A groundbreaking consortium project called Understanding Large and cOmplex Power sYstems (UTOPYS) enables researchers to establish the world’s largest research cluster for real-time energy systems research. The project is led by principal investigator Prof. Peter Palensky from Delft University of Technology, and consists of eight Dutch knowledge institutions and SURF - the IT cooperative for education and research. It has received an impressive €16.5 million grant through the Large-Scale Research Infrastructure (LSRI) program of the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The University of Twente is one of the partners.
Thanks to the development of this state-of-the-art infrastructure, scientists will be able to explore new theories and methods for modelling, controlling, optimising, and designing the complex energy systems of the future and their interactions with society in the coming century.
A unique infrastructure
The new research infrastructure is the first of its kind worldwide. It will be capable of dynamically representing complex energy systems - allowing researchers to simulate and study the energy system of the future before it is built. This unique platform makes it possible to investigate crucial phenomena such as cyber-physical dynamics, hidden instability modes, complex controller interactions, swarm behaviour, and cyber vulnerabilities - all key challenges that future energy scientists must be able to master.
Gerwin Hoogsteen: "This impressive infrastructure marks the beginning of a further scaling up of Twente’s bottom-up approach to energy management for a sustainable future. For the first time, we will be able to study the effects of our optimisation algorithms - which control millions of distributed smart devices - within a larger physical network environment. This insight is not only crucial for the security of the energy supply but also for making distributed control systems resilient against, for example, cyberattacks."
Nataly Bañol Arias: "Moreover, these control actions are executed by power electronics-based devices, which form the backbone of modern energy systems and enable the control and integration of distributed energy resources. However, these devices are often designed as independent ‘black box’ systems - without taking into account their dynamic interactions at the system level. At the University of Twente, we are bridging the gap between power electronics and energy management through real-time control - to study these interactions and enhance the grid stability and interoperability of future electricity networks."
The necessity and urgency
Energy systems worldwide face a range of challenges. The electrification of transport, heating, and industry leads to unprecedented loads and congestion, while distributed renewable energy sources such as solar panels and the growing number of digital assets further increase complexity and threaten grid stability. At the same time, the demand for national autonomy and resilience calls for a fundamental reconsideration of how we design and operate our energy networks.
A global leader in the field
The consortium already has experience in creating and operating smaller versions of such digital twins. However, the new infrastructure will elevate these activities to an entirely new level - entire countries can be replicated and analysed, as well as technologies and systems that do not yet exist.
