Powsybl.jl
January 14, 2026 · View on GitHub
Julia bindings for the PowSyBl framework.
PowSyBl (Power System Blocks) is an open source framework written in Java, that makes it easy to write complex software for power systems’ simulations and analysis.
PowSyBl is part of the LF Energy Foundation, a project of The Linux Foundation that supports open source innovation projects within the energy and electricity sectors.
Installation
The Powsybl.jl package does no require any special installation. Stable releases are registered into the Julia general registry, and therefore can be deployed with the standard Pkg Julia package manager.
julia> using Pkg
julia> Pkg.add("Powsybl")
Getting started
Some examples are available in the Test directory of this project. For the time being available features are limited to :
- Create a set of tutorial example networks such as IEEE, Eurostag and more
- Load a network from a file, supporting CGMES, UCTE, XIIDM, BIIDM, JIIDM, Matpower, IEEE CDF, PSS/E and PowerFactory data format
- List network elements and explore their attributes through julia DataFrames
Network exploration
From a loaded network you can have a access to the following network elements (and their attributes) :
- buses
- bus_breaker_view_buses
- generators
- loads
- batteries
- lines
- 2_windings_transformers
- 3_windings_transformers
- shunt_compensators
- non_linear_shunt_compensator_sections
- linear_shunt_compensator_sections
- dangling_lines
- tie_lines
- lcc_converter_stations
- vsc_converter_stations
- static_var_compensators
- voltage_levels
- busbar_sections
- substations
- hvdc_lines
- switches
- ratio_tap_changer_steps and phase_tap_changer_steps
- ratio_tap_changers and phase_tap_changers
- reactive_capability_curve_points
- injections
- branches
- terminals
- operational_limits
julia> using Powsybl
julia> network = Powsybl.Network.create_ieee9()
Powsybl.Network.NetworkHandle(Powsybl.JavaHandleAllocated(Ptr{Nothing} @0x000002bb1efac470), "ieee9cdf", "ieee9cdf", "IEEE-CDF", 0, 1.240704e9)
julia> @info Powsybl.Network.get_lines(network)
┌ Info: 6×18 DataFrame
│ Row │ id name r x g1 b1 g2 b2 p1 q1 i1 p2 q2 i2 voltage_level1_id voltage_level2_id bus1_id bus2_id
│ │ StdString StdString Float64 Float64 Float64 Float64 Float64 Float64 Float64 Float64 Float64 Float64 Float64 Float64 StdString StdString StdString StdString
│ ─────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
│ 1 │ L7-8-0 0.85 7.2 0.0 0.000745 0.0 0.000745 NaN NaN NaN NaN NaN NaN VL2 VL8 VL2_1 VL8_0
│ 2 │ L9-8-0 1.19 10.08 0.0 0.001045 0.0 0.001045 NaN NaN NaN NaN NaN NaN VL3 VL8 VL3_1 VL8_0
│ 3 │ L7-5-0 3.2 16.1 0.0 0.00153 0.0 0.00153 NaN NaN NaN NaN NaN NaN VL2 VL5 VL2_1 VL5_0
│ 4 │ L9-6-0 3.9 17.0 0.0 0.00179 0.0 0.00179 NaN NaN NaN NaN NaN NaN VL3 VL6 VL3_1 VL6_0
│ 5 │ L5-4-0 1.0 8.5 0.0 0.00088 0.0 0.00088 NaN NaN NaN NaN NaN NaN VL5 VL1 VL5_0 VL1_1
└ 6 │ L6-4-0 1.7 9.2 0.0 0.00079 0.0 0.00079 NaN NaN NaN NaN NaN NaN VL6 VL1 VL6_0 VL1_1
julia>
Network loading
Network are loaded from file through the Powsybl.Network.load function. Supported format are :
CGMES (all profiles in a zip archive), UCTE, XIIDM, BIIDM, JIIDM, Matpower, IEEE CDF, PSS/E and PowerFactory
julia> Powsybl.Network.get_network_import_formats()
9-element Vector{String}:
"BIIDM"
"CGMES"
"IEEE-CDF"
"JIIDM"
"MATPOWER"
"POWER-FACTORY"
"PSS/E"
"UCTE"
"XIIDM"
julia> using Powsybl
julia> network = Powsybl.Network.load("CGMES_Full.zip")
Powsybl.Network.NetworkHandle(Powsybl.JavaHandleAllocated(Ptr{Nothing} @0x000002c926f212c0), "urn:uuid:d8ba63a9-4453-45dc-9273-a8a01ff49269", "urn:uuid:d8ba63a9-4453-45dc-9273-a8a01ff49269", "CGMES", 0, 1.612899e9)
julia> @info Powsybl.Network.get_lines(network)[:,["id", "name", "p1"]]
┌ Info: 8×3 DataFrame
│ Row │ id name p1
│ │ StdString StdString Float64
│ ─────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
│ 1 │ ffbabc27-1ccd-4fdc-b037-e341706c… BE-Line_6 -52.1434
│ 2 │ b58bf21a-096a-4dae-9a01-3f03b60c… BE-Line_2 -113.252
│ 3 │ df16b3dd-c905-4a6f-84ee-f067be86… SER-RLC-1230822986 -97.2703
│ 4 │ b18cd1aa-7808-49b9-a7cf-605eaf07… BE-Line_5 + NL-Line_5 -22.4478
│ 5 │ a16b4a6c-70b1-4abf-9a9d-bd0fa47f… BE-Line_7 + NL-Line_3 -97.2713
│ 6 │ 17086487-56ba-4979-b8de-064025a6… BE-Line_1 + NL-Line_4 -79.3248
│ 7 │ dad02278-bd25-476f-8f58-dbe44be7… NL-Line_2 + BE-Line_4 16.9841
└ 8 │ 78736387-5f60-4832-b3fe-d50daf81… BE-Line_3 + NL-Line_1 -5.09077
Additionally, import formats may support specific parameters defined in Dict and a list of post processors in a string vector. The list of available post processors can be accessed through a call to Powsybl.Network.get_network_available_post_processors :
Powsybl.Network.get_network_available_post_processors()
3-element Vector{String}:
"loadflowResultsCompletion"
"odreGeoDataImporter"
"replaceTieLinesByLines"
Parameters and post processors are optional arguments of the load function :
julia> parameters = Dict("psse.import.ignore-base-voltage" => "true")
julia> postprocessors = ["replaceTieLinesByLines"]
julia> network = Powsybl.Network.load("network.raw", parameters, postprocessors)
See the documentation for available import parameters.
Network export
Network can exported to a file through the Powsybl.Network.save function, taking as arguments the network, a file and an export format.
julia> network = Powsybl.Network.load("CGMES_Full.zip")
julia> Powsybl.Network.save(network, "Ouput.xiidm", "XIIDM")
The list of available export formats can be accessed :
julia> Powsybl.Network.get_network_export_formats()
8-element Vector{String}:
"AMPL"
"BIIDM"
"CGMES"
"JIIDM"
"MATPOWER"
"PSS/E"
"UCTE"
"XIIDM"
Additionally, a Dict of parameters can be provided as a fourth argument to the export function
julia> network = Powsybl.Network.load("CGMES_Full.zip")
julia> Powsybl.Network.save(network, "Ouput.xiidm", "XIIDM", Dict("iidm.export.xml.indent" => "true"))
See the documentation for available export parameters.
Network extensions
Network extensions can be accessed through a call to Powsybl.Network.get_extensions
julia> using Powsybl
julia> network = Powsybl.Network.create_micro_grid_be()
Powsybl.Network.NetworkHandle(Powsybl.JavaHandleAllocated(Ptr{Nothing} @0x0000000020f43260), "urn:uuid:d400c631-75a0-4c30-8aed-832b0d282e73", "urn:uuid:d400c631-75a0-4c30-8aed-832b0d282e73", "CGMES", 0, 1.4016186e9)
julia> Powsybl.Network.get_extensions(network, "activePowerControl")
2×6 DataFrame
Row │ id droop participate participation_factor max_target_p min_target_p
│ String Float64 Bool Float64 Float64 Float64
─────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1 │ 3a3b27be-b18b-4385-b557-6735d733… NaN true 0.0 NaN NaN
2 │ 550ebe0d-f2b2-48c1-991f-cebea43a… NaN true 0.0 NaN NaN
Available extensions can be listed using the following call :
julia> Powsybl.Network.get_extensions_names()
19-element Vector{String}:
"activePowerControl"
"branchObservability"
"busbarSectionPosition"
"coordinatedReactiveControl"
"detail"
"entsoeArea"
"entsoeCategory"
"generatorShortCircuit"
"hvdcAngleDroopActivePowerControl"
"hvdcOperatorActivePowerRange"
"identifiableShortCircuit"
"injectionObservability"
"linePosition"
"measurements"
"position"
"secondaryVoltageControl"
"slackTerminal"
"standbyAutomaton"
"substationPosition"
Load flow module
A load flow computation can be done using the LoadFlow submodule.
Parameters
The most important part before running a load flow is knowing the parameters and change them if needed. Here is a list of parameters explicitly mapped:
mutable struct LoadFlowParameters
voltage_init_mode::VoltageInitMode
transformer_voltage_control_on::Bool
use_reactive_limits::Bool
phase_shifter_regulation_on::Bool
twt_split_shunt_admittance::Bool
shunt_compensator_voltage_control_on::Bool
read_slack_bus::Bool
write_slack_bus::Bool
distributed_slack::Bool
balance_type::BalanceType
dc_use_transformer_ratio::Bool
countries_to_balance::Vector{String}
connected_component_mode::ConnectedComponentMode
dc_power_factor::Float64
provider_parameters::Dict{String, String}
end
A default parameters set can be created :
julia> using Powsybl
julia> parameters = Powsybl.LoadFlow.load_flow_parameters()
julia> parameters
Powsybl.LoadFlow.LoadFlowParameters(Powsybl.LoadFlow.UNIFORM_VALUES, false, true, false, false, false, true, true, true, Powsybl.LoadFlow.PROPORTIONAL_TO_GENERATION_P_MAX, true, String[], Powsybl.LoadFlow.MAIN, 1.0, Dict{String, String}())
All parameters are fully described in Powsybl load flow parameters documentation. Some parameters are not supported by all load flow providers but specific to only one. These specific parameters could be specified in a less typed way than common parameters using the provider_parameters attribute.
Running a load flow
Load flow can launched in AC :
julia> using Powsybl
julia> network = Powsybl.Network.create_ieee9()
julia> parameters = Powsybl.LoadFlow.load_flow_parameters()
julia> result = Powsybl.LoadFlow.run_ac(network, parameters)
or in DC :
julia> result = Powsybl.LoadFlow.run_dc(network, parameters)
The result returned is a set of two dataframes, the component results and the slack bus results related to a component.
julia> result.component_results
1×7 DataFrame
Row │ connected_component_num synchronous_component_num status status_text iteration_count reference_bus_id distributed_active_power
│ Int32 Int32 LoadFlow… String Int32 String Float64
─────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1 │ 0 0 CONVERGED Converged 3 VL1_0 0.0
julia> result.slack_bus_results
1×4 DataFrame
Row │ connected_component_num synchronous_component_num id active_power_mismatch
│ Any Any Any Any
─────┼──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1 │ 0 0 VL1_0 -4.3244e-6
But the main output of the loadflow is actually the updated data in the network itself: all voltages and flows are now updated with the computed values.
julia> Powsybl.Network.get_buses(network)
9×7 DataFrame
Row │ id name v_mag v_angle connected_component synchronous_component voltage_level_id
│ String String Float64 Float64 Int32 Int32 String
─────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
1 │ VL1_0 104.0 0.0 0 0 VL1
2 │ VL1_1 102.579 -2.21679 0 0 VL1
3 │ VL2_0 102.5 9.28001 0 0 VL2
4 │ VL2_1 102.577 3.7197 0 0 VL2
5 │ VL3_0 102.5 4.66475 0 0 VL3
6 │ VL3_1 103.235 1.96672 0 0 VL3
7 │ VL5_0 99.5631 -3.9888 0 0 VL5
8 │ VL6_0 101.265 -3.6874 0 0 VL6
9 │ VL8_0 101.588 0.727537 0 0 VL8