GridPACK TM : A framework for developing power grid simulations on high-performance computing platforms

This paper describes the GridPACK^TM framework, which is designed to help power grid engineers develop software capable of running on high-performance computers. The framework makes extensive use of software templates to provide high-level functionality while still providing flexibility to easily implement a broad range of models and algorithms. GridPACK^TM contains modules for setting up distributed power grid networks, supporting application-specific bus and branch models, creating distributed matrices and vectors and using parallel linear and non-linear solvers. It also provides mappers to create matrices and vectors based on properties of the network and functionality to support Input/Output (IO) and to manage errors. The goal of GridPACK^TM is to substantially reduce the complexity of writing software for parallel computers while still providing efficient and scalable software solutions. The use of GridPACK^TM is illustrated for a simple powerflow example and performance results for the powerflow and dynamic simulations are discussed.