Which Kind of Power Network Topology Is More Robust? Case Study for Design of Power Grids

Power systems around the world exhibit diverse topological characteristics depending on historical and geographical factors. In this paper, we aim to acquire insights into the relationship between the topological characteristics of power systems and their robustness through controlled experiments. To achieve this, we generate synthetic networks that incorporate the generation and load settings of practical power systems. We test various aspects, such as topological properties of regional power grids, interconnections among regional power grids, network sizes, and power balance of regional power grids. We derive inspiring results by performing cascading failure trials in test networks. Specifically, a wide and compact power grid can be more robust than a narrow and elongated power grid. Moreover, increasing the capacity of interconnection links among regional power grids may result in a less robust power system concerning cascading failures.