Co-Simulation of PSS/E, OpenDSS, and PSCAD for Power Systems Stability Analysis With Inverter-Based Resources

The increasing penetration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) is reshaping power system dynamics. IEEE Std. 1547-2018 suggests that distributed energy resources should provide grid services. On the other hand, IBR-driven dynamic events like sub-synchronous oscillations (SSOs) have been reported. These trends require improved modeling capabilities to capture the interactions among transmission and distribution (T&D) systems, IBRs, and conventional resources. This paper presents a co-simulation model integrating PSS/E, OpenDSS, and PSCAD to analyze IBR impacts on the stability of T&D systems. A key challenge is ensuring interoperability among different simulators (interfacing and data flow) while maintaining accuracy. We evaluate two cases: 1) IBR fault ride-through capability during a generation trip contingency and 2) IBR-induced SSOs. This modeling capability enables grid planners and operators assess system reliability, optimize IBR integration, and develop effective mitigation strategies for power systems. To support these efforts, the co-simulation model is publicly available1.