Grid Model Verification & Validation Methods

The new expectations and challenges associated with an increasingly digital, flexible, and complex grid are driving the need for accurate simulations to support planning and operation of the distribution system. With this need comes an increased focus on the importance of distribution grid models.

Today, the process to validate and maintain these grid models is largely manual and time-consuming. Distribution engineers need processes to better develop these models that are efficient while also being confident in their use.

The Grid Model Verification, Validation and Quality Tracking project is all about preparing utilities for this reality by considering grid model data as a critical asset, in which maintenance and quality assessments are regularly performed.

EPRI’s Research

Recognizing this need, EPRI has been working to prepare utilities for this reality by considering grid model data as a critical asset, in which maintenance and quality assessments are regularly performed. The overall goal of these efforts is to provide:

• Actionable instructions to improve grid modeling to increase trust in models as well as simulation outcomes
• Reduce valuable engineering time spent cleaning grid models
• Quantifiably measure the grid model quality

EPRI’s work spans multiple areas including:

• Developing methods to produce grid models with the right level of requirements
• Developing methods to verification, validation, tracking grid data quality and remediation techniques
• Developing a future vision for grid modeling that enables interoperability
• Developing a tool that automatically validates and verifies grid models.

To learn more about this work, check out the below reports

Title	Objective
Grid Modeling Framework for Verification Validation and Quality Tracking: 2024 Update, 3002030153	Living resource where V&V routines are being documented, along with guidance on how to compute model quality indexes from the detected model issues. Actionable instructions for (1) implementation of grid model verification and validation routines (2) remediation of model issues Methods to track grid data quality
Grid Model Verification & Validation Tool - Supplemental Project Notice	Currently a supplemental project where EPRI is working with utilities to further develop a tool to understand existing model issues – detection & model quality assessment as well as error reporting Automatic & manual remediation of model issues
Grid Modeling Guidebook - 3002030154	Identification of grid model requirements Tools to support grid model readiness assessment