PowerGEM Training

Please contact us if you have any questions about training by PowerGEM

On-site Training

PowerGEM provides specialized on site training for all of our Power Systems Analysis Software.

Our training is provided by engineers with extensive experience working with large scale production models utilized throughout the United States by Utilities, RTOs, and ISOs. PowerGEM prefers using client data for on site training, or we can provide a sample data set. We will do all the training using the data provided allowing the examples to be immediately relevant to the audience. We believe that using full scale client data provides the most efficient ways to learn software while solving real life problems. Using 75,000 buses LF cases and 500+ contingencies is common during our training. PowerGEM will work with the client to customize training agenda to address the most critical client needs and applications of interest. We conduct multiple on site trainings per year with the typical duration being 2.5 - 4 days.

General Training at PowerGEM Offices

PowerGEM offers a generalized training that is offered to all licensed TARA users. Users will need to register in advance as the training will be limited in total number of attendees. This training is scheduled at the PowerGEM offices and will be announced as it is available. This general training will use a data set that is freely available, large enough for real examples, but does not represent any actual physical systems.

Online Training Sessions

PowerGEM can provide gotoMeeting/WebEx based training sessions focused on a few specific software features. We can focus on any particular application, help troubleshoot specific issues, or we can help to setup specialized analysis. PowerGEM also offers an online course on Python. The course begins with general Python training leading into the use of the PowerGEM python package, pyPowerGEM. pyPowerGEM combines with TARA to allow for the use of the python programming language for case management and power system analysis.

Training Videos

PowerGEM provides the following videos to all users who have licensed out software. Please contact us if you have registered PowerGEM software and there are additional topics you would like to see covered

Many of the training videos include navigation links in their descriptions. The navigation links include a short description of what topic is being covered at that specific time in the video. The password for the video must be entered before the navigation links will work.

  • Introduction (5 Videos 55 Minutes)
    • add_circle_outline TARA 10000 foot view (9:19)
      This video is intended to orient the first time TARA user after the program is installed. ("What do I do first? Where am I ?") The computing structure and fundamentals of the TARA interface and relation to the engine, scripts, and log file are introduced
    • add_circle_outline Navigating TARA (9:05)
      This video introduces the menu, ribbon, and right mouse click navigation of TARA, producing and saving reports, and TARA routine usage.
    • add_circle_outline Sample System and Visualizations (10:08)
      This video introduces the sample system used for later data editing and applications examples in other videos. Tabular and one-line data visualization is covered, including the TARA Bus Diagram Function.
    • add_circle_outline TARA Data (11:54)
      TARA data requirements and input data formats are introduced. The objective is to make users comfortable with all fields in the TARA input file menu, describe required versus optional data, and review when each input file is needed. A discussion of monitored elements, contingencies, flowgates, and interfaces may be helpful to TARA users and engineers newer to power systems analysis.
    • add_circle_outline TARA Power Flow (14:59)
      The different formats that TARA supports. Loading a case to TARA and checking a case. Handling multiple cases as an input, and producing an output case from the viewer with changes (load scaling), inch files
  • TARA Input Data (4 Videos 37 Minutes)
    • add_circle_outline TARA Study Data (8:29)
      This video is an overview of the TARA study (subsystem) data file format and most commonly used features
      00:12 – Introduction
      00:43 – Example Study Data File
      00:52 – Defining Subsystems
      01:48 – Subsystem Statement Syntax
      02:02 – Example Subsystem Statements
      02:23 – EXCEPT keyword
      03:01 – Generator and Load scaling methods
      03:58 – PARTICIPATE Keyword
      04:52 – JOIN Keyword
      05:29 – Viewing Subsystem Details in TARA
      06:47 – PARS Keyword
      07:11 – PLANTTYPE Keyword
      07:37 – GEN_QZERO Keyword
      07:51 – FAST_SHUNTS Keyword
    • add_circle_outline TARA Monitored Elements (9:17)
      This video is an overview of the TARA monitored data file formats
      00:13 – Introduction
      00:37 – Example Monitored Elements File
      00:47 – Parameters to monitor
      02:55 – Monitoring Branch Limits
      03:43 – Monitoring Voltage Limits
      05:57 – Monitoring Flowgate Limits
      07:46 – Monitoring Area Ties
      07:55 – Monitor Type Descriptor
    • add_circle_outline TARA Contingency Data (11:15)
      This video discusses the contingency file input to TARA and how to review contingency input data in the TARAViewer
      00:11 – Introduction
      00:50 – Example Contingency Statements
      01:30 – Contingency Keywords
      01:54 – Contingency Events
      04:35 – Creating Contingency Definitions
      05:13 – Contingency List Report
      06:56 – Contingency Analysis Functions Menu
      08:36 – Contingency Types
    • add_circle_outline TARA Exclude File (8:26)
      This video discusses the exclude file including applications, format, and interactive ways to create exclude file
      00:11 – Introduction
      00:30 – Exclude Functions
      01:35 – Example Exclude Statements
      03:41 – Soft Exclude
      04:34 – Modifying Certain Load Flow Branch Ratings
      07:50 – Exclude Comments
  • N-1 Contingency Analysis (4 Videos 49 Minutes)
    • add_circle_outline Analyzing Contingencies (12:31)
      This video shows how to review defined contingencies, how to check contingency modeling details, and how to analyze individual contingency calculations. This lays the groundwork for other contingency analysis applications
    • add_circle_outline N-1 Contingency Analysis (14:24)
      This video explains the N-1 contingency analysis process, how to run the analysis and, and how to review results in TARA
      00:06 – What is an "N-1" Contingency?
      00:37 – How TARA runs N-1 Contingency Analysis
      01:54 – Objective in Reporting
      02:21 – Setting up an N-1 AC Contingency Analysis
      03:01 – AC Post-Contingency Load Flow Options
      04:25 – Loading Cutoff for branch violations
      05:07 – Running a Contingency Analysis
      05:37 – Monitoring a lengthy Contingency Analysis run
      06:05 – Report Manager
      06:55 – Finding Non-Converged solutions
      07:31 – Voltage and Flow "Smart" Cutoffs
      08:30 – Branch Violations Report
      10:18 – Voltage Violations Report
      10:58 – Mismatch Report
      13:27 – TARA N-1 run Problem Diagnosis Tools
    • add_circle_outline Understanding N-1 Cutoff Selections (9:31)
      This video explains N-1 contingency analysis cutoffs and how to configure them correctly in TARA
      00:17 – Introduction
      00:29 – What are N-1 Cutoff Selections?
      01:10 – What Cutoffs are Available
      01:59 – General Options Menu "Smart" Cutoff Selections
      04:18 – DC Contingency Analysis Percent Loading Cutoff
      05:40 – AC Contingency Analysis Percent Loading Cutoff
      06:13 – Max Times to Show a Facility Cutoff
      07:35 – Voltage Magnitude Limit Adder Cutoff
    • add_circle_outline Working with Monitored Element and MonCont Wizard (13:18)
      Working with monitored elements and using the mon/con wizard available in the TARA viewer.
      00:15 – introduction
      00:35 – Monitored Element Types
      1:55 – Contingency Types
      6:13 – Exclude File
      8:36 – Mon/Con Wizard
  • Security Constrained Dispatch (2 Videos 23 Minutes)
    • add_circle_outline Security Constrained Dispatch (8:03)
      An introduction to the fundamental concepts of TARA Security-Constrained Dispatch.
      00:11 – Introduction
      00:34 – What does Security Constrained Dispatch (SCD) Do?
      01:18 – Security Constrained Economic Dispatch (SCED)
      02:20 – Security Constrained Re-Dispatch (SCRD)
      03:05 – Preventive Mode
      03:28 – Corrective Mode
      04:04 – Reviewing initial DC Contingency Analysis
      04:52 – Setting up and Running Security Constrained Re-Dispatch (SCRD)
      05:43 – Reviewing Results
      06:16 – Penalty Pricing and Shadow Pricing
      06:50 – Viewing Generator re-dispatch based on constraints
      07:31 – Saving new N-1 Secure case
    • add_circle_outline Security Constrained Dispatch - Setup (15:22)
      Options and the data setup necessary to run Security-Constraint Dispatch in TARA.
      00:13 – Introduction
      01:32 – SCED Setup
      02:42 – SCRD Setup
      04:01 – Viewing Selected Generator Subsystem Data
      05:13 – Penalty Factors and how they affect Generator Dispatch
      07:50 – DC SCD Solution modes
      09:14 – AC SCD Solution mode
      09:55 – Study Data input file
      10:15 – Defining Subsystems
      11:20 – PLANTTYPE Keyword
      11:51 – Defining Phase Angle Regulators (PARS)
      13:00 – Pnode and Bids files added by %include statement
      13:40 – Exclude input file
  • N-1-1 Contingency Analysis (2 Videos 27 Minutes)
    • add_circle_outline Introduction to N-1-1 Analysis (10:09)
      An introduction to running N-1-1 contingency analysis in TARA
      00:13 – Introduction
      00:32 – Why do we run N-1-1 Analysis?
      01:23 – Defining N-1-1
      02:21 – How TARA analyzes N-1-1
      04:24 – File setup
      05:12 – Options
      09:19 – Parallel Processing
    • add_circle_outline N-1-1 Contingency Analysis with SCD (16:56)
      This video explains how to complete an N-1-1 contingency analysis with security constrained dispatch.
      00:13 – Introduction
      00:40 – Why do we run SCRD in N-1-1 mode
      02:23 – Run and evaluate initial Contingency Analysis
      04:15 – Setup and Options for SCRD
      08:28 – Selecting Reports
      09:14 – Run SCRD and Review Binding Constraints
      10:30 – Enable 'Load Shed' in SCRD run
      11:32 – N-1-1 Branch Loadings
      13:33 – Generator Redispatch
      14:20 – Phase Shifter Redispatch
      15:06 – Voltage Violations
      16:00 – Non-Converged Contingencies
  • Distribution Factors (3 Videos 25 Minutes)
    • add_circle_outline DC Linear Power Flow (8:03)
      Concepts of linear power flow. Distribution Factor (DFAX) introduction. DFAX reference. Linear Contingency Analysis.
    • add_circle_outline DC Distribution Factors (8:34)
      Using DFAX to see the relative effect of generation shifts. Using DFAX to see the relative effect of transfers, and other DFAX uses. Linear transfer analysis. When are DFAX valid to use and when are they invalid?
    • add_circle_outline Manual Generation Redispatch (9:11)
      Generation redispatch calculator. Using the Generation redispatch calculator and its relationship to SCRD
  • Transfer Limit, PV/QV (3 Video 45 Minutes)
    • add_circle_outline Thermal Transfer Limit Analysis (21:19)
      How to setup and run TARA Transfer Limit Analysis.
      00:14 – Introduction
      00:41 – Objective
      01:23 – Using Subsystems
      02:10 – Calculating Transfer Limits
      04:00 – Types of Transfer Analysis
      05:30 – Study Data File
      06:45 – Generator Scaling Methods
      08:45 – Subsystem report
      13:03 – Running a single flowgate DC Proportional Scale Transfer Analysis
      15:25 – Running AC verification
      17:12 – Running multiple flowgate Transfer Analysis
      18:28 – Batch Mode
      19:20 – Generator Deliverability
    • add_circle_outline TARA PV Analysis Part 1 (8:43)
      Discusses how to setup PV analysis in TARA using the TARAViewer
      0:14 – Introduction
      0:45 – Why run PV Analysis
      1:27 – Importance of Screening Contingencies
      2:44 – Input files
      4:39 – Screening setup and options
      6:45 – Reviewing Results
    • add_circle_outline TARA PV Analysis Part 2 (15:18)
      Discusses how to run PV analysis in TARA using the TARAViewer
      0:14 – Introduction
      0:30 – PV Analysis Process
      1:45 – Analysis setup Options
      6:30 – Run the PV Analysis
      7:37 – PV Analysis Reports
      12:11 – Graphing PV analysis results
  • Flowgate Screening (1 Video 13 Minutes)
    • add_circle_outline TARA Flowgate Screen (13:40)
      Discusses how to run flowgate screening in TARA.
      00:10 – Introduction
      00:34 – Goals/objectives of flowgate Screen
      01:42 – What does Flowgate Screen do?
      04:05 – Set-up
      10:36 – Running Flowgate screen and reviewing Screening Summary Report
  • TARAViewer and Batch Automation (3 Videos 25 Minutes)
    • add_circle_outline PROBE Compare Report (3:46)
      Comparing data and reports in PowerGEM software. Is applicable to both TARA and PROBE
    • add_circle_outline TARA Batch Mode Automation (16:55)
      Video discussing the configuration of batch automation in the TARAViewer. Batch automation can be used to run multiple analysis, such as N-1 contingency analysis, in parallel or series.
      00:11 – Introduction
      00:29 – What is Batch Mode? and why do we use it?
      01:35 – Choosing Options and Creating a new Batch Process worksheet
      03:05 – Example Batch Process Worksheet
      05:02 – Menu options and Setting filepaths in the Batch Process worksheet
      07:20 – Selecting which Study to complete in Batch Mode
      07:56 – Selecting Reports
      08:24 – Running a Batch Process
      08:58 – Killing a Batch Process
      09:17 – Monitoring a Batch Process Run
      10:29 – Reviewing Batch Run Reports
      11:54 – Isolating a Specific Scenario for Further Analysis
      12:28 – Example Batch Process setup to run SCRD for Optimal Dispatch
      13:22 – Saving Scenario cases during Batch Mode Run using "Analysis Run Time Options" statement
      14:19 – Setting up a Batch Process worksheet from the Transfer Limits (TRLIM) Applications Tab
      16:03 – Merging Reports
      16:20 – Saving Batch Mode Scenario Load Flow cases with inch files applied
    • add_circle_outline TARA Importing and Exporting Options (5:35)
      How to save the TARA Options used in TARAViewer by exporting and importing the options as a text file.
      0:00 - TARA Options overview. Two ways to save options - Exporting TARA options vs saving TARA Workbooks
      1:38 – Importing an options file into a new TARAViewer, setting file paths, and confirming files exist
      2:40 – Exporting the options file for the TARAViewer, exporting the LoadFlow options as YAML
      3:30 – Different settings for how to import options files
      4:36 – Saving TARA workbooks – allows saving options and reports, use for reports comparison, to run multiple
      instances of TARA
  • TARA Studio (5 Videos 96 Minutes)
    • add_circle_outline Introduction to TARA Studio (9:43)
      Introducing TARA Studio. An application used to visualize, edit, and solve load flow cases.
      00:12 – What is TARA Studio?
      00:27 – Introduction
      00:50 – Download TARA as pre-requisite to running Studio
      01:20 – Selecting load flow case and AC Solution Options
      02:34 – Log Viewer
      03:16 – Read, Restore and Save a Case
      04:03 – Starting New Bus Diagram
      05:06 – Starting Simplified One-Line Diagram
      05:51 – Starting two diagrams on One Window
      06:40 – Starting Case Data window
      07:03 – General Settings Options
      07:50 – Diagram Settings Options
      08:16 – Color Scheme Options
      08:41 – Solving the Case
      09:10 – Apply an "Inch" file
      09:28 – Case Viewer
    • add_circle_outline Bus Diagram and load flow case editing (14:50)
      How to use bus diagram TARA Studio, customize diagrams, toolbars, how to edit LF cases (add, remove, bus split, tap line…) and recording INCH files
      00:13 – Introduction
      00:46 – Starting a bus diagram
      00:54 – Selecting a bus and using filter criteria
      01:43 – Bus Diagram Center Label and font options
      02:55 – Bus Diagram display options
      04:02 – Sync function
      04:20 – Zoom function
      04:31 – Saving the Bus Diagram
      04:37 – Solving the Case
      04:57 – Solving with AC Solution Options
      05:13 – Applying an "Inch" file
      06:58 – Setting and Saving Color Schemes
      06:37 – Freeze function
      06:55 – Right Data Window
      07:39 – Selecting what Data is Viewable on the Diagram
      07:56 – Saving Visible Data Set
      08:25 – Modifying Visible Data
      09:45 – Editing the Load Flow Case and Solving
      11:05 – Adding a Branch
      12:25 – Adding a Generator
      13:00 – Adding a Bus
    • add_circle_outline One Line Diagram (14:37)
      How to create a one line diagram in TARA Studio. One line diagrams can include multiple buses and can be configured to save the image created. One line diagrams are useful for mapping and modeling a specific part of the transmission system.
      0:12 – Introduction
      1:10 – Getting Started
      1:33 – Creating new diagram
      2:03 – Methods to grow Diagrams
      5:14 – Data window to display and edit Load Flow case data, open branch, saving your display set
      6:36 – Bus position options
      8:16 – Reroute functions
      9:06 – Elbow connectors
      9:26 – LF case editing options
      10:28 – Tool Bar functions lock and freeze save and reading diagram, navigation, zoom, find bus
      13:15 – Multiple windows, dock and undock
      13:45 – Adding a title to the Diagram
    • add_circle_outline TARA Studio Case Data (10:24)
      How to edit LF case, customize data tables, custom views, integration with bus diagrams
      00:10 – Introduction
      00:23 – Opening a Case Data Window
      00:41 – Case Data Window Tool Bar
      01:47 – Right Data Window
      02:06 – Selecting what Data is visible in the Case Data Window
      03:15 – Filtering visible Data using Global Filter
      04:55 – Column Filtering and Sorting Options
      06:01 – Saving Custom Filtering and Sorting sets as "Custom Views"
      07:36 – Editing Load Flow Case
      08:13 – Creating a new Bus
      08:48 – Creating a new Branch
      09:19 – Creating a new Generator
      09:42 – Solving the case and viewing changes
      10:06 – Viewing "Inch" changes history in the log file
    • add_circle_outline UGM 2020 - Studio update and new one-line diagram demo (46:12)
      How to create a one line diagram in TARA Studio. One line diagrams can include multiple buses and can be configured to save the image created. One line diagrams are useful for mapping and modeling a specific part of the transmission system. Includes new features in TARA Studio 2002.1
      00:10 – Studio overview and update
      10:40 – Availability, installation and transitioning to the new version
      12:30 – Demo 1 - creating new diagram
      22:30 – Strategies and methods creating small and large diagrams
      27:04 – Demo 2 - Customizing diagrams
      30:34 – Demo 2 - Editing data from one line diagram
      31:30 – Open line and compare flows via two windows
      33:03 – Adding equipment - tap line, add bus, line, generator…
      35:39 – Recording INCH file and re-applying changes to another case
      39:04 – Notes on saving diagrams
      40:14 – Working with multiple windows
      40:29 – Future Development plans
  • Python (1 Video 56 Minutes)
    • add_circle_outline PowerGEM Python Package, pyPowerGEM, Introduction UGM 2020
      An introduction to pyPowerGEM, the PowerGEM Python Package, including getting stated information, documenation, examples and new features released in 2002.1
      00:44 – Quick Python Background
      05:46 – PowerGEM Python package: pyPowerGEM
      07:25 – Getting Started: pyPowerGEM Distribution has all the pyPowerGEM files
      12:32 – Getting Started: pyPowerGEM Installation
      14:00 – pyPowerGEM Documentation
      20:14 – pyPowerGEM folder of Python example scripts
      21:15 – pyPowerGEM object design: API Object
      22:50 – pyPowerGEM.pyTARA: TARA Python API
      28:31 – pyTARA examples
      33:48 – new pyPowerGEM modules in pyPowerGEM 2002.1
      34:45 – pyPowerGEM.caseComparison: object oriented case comparison
      39:56 – Automating TARA analysis
      44:06 – pyPowerGEM.wrapper wrapper for tara.exe automation
      48:47 – pyPowerGEM.options module for sharing options with TARA Studio and TARAViewer
      53:06 – tara.exe and tara.dll included in pyPowerGEM for convenience
      54:24 – load/gen scaling using INCH inteface
  • TARA New Features (1 Video 53 Minutes)
    • add_circle_outline New TARA Features 2002.1
      Overview of new features in 2002.1 not covered in other UGM presentations. Please see the full release notes for the complete list of new features in 2002.1
      01:18 – major new features in other presentations
      02:06 – miscellaneous new
      02:42 – overviewer of recent TARA releases
      03:43 – new PowerGEM TARA download page
      04:02 – TARA version naming method
      06:03 – TARA viewer runs on 32bit or 64bit excel
      07:11 – Mon/Con Wizard enhancements
      09:04 – Proximity Based Analysis
      12:03 – Transfer test for each bus in subsystem
      15:37 – Launching TARA Studio from TARAViewer with specific bus diagram open
      16:49 – Islanding Analysis Improvements
      21:52 – TARAViewer Options Files
      25:07 – Node Breaker Modeling and Contingencies
      30:25 – TARA handles crashing better with more information
      32:04 – Generator reactive capability curve
      33:21 – Flowgate screening
      37:12 – Report manager: owner info
      38:00 – END statement in sub/mon/con/exc files
      41:24 – Miscellaneous case handling improvements
      43:35 – QV and PV analysis
      45:10 – New INCH features; case merging, load and gen scaling
      50:15 – Voting items from 2019 UGM
  • PROBE (1 Video 49 Minutes)
    • add_circle_outline PROBE Dashboard Tool UGM 2020
      UGM presentation on the data flow in the PROBE dashboard with a demo of the dashboard done by the primary developer
      00:00 – Presentation Outline
      00:55 – What is PROBE Dashboard tool?
      02:13 – Process flow (from PROBE input to output to Dashboard Tool)
      05:20 – Categories of Reports in PROBE Dashboard tool
      09:07 – Demo outline
      10:00 – Single case mode vs Multi case mode
      11:19 – Demo of single case mode
      11:45 – Bidder summary report
      15:45 – Bidder hourly analysis
      18:52 – Flowgate summary report
      20:14 – Flowgate hourly analysis
      22:17 – Zonal analysis and resource mix charts
      26:07 – Bidder GIS analysis
      28:38 – Congestion analysis - Constraints impacting any bidder
      31:35 – Congestion analysis - Harmers/Helpers for any binding constraint
      34:10 – Congestion analysis - Visualizing Harmers/Helpers for any binding constraint on GIS map
      36:57 – Multi-case mode overview
      38:24 – Demo of multi case mode
      39:18 – High level case comparison
      41:20 – Comparing bidders across different cases
      43:46 – Comparing multiple cases via pivot tables

Current PowerGEM Releases

TARA 2002.3 released 1/26/2021
TARA Studio 2002.1.1 released 12/09/2020
pyPowerGEM 2002.1 released 10/20/2020

© PowerGEM 2020