PNNL

Abstract

This work presents a review of open-source electric power transmission and distribution systems analysis tools suitable for use by industry professionals and academic researchers. Due to the high complexity of the electric grid, there exist numerous tools and extensive research pertaining to nearly every aspect of the design, operation, and control of transmission and distribution networks. In addition to the commercial tools for planning and operations, multiple national laboratories funded by the US Department of Energy have developed a wide range of free, open-source tools, models, and data reusable by the scientific community for related research. However, due to the absence of a catalog of available tools, models and data, researchers often lack a roadmap of existing capabilities and develop duplicative software and tools. This possible repetition of scientific work wastes efforts that may have been expended on producing newer resources for the research community. This review paper (which is part of a larger survey effort that studied over 400 tools in the transmission, distribution, buildings, and electric vehicles space) outlines selected open-source resources that have been developed in power transmission and distribution systems research. It is anticipated that this work can serve as a guide for industry and academic researchers alike, ensuring that research efforts are well-channeled.