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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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?
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.
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
