Microgrids for Resilient Electricity Distribution Networks

We propose a new approach for utilizing distributed energy resources (DERs) and microgrids for improving the resilience of electricity distribution networks to correlated cyber-physical failures. Such failures can result from random faults (e.g, hurricane-induced failures) and/or security attacks (e.g., Ukraine power grid cyberattack). We model the sequential interaction between a strategic adversary and the system operator using a bilevel formulation. The formulation accounts for the impact of correlated failures on the system state (nodal voltages and frequencies), and evaluates the effectiveness of various operator response strategies such as controlled load shedding and DER dispatch in limiting the post-contingency losses. Importantly, we allow for [the formation of] microgrid islands with multiple DERs operating in parallel, each with its own reference point. Our bilevel formulation with microgrid islanding is solvable using the Benders decomposition method. We report several computational experiments to illustrate the resiliency benefits of our approach.