VeraGrid is an open-source platform designed to make modern power system analysis more accessible, flexible, and powerful. With this Feature Spotlight series, we’re giving you a closer look at the software’s core features and how they can support your grid modelling and analysis needs.
In the first video, we’ll explore the user interface and the modelling philosophy behind VeraGrid, showing how you can quickly build and customize networks, manage data, and even integrate automation through scripting.
The schematic view is where most users begin. Creating a grid model starts with a simple drag-and-drop workflow. You can place buses directly onto the canvas, connect them, and immediately see how they form part of the model.
Connections between buses automatically generate the correct type of branch, lines, transformers, or converters, depending on voltage levels and whether the buses are AC or DC. This design ensures that the model builds logically while minimizing errors.
Each object on the schematic comes with a dedicated properties panel, allowing you to edit values like nominal voltage or device ratings. To maintain model integrity, certain parameters such as bus connectivity remain fixed.
For those who prefer working directly with data, the database view provides an alternative interface. Here, you can manage two key data constructs: snapshots (single-hour models) and time series (variables that evolve over time, such as load or generation profiles).
The database interface uses tables where values can be edited individually or updated in bulk. Templates allow you to define reusable devices, such as line types or transformers, making it easier to populate complex models consistently.
Time events add flexibility for representing profiles with irregular intervals or for importing external datasets. This ensures that VeraGrid can adapt to a variety of planning and operational contexts.
Advanced users often need to look under the hood. The compiled arrays view provides direct access to matrices, vectors, and other numerical structures used in calculations. This is especially valuable for debugging new algorithms or diagnosing issues in complex models.
Model building is often a collaborative process. VeraGrid includes a built-in comments editor, where you can keep track of key decisions, assumptions, or reminders directly within the project file. This helps maintain context as projects evolve or are shared with colleagues.
Once simulations are executed, the results tab organizes outcomes such as bus voltages, line flows, and system loadings into a structured interface. Results can be plotted, exported, or saved directly within the model file, ensuring that simulations remain reproducible.
The log view complements this by recording simulation details, providing transparency and a clear record of what has been run.
One of VeraGrid’s most powerful features is the integrated Python console. Instead of exporting your model to external scripts, you can write and execute Python commands directly within the graphical interface.
This makes it easy to automate repetitive tasks, prototype new workflows, or extract custom insights from your model without leaving the app. The console bridges the gap between intuitive graphical modelling and advanced analytical flexibility.
Each simulation type comes with configurable parameters. Default settings are provided for common cases, but advanced users can fine-tune options to match specific study requirements. More complex workflows can also be developed when VeraGrid is used in library mode.
This first spotlight introduces the fundamentals of the VeraGrid interface and the philosophy guiding its design: a balance between simplicity, transparency, and analytical power.
Future posts in this series will dive deeper into simulation capabilities, data handling, and advanced modelling features. In the meantime, we encourage you to explore VeraGrid yourself, share your projects, and contribute to shaping the platform’s development.
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