Facilitating distribution grid network simulation through automated common information model data conversion

In R&D projects as well as in development work, simulations of grid configurations and control methods are a common tool for assessing different technical options. At the same time, these simulations are often limited by difficulties in data exchange, simply due to the fact that systems are not compatible and data format in operational systems is not aligned with data in simulation and analysis tools. To this extent a tool has been developed that allows large scale import of real-world grid data using CIM XML to state of the art simulation tools based on MATLAB. The tool is used in a large FP7 project involving leading European DSOs.