Managing decisions for smart grid using interdependency modeling

Abstract

Critical infrastructures are vital complex systems for our lives. Electrical grids, gas pipelines, telecommunication networks and transportation roads are examples of those critical infrastructures. Furthermore, critical infrastructures are tightly interconnected one to another, and their interdependencies are more evident during adverse events, such as faults, natural disasters or cyber attacks. Making smart decisions is a hard task for operators. This paper wants to suggest a complete procedure for helping critical infrastructure operators in managing assets during adverse events. CISIApro simulator is an agent-based simulator able to evaluate the risk associated with the consequences of adverse events. The agent ability to produce resources is summarized into the concept of operative level. The output of CISIApro, related to the power infrastructure, is used as input of the unit commitment algorithm as an example of decision making algorithm. In this paper, the unit commitment includes network topology security constraints and a risk-based objective function. This process is validated by means of a reference scenario made of four interconnected infrastructures, within a regional area. Results are presented in order to understand how unit commitment can suggest different solutions based on different risk assessment.