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Advances and Applications in Hybrid Simulation for Future Power and Energy Systems

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2026) | Viewed by 3889

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Interests: power system simulation; power system stability and control
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by decarbonization mandates and the large-scale integration of renewable energy. This paradigm shift is leading to the rise in power electronics-dominated power systems and coupled Multi-Energy Systems (MES), which exhibit complex dynamics across multiple timescales and new forms of instability. Consequently, conventional, purely numerical, simulation methods are increasingly challenged in their ability to provide the requisite accuracy, real-time capability, and validation credibility for system analysis and hardware design.

Hybrid simulation, particularly through Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) methodologies, has emerged as an indispensable technology to address these challenges. By enabling the seamless interaction between physical hardware components and real-time digital models, it creates a high-fidelity environment for the testing, validation, and de-risking of new technologies. This approach serves as a critical bridge between theoretical research and practical engineering deployment, allowing for the accurate investigation of complex phenomena such as wide-band oscillations, the performance validation of grid-forming converters, and the analysis of cyber–physical interactions.

This Special Issue aims to consolidate and showcase state-of-the-art research in hybrid simulation for power and energy systems. We invite original contributions on novel theoretical frameworks, advanced modeling techniques, innovative co-simulation platforms (e.g., CHIL, PHIL), and impactful applications. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the modeling and stability of inverter-based resources, the coordinated simulation of electricity, gas, and heat networks, and the application of hybrid simulation in the development of resilient control and protection schemes. The goal is to foster a deeper understanding and accelerate the adoption of these powerful techniques to support the transition to a secure and sustainable future energy infrastructure.

Dr. Shuqing Zhang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • hybrid simulation
  • hardware-in-the-loop (HIL)
  • power system dynamics
  • multi-energy systems (MES)
  • inverter-based resources (IBRs)

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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43 pages, 8526 KB  
Article
Molten-Salt-Based Thermal Storage for Thermal Power Plant Peaking
by Zhiyuan Yan, Rui Tan, Fanxing Meng, Guo’an Jiang, Fengying Ren, Xinrong He, Tao Zhang and Xiaohan Ren
Energies 2026, 19(5), 1246; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19051246 - 2 Mar 2026
Viewed by 979
Abstract
This study investigates the integration of a molten salt thermal energy storage (TES) system into a 330 MW coal-fired power unit to enhance its operational flexibility and exergy-based performance. Using EBSILON Professional (version 13) software, several heat storage and heat release schemes were [...] Read more.
This study investigates the integration of a molten salt thermal energy storage (TES) system into a 330 MW coal-fired power unit to enhance its operational flexibility and exergy-based performance. Using EBSILON Professional (version 13) software, several heat storage and heat release schemes were modeled and analyzed to assess their effects on turbine performance, coal consumption rate, heat rate, and exergy losses under various load conditions. The results reveal that coupling TES with conventional thermal units can effectively decouple heat and power generation, enabling deep peak-shaving operation while maintaining system efficiency. The six heat storage schemes and seven heat release schemes considered in this study were selected based on the physical characteristics of the 330 MW reheat-steam cycle and the practical constraints of integrating a molten salt TES system into an existing coal-fired unit. Specifically, the schemes were designed to represent all feasible pathways for redirecting thermal energy within the boiler–turbine system, including steam extraction from different turbine stages, reheater-side interventions, and electric-heating-assisted charging options. These schemes also reflect the operational boundaries of the unit, such as allowable extraction fractions, steam temperature limits, and turbine safety margins. The findings demonstrate that molten salt TES can serve as a feasible and efficient pathway for retrofitting existing coal-fired power units to improve load-following capability, reduce fuel consumption, and support grid flexibility under renewable-dominated energy scenarios. Full article
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19 pages, 3543 KB  
Article
Scheme Design and Performance Optimization for a 660 MW Ultra-Supercritical Coal Fired Unit Coupled with a Molten Salt Energy Storage System
by Bin Zhang, Wei Su, Junbo Yang, Congyu Wang, Cuiping Ma, Luyun Wang and Xiaohan Ren
Energies 2025, 18(24), 6604; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18246604 - 17 Dec 2025
Viewed by 809
Abstract
With the continuous increase in the proportion of renewable energy in the power grid, enhanced operational flexibility of the power system is required. As baseload generators, combined heat and power (CHP) units are prime candidates for flexibility retrofits that guarantee grid stability. Among [...] Read more.
With the continuous increase in the proportion of renewable energy in the power grid, enhanced operational flexibility of the power system is required. As baseload generators, combined heat and power (CHP) units are prime candidates for flexibility retrofits that guarantee grid stability. Among the available options, molten-salt thermal energy storage (TES) offers an energetically efficient route to decouple heat and electricity production in CHP plants. In this study, a 660 MW ultra-supercritical coal-fired unit is taken as the object of investigation. Sixteen technical routes incorporating steam extraction and electric heating for thermal energy storage and discharging are systematically designed. Results demonstrate that all the combined schemes significantly improve the operational flexibility of the unit. Among them, the C1-S1 configuration exhibits the most outstanding overall economic performance, with a six-hour thermal storage capacity of 294.34 MWh. The system exergy destruction is measured at 6258 kW, while the round-trip efficiency and thermal efficiency are determined to be 81.11% and 45.48%, respectively. Full article
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19 pages, 9081 KB  
Article
Frequency Regulation Characteristics of Molten Salt Thermal Energy Storage-Integrated Coal-Fired Power Units
by Lin Li, Junbo Yang, Wei Su, Luyun Wang, Jian Liu, Cuiping Ma, Congyu Wang and Xiaohan Ren
Energies 2025, 18(24), 6428; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18246428 - 9 Dec 2025
Viewed by 792
Abstract
The integration of molten salt thermal energy storage (TES) into coal-fired power units offers a viable strategy to improve operational flexibility. However, existing studies have predominantly employed steady-state models to quantify the extension of the unit’s load range, while failing to adequately capture [...] Read more.
The integration of molten salt thermal energy storage (TES) into coal-fired power units offers a viable strategy to improve operational flexibility. However, existing studies have predominantly employed steady-state models to quantify the extension of the unit’s load range, while failing to adequately capture dynamic performance. To address this gap, this study utilizes a validated dynamic model of a molten salt TES-integrated power unit to investigate its dynamic characteristics during frequency regulation. The results indicate that molten salt TES exhibits significant asymmetry between its charging and discharging processes in terms of both the speed and magnitude of the power response. Moreover, under load step scenarios, the TES-integrated unit increases its ramp rate from 1.5% to 8.6% PN/min during load decrease, and from 1.5% to 6.3% PN/min during load increase. Under load ramping scenarios, molten salt TES reduces the integral of absolute error (IAE) to 0.15–0.25 MWh, significantly lower than the 3.21–4.59 MWh of the standalone unit. Additionally, in response to actual AGC commands, molten salt TES reduces non-compliant operation time from 729 s to 256 s and decreases the average power deviation by 33.6%. These improvements also increase the ancillary service revenue by 37.7%, from CNY 3364 to CNY 4632 per hour. Full article
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Review

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21 pages, 2712 KB  
Review
Physics–Data-Integrated Hybrid Simulation for Transient Stability in New Power Systems: Status, Challenges, and Prospects
by Ruiqi Jiao, Shuqing Zhang, Hao Zhang, Beila Deng, Tongtong Zhang, Shaopu Tang, Xianfa Hu and Weijie Zhang
Energies 2026, 19(7), 1687; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19071687 - 30 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 810
Abstract
The strong non-linearity and multi-scale coupling characteristics of massive heterogeneous components in modern power systems pose severe challenges to traditional numerical simulation methods, rendering them inadequate for urgent online real-time assessment. This paper systematically reviews state-of-the-art hybrid transient stability simulation technologies that deeply [...] Read more.
The strong non-linearity and multi-scale coupling characteristics of massive heterogeneous components in modern power systems pose severe challenges to traditional numerical simulation methods, rendering them inadequate for urgent online real-time assessment. This paper systematically reviews state-of-the-art hybrid transient stability simulation technologies that deeply integrate physics and data. It first dissects the critical bottlenecks of traditional numerical simulations—specifically computational inefficiency, convergence fragility, and model fidelity gaps—to elucidate the necessity of evolving toward a new physics–data integration paradigm. Subsequently, the review categorizes current methodologies into three technical dimensions: artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced numerical solvers, AI-based surrogate modeling, and physics-embedded AI modeling. These approaches are synthesized to demonstrate their unique advantages in breaking through computational speed limits, enhancing numerical robustness, and effectively bridging the fidelity gap between simulation models and physical reality. Finally, addressing existing limitations regarding physical consistency and generalization, the paper proposes future research directions, including constructing network architectures with hard physical constraints, enhancing adaptability to complex grid scenarios, and developing self-evolving intelligent simulation frameworks to ensure future grid security. Full article
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