Reasons behind this project

The IEC 61970-457 standard defines approximately 400 dynamic models used across the power systems industry — synchronous machines, excitation systems, turbine governors, converter controls and more. Yet most of these definitions are structural or data-oriented: they describe what a model contains, not how it behaves mathematically. The underlying equations needed to actually run dynamic simulations are absent, which blocks interoperability between simulation platforms and prevents models from being directly compiled or executed.

In practice this means that TSOs, researchers and manufacturers working across different tools cannot exchange dynamic models consistently. Model validation is hampered, simulation results are difficult to reproduce, and version control of simulation studies becomes unreliable. The gap between the standard’s intent and its practical usability has been recognised for years — COLib-EB addresses it directly.

Objectives

COLib-EB (COLib — Equation-Based) extends CRESYM’s COLib library with a complete equation-based representation layer for all ~400 models defined in IEC 61970-457, making COLib the reference implementation that unites model data, mathematical equations and executable behaviour under one open-source framework.

Specific goals: create executable Modelica/FMI representations for each standard model; develop the standardised mathematical framework and automated translation tooling to make the conversion process repeatable; build a reference test grid where equation-based models can be instantiated, compiled and validated against existing COLib results; enable version-pinning of COLib for specific studies; and improve simulation performance through compiled model execution. The project also serves as a prerequisite for COLib-SOGL, which requires equation-based models to fulfil SO GL obligations for dynamic data exchange.

Project partners

gridDigIt, Fraunhofer IEE, RWTH Aachen, SuperGrid Institute, Polytechnique Montreal, HydroQuébec, RTE and SPEN. The project is looking for additional partners.