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PSCAD Addition #98
Description
PSCAD is arguably the most used software for EMT studies for electric utilities in the United States. EMT studies are required by NERC for generation from inverter based resources (IBR) such as a utility scale solar farm, wind generators, or batteries. It will also be required to place high impact large loads (HILL) such as datacenters on the grid.
Incorporate PSCAD into the tool.
ERCOT, real-time operator (RTO) in Texas, is on the cutting edge of constructing new IBR for HILL. They have established PMView (https://sites.google.com/view/pmview/home) as a model quality tests for new IBR. While they have tried to automate the process, it still requires significant setup and understanding.
The real challenge is helping utilities, stakeholders in each RTO, understand and reliable test each black-box PSCAD dll provided by vendors. They must also verify plant models that they have built with field data. In spite of AI taking over, utilities are resistant to closed processes that come from AI. Being able to use "best of class" tools to show how things work is the best approach.
Activity
gkhalley commentedon Oct 14, 2026
Another tool that competes with PSCAD, not currying the favor of the United States, is EMTP software. It is the commercial version of https://www.atp-emtp.org/ . The separation of the code was long ago. This might also be helpful: https://github.com/NatLabRockies/ParaEMT_public . I'm not a user of either.
gkhalley commentedon Oct 16, 2026
What workflow is being replaced with Modelscript? Modeling falls into two classes: certified and best-in-class. A certified model is what you submit to the authority having jurisdiction. As you know PSCAD fits that. Best-in-class broadens the understanding and makes the engineer more confident.
This is the role of Modelscript for EMT and it should quickly ascertain the data is complete and reasonable. This is typically done by running the analysis and checking the results. Modelscript seems ideal for checking the results. If they are incomplete or not reasonable, then engineers (not PhDs or mathematicians) like to have tools that look at them from a real-world physical way like comparing MOD-026 (https://www.nerc.com/globalassets/standards/reliability-standards/mod/mod-026-1.pdf) testing where you set PID parameters and look at step-change results.
Separate note: I have determined a way to create an FMI from the DLL I have.
nachawati commentedon Oct 21, 2026
I’ve implemented an initial prototype of a web-native
.pscxschematic editor paired with a basic electromagnetic transient (EMT) simulation engine that exports results to both COMTRADE and PSCAD.outformats. While it still requires significant UI polish and rigorous numerical validation, the core goal is ambitious: bridging circuit-level EMT simulation with SysML v2 regulatory requirement modeling and formal verification via ModelScript.Two architectural questions I’m currently navigating:
PSCAD Master Library dependencies: What is the best strategy for handling unresolved references when users load circuits dependent on the proprietary master library?
Open benchmark suite: Is there precedent or best practice for publishing an open benchmark and validation suite of representative .pscx test circuits alongside reference output curves?