Testing overlay networks in a smart grid using simulated and physical networks

Aggregation and aggregators can play an important role in enabling utilization of end user flexibility for provision of system services. A key element to achieve this is to ensure efficient operation of the aggregator and the aggregator's ICT infrastructure plays a key role in that. Overlay networks has the potential to contribute to efficiently manage the portfolio of controlled units. Overlay networks provide the technology to enable and support distributed and decentralized communication for use with applications in the smart grid, e.g. to locate flexibility in particular network areas or units with certain characteristics or a combination thereof. These applications of overlay networks are very different from traditional use and the approach to testing them has to be adapted to this situation. Since the application scenario is different from traditional overlay network applications, it is unclear how to test, compare and validate the functionality relevant for smart grids. In this paper we examine the topics involved with testing decentralized overlay networks for smart grid applications, for simulated networks, for scalability and as deployed in physical smart grid research networks. We examine how to deploy and manage experiments efficiently and coherently on the physical infrastructure, with the goal of minimizing testing and development turnaround time. A simulation framework is built to support both and used in a case study, where an overlay network application for optimized routing in a smart grid, is tested and validated.