Optimal location of reinforced inertia to stabilize power grids

Abstract

The increasing adoption of renewable energy sources has significantly reduced the inertia in the modernized power grid, making the system more vulnerable. One way to stabilize the grid is to add extra inertia from unused turbines, called the fast frequency response (FFR), to the existing grid. However, reinforcing inertia can cause unintended consequences, such as more significant avalanche failures. This phenomenon is known as the Braess paradox. Here, we propose a method to find the optimal position of FFR. This method is applied to the second-order Kuramoto model to find an effective position to mitigate cascading failures. To address this, we propose a method to evaluate a ratio between the positive effects of mitigation and the negative consequences. Through this analysis, we find that the peripheral area of the network is a seemingly effective location for inertia reinforcement across various reinforcement scales. This strategy provides essential insights for enhancing the stability of power grids in a time of widespread renewable energy usage.