# Power engineering software

Power engineering software is a software used to create models, analyze or calculate the design of Power stations, Overhead power lines, Transmission towers, Electrical grids, Grounding and Lightning systems and others. It is a type of application software used for power engineering problems which are transformed into mathematical expressions.

## History

The first software program for power engineering was created by the end of the 1960s for the purpose of monitoring power plants. In the following decades, Power engineering and Computer technologies developed very fast. Software programs were created to collect data for power plants. One of the first computer languages used in Nuclear plants and Thermal plants was C (programming language). The first power systems analysis program to feature a graphical user interface and IPSA was designed in the mid-1970s. Other platforms for electrical power modelling were created by the end of the 1980s. Currently, the programming language Python, commonly used in French Nuclear plants, is used to write energy-efficient algorithms and software programs.

## Classification
### Power Plants Analysis Software

The early 2000s saw the rapid development of analytical programming and 3D modeling. Software products were being created for designing power plants and their elements and connections. The programs were based on mathematical algorithms and computations. Power software such as IPSA, SKM, CYME, DINIS, PSS/E, DIgSILENT and ETAP are pioneers in the category of power engineering software. Most of these products used MARKAL, ESME and other modelling methods. The transmission lines were designed according to minimum requirements set out in the SQSS (security and quality of supply standard). This also applies to other elements of the power systems. In the software world, many CAD software products for 2D and 3D electrical designs were developed.

### Renewable Energy Controller Software

The controllers of Renewable energy used different software. The digital controllers are of different types: ADC, DAC, 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit, and many others. To date, the controllers are mostly programmed with computer languages like: C, C++, Java and others.

### Power Engineering Protection Software

Another kind of software is one for simulating security systems for power systems and power plants. Such software simulates the activation of the various types of protections, which protects the transformers, power lines and other components. It graphs the different characteristics of the protections. Mathematical models have been set for all components of the power engineering system. It is up to the user to choose what type of protection to put on the energy objects. Protections are also mathematically modeled when they are connected to power engineering objects. The parameters of the emergency are set and based on the mathematical model, all the calculations are performed to obtain the output graphs and results.

## Software products

| System | Creator | Development started | Latest stable version | License | Notes |
| IPSA | TNEI Services Ltd. | 1974 | 2.10.2 (May 2024) | commercial | Load flow, Contingency and Automation studies, Reactive power studies and compliance, Voltage regulation and power losses, Load and generation profile studies, Fault Level, Overcurrent Protection, Time and overcurrent grading, Relay modelling, Harmonic Analysis, G5/5 compliance, Transient Stability, DC Networks, Reliability, Unbalanced systems & analysis (Load Flow, Fault Level, etc.), User-defined Models, CIM/ CGMES 3.0 (ENTSO-E conformity), Flexibility, Python Scripting - PyIPSA. |
| NEPLAN | NEPLAN AG | 1988 | 10.8.1.2 | commercial | Cloud Computing, Power System Analysis, Power Management System, Grid Code, Real Time integrations, Transmission and Distribution networks, GIS/SCADA integrations, Asset Management, EMS - DMS |
| ETAP | Operation Technology, Inc. | 1986 | 24.0.1 | commercial | Power System Analysis, Power Management System, SCADA, Transmission & Distribution planning, Geospatial Modeling, ADMS, EMS, Microgrid Controller, Power Plant Controller |
| EA-PSM | Energy Advice | 2013 | 23.04.13 | commercial | Power Flow analysis, Short Circuit, Arc flash, Harmonic Flow, Motor Start analysis, Relay Coordination and Protection Tracking |
| CYME | CYME International | 1986 | 16.01 | commercial | COM Module, Voltage Stability Analysis |
| SKM | SKM Systems Analysis, Inc | 1992 | 8.0.2.5 | commercial | TMS, HI_WAVE, CAPTOR, IEC 60909 Fault, IEE Wiring, A_Fault (ANSI) |
| PowerFactory | DIgSILENT GmbH | 1985 | 2025 | commercial | Unbalanced Load Flow, RMS, EMT and Harmonic Analysis, Protection, Short Circuit, Arc flash, Harmonic Flow, Motor Start analysis, State Estimation, Cable Analysis, Scripting and Automation, Transmission and Distribution Network Tools |
| ERACS | RINA Consulting Ltd | 1990 | 3.9.10 | commercial | Balanced three-phase power systems analysis modelling tool, which includes Loadflow, Fault / Short-Circuit, Harmonics & G5/4, Protection Co-ordination, Transient Stability and Arc Flash calculation modules. |
| PSCAD / EMTDC | Manitoba HVDC Research Centre | 1974 | 5.0.2 | commercial | Electromagnetic Transient studies |
| EMTP | EDF & RTE & Hydro-Québec | 1982 | 4.1 | commercial | Electromagnetic Transient studies |
| MSEMT | Industrial chair of EDF & RTE & Hydro-Québec | 2021 | 1.00 | educational | EMTP-validated library developed using Modelica language for Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) studies |
| PSSE | Siemens | 1976 | | commercial | Steady-state conditions as well as over timescales of a few seconds to tens of seconds |
| PSS SINCAL | Siemens | 1980s | 21.0 | commercial | Several steady-state methods with massive calculation power, extensive protection analysis and dynamics/transients modules for a wide frequency range (up to nsec) |
| NAP | Innovation Energie Développement | 1990 | 4.0.1 | commercial | Initial and Constrained Load Flow, Short Circuit, Contingency Analysis and Stability calculation |
| DSATools | Powertech Labs Inc. | 1990s | 21.0.7 | commercial | Suite of software tools for load flow and power system stability and oscillation studies: Transient Stability (TSAT), Voltage Stability (VSAT), Small-Signal (SSAT) and powerflow (PSAT). Online (real-time) DSA implementation for control room. Distributed computation. Several add-on modules for co-simulation with PSCAD & RTDS and PMU data streaming. |
| EasyPower | Bentley Systems, Inc. | 1984 | 2024 | commercial | Modules for ANSI/IEC Short Circuit, Protection, Coordination, Arc Flash, Power Flow, Harmonics, Dynamic Stability, Transient Motor Starting and Reliability Studies. EasyPower, Inc., formally Electrical Systems Analysis, Inc. (ESA, Inc.) was acquired by Bentley Systems, Inc. in 2023. |

## System Analysis

The software products are created to solve different problems and to make different analysis of the power engineering.
* Grounding grid analysis
* Power generation analysis
* Transmission line analysis
* Renewable energy analysis
* Distribution system analysis