Complete
Investment planning, steady-state analysis and full dynamics in one open-source engine.
One open-source grid model,
VeraGrid runs investment planning, every steady-state study and RMS, EMT and small-signal stability in one engine, so every decision reaches the grid with its physical proof.
20-year investment planPlan the network
Network & substationValidate the physics
Dynamics & stabilityProve stability
The integrated platform
Every study runs on the same model
Investment planningSteady-state analysisDynamics & stability
MultiCircuit databaseOne network model · Inputs separate from results
Connected
One database keeps inputs apart from results, so every study can be repeated and audited.
Compatible
Load CGMES, PSS/E, PowerFactory, UCTE and FMU models as they are, and export back when you need to.
Ready to scale
Work with AI assistants and run studies for the whole company from one server.
Capabilities
01 / Plan the network
02 / Validate the physics
03 / Prove stability
Three layers of grid analysis in one engine
Explore the trade-offs
Compare investment portfolios across cost, reliability, emissions and renewable integration.
- NSGA-III investment and adequacy optimization
- Catalogue element optimization
- Procedural grid expansion
- Hosting capacity
Build your operational workflow
Run every steady-state study on the same network model.
- AC/DC and three-phase power flow
- Optimal power flow, NTC and ATC
- Contingency and short-circuit analysis
- State estimation, continuation and stochastic power flow
- Reliability analysis
Check every time scale
RMS, EMT and small-signal stability on one differential-algebraic equation (DAE) framework.
- RMS: the seconds after a fault
- EMT: microseconds of converter and protection behaviour
- Small-signal: oscillations before they grow
- RMS and EMT initialized from a converged load flow
AI and scale
AI integrated into your entire grid modelling workflow
Create network models, add and modify elements, update data, choose calculation algorithms and run studies with AI assistants connected directly to VeraGrid.
The VeraGrid MCP server gives assistants access to the modelling and simulation workflow, from building a network to analysing its results. Engineers guide the work, review changes and make the decisions.
The VeraGrid server extends that workflow across teams, with shared models and remote study execution for multiple users.
Build. Modify. Simulate. Analyse.
Claude · Codex · Cursor
Create models & modify network elements
Edit data & configure calculation algorithms
Run studies & analyse results
Shared models & remote execution
Vendor comparison
From investment planning to dynamic validation
Compare VeraGrid with energy planning and grid simulation platforms across planning, electrical studies, interoperability and access.
Read the grid planning software guide and comparison methodology.
Scroll horizontally to compare all platforms.
| Feature | Integrated | Energy | Grid | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VeraGrid | PLEXOS / PSR | PyPSA | PSS®E | PowerFactory | |
| ENERGY PLANNING AND INVESTMENTS | |||||
| Expansion Planning | Yes | Yes | Yes | Planning studies | Scenario planning |
| Resource Adequacy & Stochastic Analysis | Yes | Yes | Limited | No | Limited |
| Cost-Benefit & ROI Scenarios | Yes | Yes | Requires custom workflow | Custom analysis | Economic analysis tools |
| Market Modeling & Dispatch | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Time-Series Simulation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Multi-Commodity Modeling | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Built-in Datasets | Open-source datasets | Yes | Open-source datasets | No | No |
| GRID ANALYSIS | |||||
| Power Flow | Yes | Simplified network models | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Contingency Analysis | Yes | No | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Short-Circuit Analysis | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Small-Signal Stability Analysis | Yes | No | No | Available by module/workflow | Yes |
| Transient Stability / RMS | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Protection Analysis | In development | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| EMT Simulation | Yes | No | No | Via co-simulation | Yes |
| WORKFLOW, UX & INTEROPERABILITY | |||||
| Unified Macro-to-Micro Workflow | Yes | Grid simulator required | Dynamic tool required | CEP tool required | CEP tool required |
| User Interface / UX | Yes | Desktop / suite | Code-first | Desktop / API | Desktop / API |
| Native Interoperability (CGMES, RAW, UCTE) | Yes | No | Requires Custom Parsing | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Model / Accessibility | Free / Open-Source | Commercial | Free / Open-source | Commercial | Commercial |
| AI INTEGRATION & AUTOMATION | |||||
| Native AI Assistant Connection (MCP) | Native MCP server | PLEXOS: not documented PSR: Cloud MCP package* |
Separate PyPSA MCP integration | Not documented | Not documented |
| Python API for Study Automation | Python-native engine | PLEXOS: Python API PSR: Cloud Python client |
Python-native framework | Python API | Python API / scripting module |
| Remote Study Execution API | VeraGrid server API | PLEXOS Cloud API PSR Cloud API |
Native job API not documented | Native job API not documented | ConnectorService / REST API |
Comparison reviewed against publicly available product information on 28 July 2026. Capabilities may depend on version, licence, modules and custom implementation. Product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners, which do not endorse or sponsor this comparison.
AI integration and automation rows reviewed on 26 September 2026. “Native” means supplied by the core project; separate integrations and cloud services are identified explicitly. “Not documented” means no native capability was confirmed in the public sources reviewed, not that custom integration is impossible. Python APIs alone do not imply a ready-made AI assistant. *PSR Cloud MCP: External availability not confirmed.
AI comparison sources and scope
- VeraGrid: MCP package, Python engine and server API.
- PLEXOS: Python automation and Cloud API. These entries apply to PLEXOS, not all PSR products.
- PSR: Cloud MCP package and Cloud Python client and REST API.
- PyPSA: Python framework and separate MCP integration by Open Energy Transition.
- PSS/E: Python API. Hosted software access is distinct from a documented remote job API.
- PowerFactory: scripting and automation and ConnectorService REST interface. Availability depends on the licensed modules and integration.
Why dynamics matter now
Converter-based grids need studies at microsecond scale
Solar, wind, batteries and HVDC links respond through power electronics in microseconds. Disturbances linked to converter, protection and voltage behaviour have grown from about 1 GW in North America to 19 GW in South America and 31 GW in Southern Europe.
VeraGrid runs RMS, EMT and small-signal studies on the same open model used for planning and load flow.
Generation and load losses are shown as reported; these are different event measures. Sources: NERC reports, 2023 event summary, 2025 event summary.
Proof in practice
1,000×
2 GW
960 MW
~1 s
Proven on real transmission projects
Faster short circuit
ScottishPower methodology with CITCEA-UPC, with under 1% error.
Europa-Link
HVDC interconnector project from Spain to Italy.
Acciona Energía
Offshore wind corridor validated in Puglia through I'MNOVATION.
Continental US power flow
Matpower case solved in about one second.
VeraGrid benchmark ↗
Open source. Professional support.
Open source, built for transmission operators, backed by eRoots
Development started in 2015. The code follows OpenSSF Best Practices and is licensed under MPL 2.0. eRoots provides enterprise support, training and migration.
Your questions, answered
What is VeraGrid?
VeraGrid is an end-to-end open-source platform for grid planning, static and dynamic simulation. One network model runs investment planning, every steady-state study and RMS, EMT and small-signal stability.
What makes it different?
VeraGrid brings investment planning, steady-state studies and full dynamics into one engine and one database. Planners and engineers work on the same model, so a decision and its physical proof come from one place.
Which studies can I run?
Investment optimization, AC/DC and 3-phase power flow, OPF, contingency, NTC and ATC, short circuit, state estimation, continuation power flow, stochastic power flow, reliability, RMS, EMT and small-signal stability.
Why do I need RMS, EMT and small-signal together?
Each one sees a different time scale. RMS covers the seconds after a fault, EMT covers the microseconds where converters and protection act, and small-signal reveals oscillations before they grow.
How does the investment optimization work?
The NSGA-III algorithm searches large portfolio spaces and keeps every non-dominated option. You get a frontier of trade-offs across cost, reliability, emissions and renewable integration.
Which file formats does it support?
VeraGrid reads and writes CGMES 2.4.15 and 3.0, CIM 16, PSS/E RAW and RAWX, PowerFactory DGS, UCTE, Matpower, JSON and FMU dynamic models. It also imports pandapower, PyPSA and PSLF files.
How is the database different from what we use now?
The MultiCircuit database keeps infrastructure inputs apart from simulation results. Every study starts from the same grid state, so results can be repeated and audited.
Is it free, and who supports it?
The engine is open source under the Mozilla Public License 2.0. eRoots provides enterprise support, training, migration and custom development.
Does it work with AI tools and servers?
Yes. Through the VeraGrid MCP server, AI assistants such as Claude, Codex and Cursor can create models, modify network elements and data, select calculation algorithms, run studies and analyse results. Engineers guide and review the work. The VeraGrid server supports shared models and remote jobs for multiple users.
How do we get started?
Download VeraGrid for free, or ask eRoots for a validation study on one of your own grid cases.
Test VeraGrid on your own grid
Import an existing CGMES or PSS/E case and run your first study today, or ask our engineers for a validation study.