Automated Grid Disruption Response System

Automated Grid Disruption Response System


Program:
GENI
Award:
$4,878,173
Location:
College Station, Texas
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
03/01/2012 - 06/30/2015

Technology Description:

Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) is using topology control as a mechanism to improve system operations and manage disruptions within the electric grid. The grid is subject to interruption from cascading faults caused by extreme operating conditions, malicious external attacks, and intermittent electricity generation from renewable energy sources. The Robust Adaptive Topology Control (RATC) system is capable of detecting, classifying, and responding to grid disturbances by reconfiguring the grid in order to maintain economically efficient operations while guaranteeing reliability. The RATC system would help prevent future power outages, which account for roughly $80 billion in losses for businesses and consumers each year. Minimizing the time it takes for the grid to respond to expensive interruptions will also make it easier to integrate intermittent renewable energy sources into the grid.

Potential Impact:

If successful, the RATC system would protect the grid from costly interruptions and enable renewable sources of electricity generation to continue supplying power.

Security:

A more efficient, reliable grid would be more resilient to potential disruptions from failure, natural disasters, or attack.

Environment:

Enabling increased use of wind and solar power would result in a substantial decrease in carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S.—40% of which are produced by electricity generation.

Economy:

A more efficient and reliable grid would help protect U.S. businesses from costly power outages and brownouts that stop automated equipment, bring down factories, and crash computers.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Timothy Heidel
Project Contact:
Dr. Mladen Kezunovic
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
kezunov@ece.tamu.edu

Partners

Grid Protection Alliance
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
PowerData Corporation
IncSys
University of California, Berkeley
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Applied Communication Sciences
Arizona State University
Tennessee Valley Authority

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Release Date:
04/20/2011