PlanOS grid planning software

PlanOS was developed with layered data management and version control at its core, so every change in assumptions can be recorded and tracked. When something shifts, such as load forecasts, policy assumptions, or stakeholder inputs, you can create a new branch or version without losing the history. This helps teams stay aligned, since everyone can see what changed, who made the change, and how it affects different scenarios.

PlanOS uses a unified data model built on an entity-model relationship framework, allowing the same input entities and shared transmission parameters to be used across planning functions.

Capacity expansion shifts the transmission network from nodal to zonal, enabling the model to efficiently handle long-term investment decisions. It adds granularity to the decision space by simulating how the system operates economically and how it can be built out over time, accounting for reliability and policy constraints.

When you need more detailed downstream analysis, those zonal results must be translated back to the higher-dimensional nodal network. The team is working with users to address the challenges of nodal site selection.

Yes. Production Cost modeling increases temporal granularity to reflect operational constraints of system resources while simplifying physical Power Flow calculations. As grid complexity grows, it is important to consider operating conditions beyond traditional dispatch used in Power Flow analysis. PlanOS’ data framework was developed to map Production Cost results directly into Power Flow inputs, helping to improve fidelity and accuracy when carrying dispatch conditions into steady-state or dynamic studies.

When processing multiple-generation dispatches or transmission configurations, start by creating a single base case, either a revised network or a branch of the network you’re working with. Set each test as a scenario under that base, so everything stays anchored to the same starting point. Then use the Power Flow and Production Cost tools to study contingencies, re-dispatch, and how flows shift across scenarios.

PlanOS runs as a high-performance compute platform on the server side, whether hosted on-prem or in the cloud. It supports parallel simulations, so larger and more detailed models run faster. Production Cost, Capacity Expansion, Resource Adequacy, and contingency and transfer analysis are all natively parallel. PlanOS can distribute jobs across as many compute resources as you allocate, as long as the server has capacity.

Power Flow runs asynchronously, which means multiple users can submit simulations at the same time, and the system will process them as resources open up.

GE Vernova’s proprietary Contingency Analysis (evaluates the impact of potential issues or unexpected events) and Transfer Analysis (evaluates the maximum amount of power that can be moved without violating system limits) capabilities will be native functionalities available for both Power Flow and Resource Adequacy analysis. This simplifies the number of software applications and APIs needed to interface with the software. Unlike other solutions, GE Vernova’s PlanOS also has built-in algorithmic processing and analytical capabilities. This enables faster analysis without relying on third-party algorithmic processing software, simplifying your IT infrastructure for planning analysis, and helps save your business time and money.

PlanOS is enabled with proprietary APIs for file conversion before or after analysis efforts, making it compatible with most industry file formats and planning software.

Yes, the functions of PlanOS can comply with different grid codes, connection standards, industry mechanisms, and user requirements. This global approach allows GE Vernova to effectively apply lessons learned from developed regions to developing areas, addressing universal and localized grid challenges.

Yes, AI and machine learning (ML) are on the roadmap. The team is exploring collaborations in the AI and ML space, including GenAI and agent-based approaches, and will share more as those capabilities take shape.

GE Vernova collaborates with our customers, system operators, regulators, policymakers, and developers worldwide to incorporate various regulatory and industry-leading enhancements into the software.

Additionally, we are our own customer. GE Vernova’s Consulting Services uses PlanOS for our global studies and assessments. We have developed and maintained commercially available models of over 50 countries, adapting to different grid codes, connection standards, and industry mechanisms.