About MATPOWER

MATPOWER is a package of free, open-source Matlab-language M-files for solving steady-state power system simulation and optimization problems, such as:

  • power flow (PF),
  • continuation power flow (CPF),
  • extensible optimal power flow (OPF),
  • unit commitment (UC) and
  • stochastic, secure multi-interval OPF/UC.

It is intended as a simulation tool for researchers and educators that is easy to use and modify. MATPOWER is designed to give the best performance possible while keeping the code simple to understand and modify.


Impact

MATPOWER has been enabling research and education related to the economic, environmental and engineering aspects of electric power grids for more than two decades, with tremendous positive impact.

  • MATPOWER is among the most cited research from Cornell University’s Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, with over 750 citations in 2018 alone.
  • In recent years, MATPOWER has been downloaded more than 22,000 times per year.
  • MATPOWER is used in over 100 countries for research as well as for teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses related to power systems, preparing students to create a more sustainable energy future.

The majority of research in the field of energy today relies on software as a primary research tool. MATPOWER is such a research-enabling tool as evidenced by the number of researchers citing it.