AI to Help Power Grids Resist Disruptions

> "The U.S. Department of Energy will explore whether artificial intelligence could help electric grids handle power fluctuations, avoid failures, resist damage, and recover faster from major storms, cyberattacks, solar flares and other disruptions."

- Power fluctuations are currently handled via AGC and automatic load shed software (Hz control) and a mixture of automatic and operator-controlled capacitors/reactors (Voltage control). I think the current solutions have these problems "handled," but perhaps AI will help utilities better predict when such grid disturbing events are about to occur.

> "GRIP's first year is devoted to anticipating grid problems. Predictive analytics will help identify places where the electric grid is vulnerable to disruption so it can be reinforced, Kiliccote says."

- Predictive analytics is already heavily used. We have Real-Time Contingency Analysis, Security Analysis, and Power Flow.

> "The second year will aim to help grids absorb disruptions. For instance, a grid can be divided into virtual "islands," or micro-grids, that can be isolated to prevent a power disruption from spreading and taking down the entire grid"

- This is already done via selective tripping with the industry standard SEL relays.

> "The third year will focus on helping grids recover from events. 'Ultimately, we'd like to see a grid that can run on its own, an autonomous grid like an autonomous car,' Kiliccote says. 'However, unlike autonomous cars, an autonomous grid will need to be able to handle additional components added to it while it is still running.'"

- I think autonomous grids sound nice, but from a safety perspective, I'm not so sure. I think you'd want to have a lineman patrol the suspect power line before the line is test-energized.

I'd love to hear from those more well-versed in AI about the application of AI for the electric grid.

[1] http://charm.cs.illinois.edu/newPapers/11-40/contingency_201...