PowSyBl: Open Source Powering Europe’s Digital Grid Sovereignty

PowSyBl (Power System Blocks) is an open source library that enables grid operators, researchers, and vendors to model, visualize, and simulate Europe’s complex power systems. Originally developed by RTE and open sourced in 2019 under LF Energy, PowSyBl became part of Linux Foundation Europe (LF Europe) in 2025 to further align with the EU’s digital sovereignty and energy transition goals. Its modular, Java-based design allows transmission system operators (TSOs) and regional coordination centers (RCCs) to build customized grid analysis tools—from load flow and dynamic simulations to CGMES data exchange—without dependence on proprietary software.

Today, PowSyBl underpins critical European grid operations. It is used by RTE, Elia, and multiple RCCs—including Baltic RCC, CORESO, and SeleneCC—and plays a central role in the CorNet program, which integrates more than 30 TSOs across Europe through a unified Common Grid Model. The successful go-live of the European Merging Function in 2024, built on PowSyBl modules like Open Load Flow and OpenRAO, marks a major milestone in achieving cross-border coordination and grid security.

By hosting PowSyBl within LF Europe, the project now benefits from a trusted, neutral governance model and increased visibility within EU research and regulatory frameworks. This community-led approach ensures that Europe’s most critical grid software remains transparent, interoperable, and under collective stewardship—demonstrating how open source can deliver both technological excellence and strategic autonomy for Europe’s energy future.