PSS®E – high-performance transmission planning and analysis software

PSS®E – your high-performance transmission planning and operations software for the power industry

PSS®E is used in over

0 countries

  • and offers the distinct advantage of being one of the leading power transmission simulation and analysis tools in the world.

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Advanced Linear Analysis Webinar
Watch Webinar | On-demand

Unlock faster decision-making with the PSS®E Advanced Linear Analysis add-on module

Watch the webinar to learn how the new PSS®E Advanced Linear Analysis add-on module unlocks advanced use cases accurately and efficiently through linearization, including: transfer limit analysis, security constrained economic dispatch (SCED), advanced contingency analysis and impact and sensitivity analysis.  

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PSS®E software

Providing an industry benchmark for simulation results

PSS®E is used by planning and operations engineers, consultants, universities, and research labs around the world. PSS®E allows you to perform a wide variety of analysis functions, including power flow, dynamics, short circuit, contingency analysis, optimal power flow, voltage stability, transient stability simulation, and much more. 

Find your application

Transmission

Transmission

  • ­Transmission planning
  • Transmission operations planning
Generation

Generation

  • Generation planning for IPPs
  • Generation interconnection studies for ISOs/RTOs
Renewables and integrated T&D planning

Renewables and integrated T&D planning

Available by expanding PSS®E with PSS®SINCAL:

  • Integrated transmission and distribution (T&D) planning
  • Renewable analysis
  • Distributed energy resource (DER) penetration planning and studies
PSS®E for transmission planning and operations
PSS®E offers a wide range of solutions and clear advantages for transmission planning and operations.
PSS®E for generation
Today’s power generation faces numerous challenges. PSS®E provides the core analysis and automation functions that are needed for the most accurate generation planning outcomes.
PSS®E for distributed energy resources (DER) and integrated T&D analysis
When it comes to distributed energy resources and integrated T&D analysis, PSS®E is the right choice with many solutions and benefits.

Improve efficiency and ensure reliability

Benefits of using PSS®E

  • Comprehensive modeling capabilities that enable sophisticated analyses and accuracy, while also saving time
  • Improved system reliability while saving and reducing infrastructure costs
  • Improved work processes and efficiency
  • Integration into a client’s workflow via built-in Python APIs
  • Rapid assessments provide fast responses to constantly changing network conditions and the resulting effects
  • Fast and easy anticipation of network problems and analyses of alternatives
  • Calculation of the area exchanges in the planning network model

Unique advantages of PSS®E

  • Trusted results that are used as benchmarks in the industry and academic literature
  • Data and models that are easily exchangeable with other entities across the industry
  • Access to resources: rich ecosystem of documentation, online forums, script libraries, model libraries, and other fellow PSS®E users around the world
  • Interoperability with an enormous landscape of other industry tools
  • Vast automation and customization potential via APIs, which are among the most flexible in the industry and are based on open Python™ technology

Powerful, customizable, and fully-featured software

PSS®E: Steady-state stability – PV results (bus voltages)
PSS®E slider diagrams with geographical map backgrounds
Example of diagrams in PSS®E
Example of diagrams in PSS®E
PSS®E: Traditional bus-branch single-line diagram with no breaker outages
Traditional bus-branch single-line diagram with no breaker outages
PSS®E: Node-breaker ring-bus substation diagram with a breaker outage
Node-breaker ring-bus substation diagram with a breaker outage

PSS®E standard features

  • Fast and robust power flow solution for network models of up to 200,000 buses
  • Lightning-fast steady-state contingency analysis, including automatic corrective actions and remedial action system modeling
  • Full node-breaker support for detailed modeling of substation topology
  • Automated PV/QV analysis with plot generation
  • Powerful program automation and customization with fully-featured Python® API
  • Balanced and unbalanced fault analysis and contingency analysis (deterministic and probabilistic)
  • Comprehensive power flow and dynamics model library, including emerging technologies such as advanced FACTS devices and wind turbines
  • Code-based, user-written model building
  • Powerful, easy-to-use integrated plot facility
  • Graphical construction of user-defined controller models
  • Local Model Management functionalities to enable a user to seamlessly manage the various files (base case, network models, project changes, etc.) required to build new cases. 
Product News!

Optimize your workflow with the new built-in local edition of the Model Management module

No longer waste valuable time or sacrifice model accuracy by manually maintaining your various case files, projects, changes, and more. PSS®E now includes a new base functionality database that enables you centrally manage the various files and data required to build new cases. This new module enables you to (1) Easily build, store and manage all your case files directly in PSS®E, (2) Seamlessly record and track your changes, and (3) Start visualizing projects with an interactive timeline view.  

 

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Additional Modules and Tools

Extend your PSS®E capabilities

PSS®E optional add-on modules and companion extension tools are designed based on user needs. Learn more and request a free trial below.

Advanced Linear Analysis 

Today, with smart technologies and alternative energy resources, our power grid is changing constantly. To stay current, users need to determine the transmission transfer capability by simulating network conditions with equipment outages during changing network conditions and by simulating generation dispatch in an efficient manner. Power system planners and operators are typically using in-house, excel-based, and nonintegrated tools that can be error prone and time consuming to update.
 
Building on the basic linear analysis capabilities in PSS®E, the new PSS®E Advanced Linear Analysis add-on module enables you to calculate linear distribution factors and determine analytics about your network topology to perform transfer limit analysis, security constrained economic dispatch, advanced contingency analysis and impact and sensitivity analysis.

Advanced Contingency Analysis and RAS

Extended tools for allowing PSS®E users to perform strong power flow and contingency analysis customizations, including the ability to model Remedial Action Schemes (RAS) and Special Protection Systems (SPS). Includes fast PSS®E contingency analysis results APIs, contingency results to database APIs, power flow and contingency analysis Python extension framework and functions for complex, user-defined RAS and SPS schemes.

Dynamic Simulation

The PSS®E Dynamic Simulation module is a versatile tool to investigate system response to disturbances that cause large and sudden changes in the power system. The dynamic simulation module employs a vast library of built-in models for modeling different types of equipment, and with capability to create user defined models of any complexity. An integrated dynamic simulation plotting package allows for quick generation of plotting with ability to export to several popular graphic formats.

Geomagnetic Induced Currents (GIC)

Power system planners and operators require technical tools to conduct studies to assess the impact of GIC currents in the power grid and prepare mitigation measures. The value added GIC module for PSS®E meets this requirement using the latest method of calculation recommended by NERC. The method used is induced voltages in transmission lines from voltage sources.

Model Management

Centrally manage all key PSS®E data, files, projects, changes, etc., across time horizons – from directly within PSS®E. Lightweight, easy-to-use, and barely any IT burden to deploy. Instantly construct and validate scenarios and base cases on demand. This can be used to functionally replace the “Open Case” step in PSS®E with a “Load Model Definition” step. It allows you to record projects directly in PSS®E (editing the network data through the data grids or slider diagrams), and add these project definitions directly into the model database. The module supports a batch mode for streamlining model series development for regional model development efforts and automatic next-day model building for operations studies.

 

It is fully scalable and suitable for small to medium size modeling team. Unlock the Standard Edition (fees apply) to bring your planning team collaboration to the next level. Work simultaneously on the same base case but different projects, combine those projects to a new scenario and share it with the team without leaving the PSS®E environment. Continue your work on another day and get directly the information about the recent changes of your colleagues. Don’t waste your time with collecting and maintaining your specific model copy any longer.

CIM Importer

Import CIM models from other systems (e.g. EMS) directly into PSS®E, allowing model comparison and validation between operations and planning, model maintenance, data interoperability and exchange, simplified NERC-MOD-33 compliance, plus many more uses!

Short Circuit Analysis

The PSS®E Short Circuit module has a number of short circuit calculation algorithms to meet the diverse needs of fault analyses. All algorithms are self-contained analyses in PSS®E. They require a valid power flow working case and the power system sequence data.

Optimal Power Flow (OPF)

The Optimal Power Flow (OPF) module goes beyond traditional load flow analysis to provide the ability to fully optimize and refine your transmission systems. OPF improves the efficiency of power system performance studies by adding intelligence to the load flow solution process. Whereas the conventional load flow relies on the engineer to systematically investigate a variety of solutions before arriving at a satisfactory or good solution, OPF automatically adjusts controls to determine the best solution.

Parallel Dynamics

Optional add-on module for PSS®E that provides up to 25 x speedup of dynamics simulations on a single workstation. It allows you to run multiple simulations in parallel by deploying a single simulation on each CPU core/thread of your workstation. This allows you to accomplish in minutes what normally takes hours! Easy to deploy – simple installation with no IT burden. Easy-to-use – immediate benefits, without a big learning curve.

Transmission Line Parameter Calculation

The Transmission Line Calculator module calculates branch impedances from line geometry models. It is also known as the Line Properties Module.

Graphical Model Builder (GMB)

The Graphical Model Builder (GMB) module, powered by PSS®SINCAL Platform, is a powerful and easy-to-use dynamics model development tool based on graphic representation of control block diagrams. Accurate power system planning requires that precise models be used in the simulation software. PSS®E software is designed for dynamic modeling of complex systems. GMB allows specialized modeling by supporting both standard and non-standard dynamic models.

PSS®E-PSCAD Data Conversion Module (E-Tran)

Directly translate PSS®E network models into high fidelity PSCADTM electromagnetic transient models. Complex PSCADTM machine and HVDC models can then be integrated into this network model for sophisticated analysis. PSS®E and PSCADTM are the most widely used and trusted tools in their respective domains – now you have the ability to simplify and streamline your workflows involving these two tools.

PSS®E-PSCAD Co-Simulation (E-Tran Plus for PSS®E)

Hybrid simulation interface between PSCADTM EMT and PSS®E transient stability applications. Allows complex PSCADTM models to communicate with a PSS®E transient stability time domain simulation. The PSCADTM side system equivalent gets updates from PSS®, and the PSS®E side gets updates from the PSCADTM models at each time step. This hybrid simulation allows dynamic system equivalents in PSCADTM, more accurate model behavior in PSS®E, and different versions of PSS®E to run simultaneously.

Small-Signal Stability Analysis

Small-Signal Stability Analysis module, powered by PSS®SINCAL Platform, allows users to perform small-signal stability, sub-synchronous resonance, eigenvalue analysis, and power system stabilizer tuning.

Learn more

Download the PSS®E brochure

PSS®E updates

What's new in PSS®E?

You asked - we listened. The latest PSS®E releases introduce new features inspired by user ideas from the PSS® Ideas Portal and industry feedback.


Upgraded Contingency Analysis-

added DC-based Preventive Security Constrained Optimal Power Flow (DCPSCOPF) solution for obtaining a fast solution to minimize control adjustments subject to operation limits constraints

 

Additional Report Tables
 access five additional Report Tables: PSCOPF, DC PSCOPF, AC and DC corrective actions, and RAS reports

 

Dynamic simulation updates- take advantage of dynamic engine and expanded model library, including:

  • Generator baseload flag recognition
  • NERC GP3 models – Generic synchronous generator protection model
  • Set of four models for extracting phase and sequence voltage/current for renewable models

 

 

 

 

 

Automated Grid Code Assessment Add-on module
Easily automate your entire compliance process, ensuring a smooth compliance process with little or no interruption in making changes to the grid. By automating what is traditionally a home-grown process, PSS®E Automated Grid Code Compliance Module saves customers both time and effort. It is a turn-key solution for grid code (e.g., NERC TPL-001) analysis. 

 

Advanced Linear Analysis Add-on module

Official integration of PSS®MUST into PSS®E to enable transfer limit analysis, impact and sensitivity analysis and advanced contingency analysis with security constrained economic dispatch (SCED). With seamless PSS®E integration and full automation, this module complements PSS®E’s data handling and analysis functions with the most advanced and user-friendly linear analysis. 

Download Datasheet

 

In-development access to beta features 

  • Voltage droop control – generators allow voltage to be compensated by reactive power flow instead of adjusted to a setpoint.
  • AUX RAS support – integration of AUX RAS into AC contingency analysis to enable defining of remedial action schemes.

Model Management now available in 35.1

Model Management for single-user and multi-user environments is now available for PSS®E 35.1. Along with all the previous benefits provided (see 34.7 release), this new module release incorporates a seamless connection to PSS®MOD. The local edition of PSS®E Model Management provides you with all the vast benefits of a database with minor setup. With the standard edition, you can now send projects directly from the PSS®E module to PSS®MOD.

 

 

Improved Slider Diagram Performance – experience smoother zoom in/out and panning behaviors.
 

Upgraded Contingency Analysis – take advantage of the latest updates as we continue to revamp our contingency engine:

  • Find the shortest path between two busses using the new rxpath API
  • New contingency analysis solution parameters to better suit your analysis needs
  • Integrated robust power flow solution option to help solve contingencies that fail to converge
  • Base load flag recognition to control how you want machines dispatched during contingency analysis

 

Additional Report Tables – access 10 more classic PSS®E text reports that have been migrated to the new tabularized spreadsheet format. The new reports enable you to easily process, sort and filter data directly in PSS®E as opposed to the traditional text reports. The migration of the remaining text reports will continue.  

 

Expanded dynamic model library – leverage more models including CMLDxxDGU2 (a family of models which has DER_A added as part of composite load model) and IEEE 421.5 OEL5C (Overexcitation Limiter model)

 

Geomagnetic Induced Currents (GIC) Module Updates - including support of efield grid map.

 

Enhanced RAWX and Extension Data Usability – expand your use of custom fields with the following new capabilities:

  • Ability to create custom tables and add custom ordering of parameters set and tables
  • Leverage a full API set for reading and writing all extension data, including custom tables

 

Updates to the Advanced Linear Analysis Add-on Module (formerly PSS®MUST):

We continue to integrate the PSS®MUST functionalities, including transfer limit analysis and others, directly into PSS®E as an add-on module. With the release of PSS®E 35.1, the new module will include enhanced Report Tables, interactive bubble diagrams, and additional improvements to usability. This module will be further enhanced to seamlessly leverage the powerful core capabilities of PSS®E and better meet our customers’ needs.

 

 

 

 

Create custom fields using the extensible raw and sav formats – Import, store, and export any custom data by adding custom data columns to the data tables. This also provides flexibility for the Siemens team to introduce new data formats without having to release a major software version. Customer ideas: PSSE-I-445 – also check out the other six ideas merged with this one. 

 

Model multiple Switched Shunts at the same bus – no longer do you need to consolidate switch shunts to a single element. Achieve more realistic models with multiple switch shunts per bus with the ability to control and adjust shunts independently in power flow. Customer ideas: PSSE-I-562.

 

Generator reactive capability curve data (GCAP) stored with Machine Data – efficiently compare this data side-by-side. The QMin/QMax automatically updates when PGen is changed. Customer ideas: PSSE-I-461 – also check out the other three ideas merged with this one. 

 

Enhanced N-1-1 Spreadsheet Reporting with export capabilities – leverage the new built-in tabularized spreadsheet reports for your N-1-1 analysis. This will enable you to easily process, sort and filter data directly in PSS®E as opposed to the traditional text reports. Additionally, you can export the results directly to csv or Excel for further post processing. Customer idea: PSSE-I-197.

 

MUST as an add-on module - Directly invoke the MUST functionality from the PSS®E GUI and make use of the network case in PSS®E memory. Ability to develop and run a single script that uses both the PSS®E modules (such as psspy and pssarrays) as well as the MUST module (mustpy). Stay tuned for more exciting enhancements to this module.

 

Enhance performance with x64 bit - PSS®E 35.0 will only support x64 bit, and x32 bit installers will no longer be supplied.

 

New licensing system mandatory starting with PSS®E v35 - Beginning with v35.0, PSS®E will be using CodeMeter as its exclusive locking mechanism. Through v34, PSS®E supported both the old SafeNet SuperPro dongles and the new CodeMeter options to allow an orderly migration. CodeMeter enables you to leverage more flexible licensing options by offering not only a hardened dongle but also software locking and network checkout options (additional fees apply to some options). See the announcement on Freshdesk or contact support to learn more if you haven’t migrated yet.

Access new Node-breaker functionality
Define contingencies in order to isolate equipment with the “ISOLATE <equipment>” command and determine which node specific equipment is connected to via new fetch APIs.

 

Take advantage of improved load flow convergence
Simply use the enhanced phase shifter control adjustments to improve load flow convergence.

 

Study “efieldgrid” event.
Version 34.8 allows you to have the ability to use non-uniform near real-time geoelectric field data in GIC analysis.

 

 

 

 

 

Access our expanded Dynamics model library, including:
The integrated dynamics model library enables you to manage Industry Standards models IEEE 421.5 OEL5C & IEC 61970-302 GovSteamEU. It also enables you to access your NERC generic synchronous generator protection model; composite load model with integrated DER_A – CMLDxxDGU2 and set of four models for extracting phase and sequence voltage/current for renewable models.

 

Access to in-development beta features
Access the beta models – including: synchronous generator model – GENQEC and third generation renewable models – REGC_B & REEC_D that will be released with our next version of PSS®E.

Built-in Model Management to optimize your workflow

No longer waste valuable time or sacrifice model accuracy by manually maintaining your various case files, projects, changes, and more. PSS®E 34.7 introduces a new base functionality that enables you to seamlessly manage the various files (base case, network models, project changes, etc.) required to build new cases - at no additional cost. The local edition of the PSS®E Model Management provides you with all the vast benefits of a database with only a minor setup burden.

  • Easily build, store and manage all your case files directly in PSS®E – The integrated simple-database enables you to centrally manage all your PSS®E data, files, projects, changes, and more. Access consolidated data elements and build cases without leaving the software GUI. This mean you no longer need to manually import various files every time you want to work on a case.
  • Automatically record and track your changes – Simply start recording the project changes in PSS®E and the resulting actions are automatically stored in the database for future use.
  • Visualize projects with an interactive timeline view – Visualize, update, and filter various projects/phases in the new interactive timeline view. Any changes made in this view will automatically reflected in other parts of the software. 

Video tutorial: Getting started with PSS®E Model Management

Learn how to install this version with the PSS®E Model Management module, check prerequisites, launch the module, store files and data, create and visualize projects, and make use of case definitions.

 

First step taken in Contingency Revamp: Support for the Vendor Neutral Remedial Action Scheme Format - the Vendor Neutral RAS module is created to support the new and evolving Contingency and Remedial Action Scheme standard adopted in the Western United States. This standard defines a way to identify contingencies, Remedial Action Schemes (RASs) and their triggering conditions in a vendor neutral manner.

 

Solve even more difficult cases with the updated Robust Solution option – including a simplified interface and the introduction of an API (RSOL). Note: algorithm changes required the temporary removal of the "Save best found solution steps in Python script" functionality.

 

Use load threshold models per NERC requirements based on three new values – including (1) load MW threshold (2) Load P by Q (absolute value of P over Q) threshold, (3) Load bus voltage threshold.

 

Include more dynamic models for stability analysis, at the 200,000 bus size – this means (1) wind machines increased to 20,000 (2) CCT models increased to 150,000, and (3) line relay model connections (MXRLCX) increased to 40,000.

 

Additional notable enhancements:

  • Perform TPL-007 Supplemental Event Calculations with Moving boxes using the latest GIC module.
  • Utilize the new ability to identify intra-substation loop flows in substation diagrams.
  • Leverage enhanced auto substation diagram layouts with better branch routing.
  • Import PSLF version 19 EPC files

 

Learn more about the latest PSS®E releases

User Support Page

Downloads and support

Learn more about PSS®E

Would you like to know more about our transmission planning and operations software? Here you’ll find all the latest PSS®E materials including brochures and datasheets as well as customer support information.

Brochures & Module Datasheets (EN)

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Module Datasheets (Spanish)

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Videos and Webinars

Support links

  • Training Courses

    Our trainings empower you to solve today's and tomorrow’s energy challenges.

References

PSS®E in action

Customers all over the world benefit from our high-performance transmission planning and operations software for the power industry.
Hydro Tasmania upgrades and automates its power system study approach with PSS®E
Hydro Tasmania
Australia

Innovative power system study approach for renewable generator

  • Hydro Tasmania, Australia’s largest producer of renewable energy, sought to upgrade its methods for optimizing its existing power systems and planning future expansions.

  • An innovative, hybrid simulation interface was deployed between transient stability programs using Siemens PTI’s PSS®E-PSCAD Co-Simulation Add-On Module and E-Tran Plus for PSS®E from Electranix.

  • Marian Piekutowski, Chief Engineer, System Integration at Hydro Tasmani, believes new users should be able to use the Co-Simulation tool within two to four weeks.

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We are happy to answer all your questions

When it comes to power transmission planning and operations – the stakes are high and there are multiple factors to consider. Contact us to learn how PSS®E can help you address your transmission system analysis and planning needs.

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