Enabling System Flexibility in Smart Grid Architecture

Abstract

Electric power grids are witnessing fundamental transformations in their planning and operation paradigms, driven by the ambitious targets of sustainable and decarbonized smart grids (SGs). Grid modernization efforts have added several layers of complexity and uncertainty to the grid infrastructure and have affected the fundamental power systems planning and management models. This work adopts a systems engineering (SE) methodology to manage and optimize the grid architecture and maximize its structure flexibility to manage the increasing complexity and uncertainty of modern power grids. We develop a numerical framework that leverages the design structure matrix (DSM) tool to quantify the system-wide impacts of adopting promising emerging technologies based on their readiness levels and grid modernization efforts and evaluate their system integration risks. Using the delta DSM, we propose a technology infusion index metric to assess the risk-importance trade-off for SG upgrades on the overall grid structure. The results demonstrate that the impacts on the system differ significantly from the maturity assessments of individual technologies, which often overlook the necessity of function coordination. The developed SE approach offers valuable insights for power system planners and policymakers, equipping them with a strategic and quantifiable framework to prioritize grid investments and optimize overall grid benefits.