Development, integration, and demonstration of Advanced software tools in SCADA systems for combining Teslas and EDisons world to reAlize high, medium and LOw voltage hybrid AC/DC gridS

Project Information

DAEDALOS

Grant agreement ID: 101172829

DOI

10.3030/101172829

EC signature date 21 August 2024

Start date 1 September 2024

End date 31 August 2028

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

€ 7 391 325,00

EU contribution

€ 5 996 436,76

Coordinated by

RINA CONSULTING SPA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DAEDALOS (Development, integration, and demonstration of Advanced software tools in SCADA systems for combining Teslas and EDisons world to reAlize high, medium and LOw voltage hybrid AC/DC gridS)

Reporting period: 2024-09-01 to 2026-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The DAEDALOS project addresses the transition of the European power system from traditional AC architectures to highly interconnected hybrid AC/DC grids, driven by large-scale renewable integration and EU targets of 42.5% renewables by 2030. While HVDC technologies support efficient long-distance transmission, their integration into AC grids poses stability challenges, particularly low-frequency oscillations and the lack of standardized mitigation methods. DAEDALOS tackles these issues by strengthening the link between system design, pre-operational planning, and real-time monitoring and control to enhance grid resilience and reliability.
Over 48 months, the project develops an integrated framework and advanced software tools to support the planning, operation, and monitoring of hybrid AC/DC systems within modern SCADA environments. These tools target key instability phenomena using real-time capable algorithms. Their maturity is demonstrated through two realistic demonstrators at the Universities of Aachen and Catalunya, validating the solutions in near-real control room settings and raising readiness from TRL 3 to TRL 6–7.
DAEDALOS aims to deliver measurable scientific, societal, and economic benefits for the European transmission system. Improved coordination between grid planning and operation could reduce dispatch and redispatch costs by up to €100 million annually, while enhanced stability may avoid outages worth about €50 million over ten years. Beyond economic impacts, the project supports the European Green Deal and REPowerEU by enabling a more reliable renewable-based energy system, indirectly contributing to job creation in the wind and solar sectors by 2030.
SSH are embedded to align innovation with societal needs through co-creation and stakeholder engagement activities. This is complemented by a strong commitment to gender equality and oversight by an Ethics Advisory Board ensuring compliance with GDPR and ethical standards.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The technical and scientific activities focus on establishing a robust framework for stability management in hybrid AC/DC and HVDC/MVDC grids. A major achievement is the development of a modular software platform based on standardized interfaces (IEC 61850 MMS and IEEE C37.118) enabling the integration of multi-vendor models into modern SCADA systems. The platform employs an Apache Kafka process bus for real-time data exchange and hosts a DSA decision-support tool with a validated oscillation detection module. In parallel, advanced steady-state and short-circuit analysis tools have been developed using a unified Newton–Raphson solver to accurately model the non-linear behavior and control modes of multiterminal converters. Work is also progressing on optimization-based grid planning and inertia estimation, combining model-based and data-driven methods such as Dynamic Regression and Extension.
Regarding ancillary services, representative case studies for high- and medium-voltage DC architectures have been completed, leading to an extended DC Optimal Power Flow formulation that integrates stability constraints, including frequency limits and RoCoF. Further developments include an enhanced Modular Multilevel Converter model for electromagnetic transient and RMS simulations, acting as a barrier against fault propagation, as well as coordinated frequency and voltage control strategies to mitigate system splits.
To tackle low-frequency oscillations, benchmark systems were established and a reduced-order modal identification tool is nearing completion. Early results demonstrate that dominant oscillatory modes can be reliably identified using simplified linear models, enabling efficient stability screening. In parallel, current industrial practices for Power Oscillation Dampers have been reviewed, and a systematic tuning methodology for large-scale systems is under development to support grid operators in mitigating instabilities.
Two demonstrators have been launched to validate these solutions under realistic conditions. The RWTH demo focuses on voltage control and system split prevention using medium-voltage converters in a hardware-in-the-loop setup, while the UPC demo validates modal identification and damping controllers for synchronous generators and HVDC converters. Key achievements include finalized testbed designs, hardware procurement, and successful local validation of Phasor Measurement Units, providing a quantitative framework to assess the impact of DAEDALOS tools on grid efficiency and reliability.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The DAEDALOS project has delivered a comprehensive set of results bridging power system planning and real-time grid operation. Central to these achievements is a modular software platform built on an Apache Kafka process bus, enabling vendor-independent data exchange between modern SCADA systems and external analytical tools. Key outputs include steady-state and short-circuit analysis tools accounting for the non-linear behavior of power converters, an optimization-based grid planning tool for hybrid AC/DC networks, and advanced algorithms for inertia estimation. In addition, a validated decision support tool was developed to detect low-frequency oscillations using real-time PMU data, alongside innovative ancillary services aimed at preventing system splits and enhancing grid resiliency. These solutions will be validated through two realistic demonstrators at RWTH and UPC, providing near-real control room environments and achieving TRL 6–7.
The impacts of DAEDALOS span scientific, societal, and economic dimensions. Scientifically, advances in oscillation analysis are expected to influence future TSO/DSO requirements, power electronic device design, and related publications and patents. Societally, the project supports the European Green Deal by improving grid reliability and security under high renewable penetration, contributing to CO2 emission reductions. Economically, DAEDALOS solutions could deliver significant savings, including around €100 million annually through redispatch optimization if widely adopted, and €50 million over ten years by avoiding moderate outages. The project also targets entry into the growing digital utility market, forecast to reach nearly $400 billion globally by 2030.
To ensure long-term uptake, several needs must be addressed particularly by identifying gaps in European grid codes and providing policy recommendations for DC technology deployment. Further validation is required to reduce risk and demonstrate interoperability across vendors. Market uptake will rely on tailored business models, structured training, and effective knowledge transfer, while overcoming political, legal, and social barriers will require sustained stakeholder engagement and collaboration with environmental organizations.