---

name: network-io-data description: "Load, save, and validate PyPSA networks across CSV folders, netCDF, HDF5, Excel, cloud paths, and external import converters." disable-model-invocation: true metadata: disco-role: operating license: MIT

Network I/O and Data Formats

Use this sub-skill for PyPSA tasks that import, export, repair, or round-trip network data and example-network loads.

Use when

• Network(import_name=...) must load from a CSV folder, netCDF, HDF5, Excel file, URL, or cloud URI.
• You need import_from_* or export_to_* format guidance.
• You need CSV folder layout, netCDF, HDF5, Excel, cloud object storage, or external converter behavior.
• You need example-network cache or download behavior.

Do not use for

• Component meaning, schema design, or network assembly details; use ../network-modeling/SKILL.md.
• Optimization or power-flow after loading; use ../optimization-powerflow/SKILL.md.
• Statistics, plotting, or clustering on loaded networks; use ../analysis-visualization/SKILL.md.

Start here

1. Read references/data-formats.md for supported formats, file layouts, and format choice rules.
2. Read references/import-export-workflows.md for load/save/repair/round-trip workflows.
3. Read references/optional-io-dependencies.md before using HDF5, Excel, cloud paths, or external converters.
4. Read references/troubleshooting.md for layout, dependency, version, cache, and converter failures.
5. Run scripts/pypsa_io_roundtrip_smoke.py to check tiny CSV and netCDF round-trips.

Primary API surface

• pypsa.Network(import_name=...)
• Network.import_from_csv_folder(...) / export_to_csv_folder(...)
• Network.import_from_netcdf(...) / export_to_netcdf(...)
• Network.import_from_hdf5(...) / export_to_hdf5(...)
• Network.import_from_excel(...) / export_to_excel(...)
• Network.import_from_pypower_ppc(...)
• Network.import_from_pandapower_net(...)
• pypsa.examples.<name>() and pypsa.examples.clear_cache()

Validation hints

• Prefer netCDF for large or solved networks.
• Use CSV when you need a human-readable folder layout or folder-based cloud storage.
• Validate a round-trip with a fresh Network and equals(...), then confirm snapshots, meta, and CRS if relevant.
• If a format is unavailable, fall back to CSV or netCDF and explain the missing optional dependency.