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Utilities can use open-source collaboration to build shared grid software instead of separately recreating the same infrastructure or relying entirely on proprietary systems. A March 2022 Linux Foundation Research case study follows Dutch distribution system operator Alliander and French transmission system operator RTE as they worked through LF Energy on three projects: SEAPATH, CoMPAS and OpenSTEF. The projects addressed different needs, from substation automation to short-term forecasting; they were not one all-in-one grid product.
Why the utilities looked beyond building alone
Renewable generation makes electricity supply less predictable, while demand and congestion put new pressure on grid operations. The Linux Foundation Research report describes Alliander and RTE confronting these shared modernization challenges alongside a shortage of specialized software development capacity.
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The organizations faced a choice between developing every needed component themselves, buying proprietary products and customizing them, or collaborating on reusable software. The case study argues that shared components could reduce duplicated work and supplier lock-in, while leaving room for utilities and vendors to build differentiated products above common infrastructure. Alliander leader Allard Stam summarized the reuse principle: “You don’t reinvent things. You reuse what’s available and build on top of it.” The statement appears in the report, which presents the experience of these participants rather than an independently audited industry-wide result.
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Three projects addressed different parts of the problem
The collaboration took shape through LF Energy projects with distinct roles. The report does not provide a controlled product comparison or a current feature matrix; these descriptions reflect the projects as presented in the March 2022 case study.
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| Project | Purpose in the case study | Grid workflow |
|---|---|---|
| SEAPATH | A virtualized platform and reference design for substation automation. | Substation automation infrastructure. |
| CoMPAS | Configuration modules for power-industry automation systems. | Configuration and interoperability in automation systems. |
| OpenSTEF | Short-term energy forecasting software intended to produce more precise load forecasts. | Forecasting to support renewable integration and demand balancing. |
Rather than treating modernization as a single software purchase, the projects focused on reusable building blocks across separate technical workflows. That modular approach matters because a forecasting tool, a substation platform and automation configuration modules solve different problems even when they contribute to a more interoperable grid.
What the case study says open collaboration can change
The Linux Foundation’s report landing page says the utilities learned that joining forces could enable more software solutions and development “up to ten times faster” than proprietary-only work. This is the case study’s headline claim, not a controlled benchmark or a promise that any utility project will move at that speed. Its significance is the proposed mechanism: multiple organizations can contribute capacity to common components instead of duplicating the same foundational work.
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Open collaboration also changes who gets a say. Participants share influence over project direction, and the work requires communication, documentation and coordination. The case study describes RTE entering through open scenario modeling, then considering governance that would give partners confidence that the work would not be controlled solely by RTE. Alliander, meanwhile, had previously tried an open-source project that failed because the organization was not culturally ready. Together, these examples show that publishing code is not enough: collaboration depends on organizational readiness and credible decision-making.
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The report recounts Alliander’s expectations and conditions at the time; its figures should not be read as current statistics. Alliander expected demand to double over the following ten years, and its then-current account described more than 900 congestion points. Those were report-era statements, not verified 2026 measurements or present-day forecasts.
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The case study’s European setting also matters. Alliander operates as a distribution system operator in the Netherlands, while RTE is a transmission system operator in France. Their experience illustrates one cross-organizational approach, not a claim that every country’s regulatory, ownership or grid-operating context is identical.
A practical approach other utilities can take
The case study’s advice is organizational as much as technical. A utility considering shared software can use the following sequence to make the collaboration manageable:
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- Choose a genuinely shared problem. Look for infrastructure needs that recur across organizations, where shared components could prevent duplicated effort.
- Start with a limited commitment. A small initial investment helps contain risk while participants learn whether they can work together effectively.
- Make the work visible. Document discussions, decisions and the reasons behind them so partners can understand how the project is progressing and why it has taken a direction.
- Set governance and boundaries. Agree how decisions are made, how partners participate and where shared code ends and proprietary intellectual property begins. Participants must accept less unilateral control in return for shared input.
- Build an open-source program office. An OSPO can coordinate compliance, internal education, partner collaboration and community building.
- Hire for collaboration. Technical skill matters, but the report also emphasizes people able to work across teams, discuss disagreements and reach constructive decisions.
These measures do not eliminate the overhead of open development. They make responsibilities and expectations more explicit, which is particularly important when utilities and other partners need confidence that shared infrastructure will not be governed for one participant’s benefit alone.
What this case study can—and cannot—show
Shuli Goodman’s report, published by Linux Foundation Research in March 2022 with a foreword by Jean-Michel Glachant, is a case study based on the participating organizations’ experience and the report’s analysis. It is not a current project-status update, a controlled experiment or an independent verification of outcomes. Its most useful lesson is therefore practical rather than universal: utilities facing overlapping software needs can explore shared open-source infrastructure, but success depends on governance, organizational readiness and sustained coordination as much as on code.
Read the Linux Foundation Research report overview or the full March 2022 report PDF. A related Linux Foundation blog summary and LF Energy case-study summary provide additional context.
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