-time simulators together in order to prepare the global networks of the energy supply for the enormous challenges of the future. In the USA, three national research institutes and three universities are involved. The European part is undertaken by the Politecnico di Torino in Italy and the Automation of Complex Power Systems (ACS) of the E.ON Energy Research Center of the RWTH Aachen, headed by Professor Antonello Monti. It is studied among others, how a data- and energy exchange can also be used over great distances to keep the electricity supply and the demand for electricity in balance and to avoid extensive blackouts, but at least to reduce their duration and consequences. Currently, such systems function on a continental scale at best. Ultimately, the scientists have a common vision: the development of a reliable and, to a large extent, against external influences protected – resilient – global supply network with direct current bridges between the continents and systems.