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Self-Organized Synchronization in Decentralized Power Grids

Martin Rohden, Andreas Sorge, Marc Timme, and Dirk Witthaut
Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 064101 – Published 9 August 2012
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Abstract

Robust synchronization (phase locking) of power plants and consumers centrally underlies the stable operation of electric power grids. Despite current attempts to control large-scale networks, even their uncontrolled collective dynamics is not fully understood. Here we analyze conditions enabling self-organized synchronization in oscillator networks that serve as coarse-scale models for power grids, focusing on decentralizing power sources. Intriguingly, we find that whereas more decentralized grids become more sensitive to dynamical perturbations, they simultaneously become more robust to topological failures. Decentralizing power sources may thus facilitate the onset of synchronization in modern power grids.

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  • Received 25 June 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.064101

© 2012 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Power Falls in Sync

Published 9 August 2012

According to network theory, decentralizing a power grid to accommodate more energy sources may improve the synchronization of its components.

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Authors & Affiliations

Martin Rohden1, Andreas Sorge1, Marc Timme1,2, and Dirk Witthaut1

  • 1Network Dynamics Group, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), D–37077 Göttingen, Germany
  • 2Faculty of Physics, Georg August University Göttingen, Germany

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Issue

Vol. 109, Iss. 6 — 10 August 2012

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