Harnessing the power of grid-edge devices could revolutionize the way we approach power grid resilience, enabling a more decentralized and efficient energy system.
There’s a lot of untapped potential in our homes and vehicles that could be harnessed to reinforce local power grids and make them more resilient to unforeseen outages, a new study shows.
In response to a cyber attack or natural disaster, a backup network of decentralized devices — such as residential solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and water heaters — could restore electricity or relieve stress on the grid. MIT engineers propose a new “local electricity market” that would tap into this power potential by coordinating the efforts of homeowners’ grid-edge devices.
Electric vehicles (EVs) have gained significant attention in recent years due to their environmental benefits and cost-effectiveness.
EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in urban areas.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), EVs accounted for 3% of global car sales in 2020.
Many countries offer incentives for EV adoption, such as tax credits and exemptions from certain fees.
As technology improves, EVs are becoming more affordable and accessible to a wider audience.
A New Framework for Power Grid Resilience
The research team, led by Anu Annaswamy and Vineet Nair from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), developed a framework called EUREICA (Efficient, Ultra-REsilient, IoT-Coordinated Assets). This innovative approach would enable rooftop solar panels, EV chargers, batteries, and smart thermostats to wirelessly connect to a larger network of independent and distributed devices.
In the event of an attack or disruption, operators would run the researchers’ decision-making algorithm to determine trustworthy devices within the network that can pitch in to help mitigate the attack. The algorithm would quickly identify the combination of trustworthy devices that would most effectively restore power or rebalance it by adjusting their consumption.
Testing the Algorithm
The team tested the EUREICA framework on various scenarios, including cyber attacks and natural disasters. They found that the algorithm was able to successfully restabilize the grid and mitigate the attack or power failure in every scenario they tested.
A cyber attack is a deliberate attempt to access, compromise, or destroy an organization's computer systems and data.
These attacks can be launched through various means, including phishing emails, malware, and network vulnerabilities.
According to the FBI, in 2020, there were over 1,000 reported data breaches in the United States alone, resulting in significant financial losses and compromised sensitive information.
Cyber attacks can have severe consequences, making cybersecurity a top priority for individuals and organizations alike.
While implementing such a network of grid-edge devices will require buy-in from customers, policymakers, and local officials, the researchers believe it’s a crucial step towards creating a more resilient power grid. As Annaswamy notes, ‘If we can harness our smart dishwashers, rooftop panels, and EVs, and put our combined shoulders to the wheel, we can really have a resilient grid.‘
The study highlights the potential of grid-edge devices in stabilizing the power grid during attacks or disruptions. By tapping into this untapped potential, we can create a more reliable and efficient energy system for the future.
Renewable energy is generated from natural resources that can be replenished over time, such as sunlight, wind, rain, and geothermal heat.
In recent years, the use of renewable energy has increased significantly due to growing concerns about 'climate change' and 'air pollution'.
Solar power, in particular, has become a leading source of renewable energy, with global solar capacity reaching 720 gigawatts in 2020.
Wind power is another major contributor, with over 740 gigawatts of installed capacity worldwide.
