Cloud-Based Simulation of a Smart Power Grid

Is it feasible to automatically generate a cloud environment for applications based on a dynamic computational model when the actual work flow changes in time? We discuss the answer to this question in the context of a complex application, the simulation of a smart grid. We argue that the IaaS cloud delivery model offers enough flexibility and that the Amazon Web Services have evolved to the point when automatic generation of a computing environment is not only feasible, but also leads to an efficient computing infrastructure. In this paper we develop a a model of a smart power grid and then investigate the means to reduce the time needed for the automatic generation of the simulation environment and to reduce the overall cost of the simulation.