The Advanced Grid Laboratory for Cyber-Physical Energy System Applications (ANGLE) was established in 2021 by Profs. Konstantinou and Ahmed, at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, to lead and advance research in the field of cyber-physical energy systems technology with an emphasis on real-time industrial control applications, critical smart grid infrastructure, cyber-secure and resilient integration of renewable energy resources, and to develop an engineering and science education program to train the next generation of power grid engineers.

What is ANGLE?

ANGLE is an electric power research laboratory with grid modelling simulation capabilities and expertise.

What does ANGLE do?

ANGLE conducts collaborative research with utilities, universities and grid tech companies focused on facilitating stakeholders in solving grid-related challenges.

Vibrant research

ANGLE has developed a testing facility aimed at advancing cyber-physical energy systems innovation and application for the future power grid.

Multidisciplinary staff

The lab is supported by a research team comprised of dedicated and highly skilled researchers, scientists, faculty, engineers, and students, recruited from across the globe.

ANGLE facilities

The 1,000 m² facility for research, development, test and demonstration is being under development and located on the KAUST campus (Building 5, Level 2), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.

State-of-the-art power equipment

Real-time digital simulators, power amplifiers, grid simulators, emulated PV supplies, smart inverters, AC/DC programmable loads, network simulators, protection relays, real-time automation and programmable logic controllers, phasor measurement units (PMUs), smart meters, among others.

Overview configuration of ANGLE testbed

Real-time simulators

The real-time simulators mimic the physical system and provide the full system response. This produces a high fidelity representation of the transient and dynamic behavior of complex power systems.

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Power amplifiers

Power amplifiers are employed for high speed and low latency closed loop communications for real time digital simulators. In real devices such as DERs, loads can be interfaced using a power amplifier for running power hardware in the loop (PHIL) studies.

Grid simulation

Grid simulators are capable of emulating varying grid conditions to facilitate the testing of grid-connected equipment, thereby visualize power system dynamics. This is achieved by combining real-time simulators with the Shaheem III supercomputer.

Protection relays

Power system protection relays integrated with real time simulators perform relaying action and supports various communication protocols such as DNp3 and IEC 61850. This allows testing the relays' interoperability.