Tools for Analysis and Design of Distributed Resources—Part IV: Future Trends

Real-time testing of new and more sophisticated distributed resource interfaces during transients, representing the different physical parts (mechanical, thermal, hydraulic, chemical, electrical, electronics) of a nonconventional generator in a single platform, or analyzing the interactions of distribution systems with distributed generators, energy markets, and customer behaviors are scenarios that cannot be studied with current software packages. This paper analyzes the present status and discusses the future development of tools that could cope with these simulation challenges. This paper includes test cases that will illustrate the scope of some of these simulation tools.