North American Power-Grid Network - Failures and Opportunities

Explore the complexities of cascading failures in electrical grids through this 23-minute conference talk presented by Adilson E. Motter at the APS April Meeting 2019 in Denver, CO. Delve into a full-scale modeling of the U.S.-South Canada power-grid network, uncovering the vulnerable components that can trigger widespread system failures. Gain insights into how network connections, while essential for functionality, can also facilitate the spread of localized issues. Discover the topologically central portion of the network that is particularly susceptible to cascading failures and learn how initial failures near this set can disproportionately lead to large-scale disruptions. Examine the implications of these findings for grid design and operation, and explore potential mitigation strategies through control and regulation solutions. Consider the relevance of this research in the context of increasing integration of renewable energy from intermittent sources.