A new method to evaluate network robustness

The results of a study on network robustness by Melvyn Tyloo, Tommaso Coletta and Philippe Jacquod, members of the Energy Efficiency research team of the Institute of Systems Engineering, were published in the latest issue of the renowned American scientific journal “Physical Review Letters”. The researchers developed a fast and reliable method for assessing the vulnerability of a network against changing operational conditions, faults, or external attacks.

The example of power grids

To guarantee the short and medium term operation of networks, their vulnerabilities must be identified. Speed and reliability are important factors in this process, especially for power grids. Permanent assessments help network operators identify the most vulnerable components, which in turns contributes to avoiding outages, interruptions and other inconveniences.

Faster evaluation of vulnerabilities in a context of increasing electricity fluctuations 

Technological developments, in particular in the field of renewable energies, generate production peaks that cannot be controlled. Electricity fluctuations become increasingly frequent and important because of production from solar panels and wind turbines being irregular and weather-dependent. To anticipate potential problems, operators must be able to identify vulnerabilities even faster and more efficiently. Real-time assessments require calculation and diagnosis times to be reduced. Philippe Jacquod and his team have found a new method to identify these vulnerabilities in record time.

A method for all types of networks

This new method is not exclusive to the energy sector. It can be applied to other types of networks such as social networks, information and communication technology networks and others. Philippe Jacquod and his team will further develop their research.

The article can be viewed here.