Unlock Capacity through HVDC C&P Replica-as-a-Service Business Model

Real-Time Hardware-in-the-Loop (RT-HIL) testing capabilities. Use cases of a replica include:

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• Software testing

Maintenance training

Operator training

Fault investigation

HMI/SCADA testing

System studies Challenges are that a hardware replica adds to the overall cost of the project, demands a substantial amount of physical space, as well as expensive real-time simulators. Other challenges are to handle the life cycle management of a replica, including both the hardware and the software, as well as to maintain the necessary in-house competence to operate and maintain the replica. This first part of the paper is defining a classification system for replica configurations and analyses the suitability of different configurations for the use cases. The different configurations of replicas defined are dependent on a combination of how extensive the representation is of the following: Main controller cubicle, I/O cubicles and IT/OT layer, as well as if the system is designed with or without redundancy.

The second part of the paper presents a proposal of an alternative operating model to the conventional model of replicas owned by the asset owned to address the scaling challenges of the HVDC industry, denoted as ‘Replica-as-a-Service’ (RaaS). This model is based on vendorowned and maintained test facilities which can provide access on-demand to a configurable replica and the necessary competence to operate it for the desired testing.

Lastly, the paper concludes the RaaS is expected to fulfil much of the same requirements as replicas owned by the asset owner. Also, that shifting use cases from replicas owned by asset owners to the RaaS operating model can reduce both the CAPEX and OPEX for the asset owners, as well as reduce risks related to for example retention of competence to operate the replicas.