SDDP Platform · Network analysis
NetPlan
A suite of optimization tools for AC power flow analysis
NetPlan is fully integrated into the SDDP platform. While SDDP and OptGen, including its OptNet network module, rely on linearized power flow representations to size generation and active-power transmission expansion, NetPlan complements them on the nonlinear AC side, explicitly representing reactive power, bus voltages, transformer taps, FACTS devices, and other equipment that linear formulations cannot capture.
Three complementary applications
AC Optimal Power Flow (OPF)
Identifies reactive power adequacy issues and recommends the shunt and control adjustments needed to keep bus voltages within their limits.
Learn moreReactive Power Expansion Planning (PEP) Coming soon
Selects the most economic set of reactive-support investments required to meet voltage and operating criteria across the planning horizon.
Learn moreNetwork Export Tool
Exports network data and the resulting NetPlan setpoints to other database formats, such as PSS®E and ANAREDE.
Learn moreModeling capabilities
In a linear power flow analysis, some equipment is represented in simplified form, and other components are not represented at all. NetPlan models this equipment and its operating characteristics explicitly, giving a more accurate representation of system behavior.
- Reactive power loads
- Reactive power generation and absorption by generators
- Line and transformer susceptance
- Transformer tap settings
- Capacitor and reactor banks
- Synchronous condensers and static VAr compensators
- LCC- and VSC-based DC links
- FACTS devices (TCSC and SSSC)
AC OPF
The AC OPF module is a computational tool for steady-state reactive power analysis. It represents multiple generation and load scenarios to capture uncertainties in renewable resources, hydro inflows, and similar factors, both for the base case and for a set of selected single contingencies.
Kirchhoff's laws
Active and reactive power balance at each node of the grid.
Network operating limits
Bus voltage magnitude, active and reactive power flows in circuits, and transformer taps.
Generation constraints
Hydro, thermal, and renewable generation constraints.
Objective
The objective function minimizes the combined shunt-type reactive power injection and the deviation in active power generation.
Primal-dual interior-point algorithm
The model is solved with a robust primal-dual interior-point algorithm. It determines whether the existing reactive power equipment is sufficient to keep voltages within acceptable limits and, where it is not, identifies the network areas with reactive power deficiencies.
Reactive PEP Coming soon
Reactive support where it is needed
The Reactive Power Expansion Planning (PEP) module allocates candidate shunt reactive power sources (capacitor and reactor banks) that provide additional reactive support and eliminate operational violations.
Works with AC OPF
The AC OPF module can be used to generate a candidate list of shunt devices for the Reactive PEP, identifying the buses that need reactive support and the specific locations where the devices can be installed.
Progressive Hedging
An iterative process that uses NetPlan AC OPF as its operational model to find an investment solution for new reactive power sources in each year of the study.
Investment decisions balance the minimum cost of new shunt devices against the minimum deviation from the initial active power dispatch point, considering different demand and generation scenarios for both the base case and the contingency analysis over the defined study period.
Network Export Tool
PSS®E and ANAREDE
The network export tool exports network configurations to the Siemens PTI Power Flow Program (PSS®E) and the CEPEL Network Analysis Program (ANAREDE).
Multiple probabilistic setpoints
Exports include the transmission expansion and new reactive power sources, together with the multiple AC network setpoints calculated by the NetPlan models, such as transformer taps and the status of reactive power elements (generation, static VAr compensators, shunt equipment, and so on).
Stronger electrical analyses
This database portability adds flexibility and strengthens subsequent electrical analyses by making multiple probabilistic setpoints available.
SDDP integration
The reactive power analysis performed by NetPlan complements SDDP's operational studies, adjusting the active power dispatch and reactive power investment and controls as needed to keep bus voltages within operational security limits.
OptGen
SDDP
NetPlan
NetPlan runs after the rest of the planning chain: the optimal capacity expansion plan for active power generation and transmission must already be defined, and the SDDP model must have been run to obtain the optimal active power dispatch for all generators, which serve as inputs to the NetPlan model. Because both models live on the same platform, the connection between them is direct and effortless.
Transmission expansion with OptGen's OptNetResults
Each NetPlan run produces:
A PSRIO dashboard
Summarizing the main results of the AC OPF analysis, such as total active power generation deviation relative to SDDP, maximum reactive power injection, and voltage levels.
Detailed reports
A set of detailed reports describing network performance under each scenario.
More than 100 output files
Managed by the graphical interface to generate customized charts and PSRIO dashboards and to overlay results directly on the network diagram.
- Circuit flows on lines and transformers
- Power injections (MW/MVAr)
- Bus voltages
- Transformer taps
- Losses on transmission branches
- Bus marginal costs
- And much more
Try NetPlan now
Need support?
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