Study: “Grid-Edge Devices” in Homes Could Help During Power Outages

Harnessing energy resources in homes and vehicles could help make power grids more resilient in the event of outages from cyberattacks or disasters, a recent study indicates.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, discusses how “decentralized devices” could stabilize the power grid in the event of such an outage. “Several attacks in power systems have been recently reported on the central control systems, key nodes in the distribution grid, or on devices at the end-user level” said the article. Recent cyberattacks have devastated large, centralized power plants, which affect the residential customers connected to that part of the grid.

An easy solution to combating these attacks is to have more localized electricity markets, the study indicates. If there is an attack on our power plants, “grid-edge” resources, which can “independently generate, store, or tune their consumption power,” can be coordinated to provide backup power to mitigate an outage.

“Grid-edge” devices could include “residential solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and water heaters” that contain sensors and software that connect to the internet, could easily be consolidated into a “local electricity market” that would be tapped in the event of an attack or natural disaster. Having these so-called “internet-of-things” devices either put power into the grid or reduce their consumption would ensure that many households still get power in a worst-case scenario.

The study, conducted by engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, tested its algorithm on a number of outage scenarios that would result in the loss of between 5 and 40 percent of power in a grid, assuming that some nodes are attacked and some are still available. The algorithm determines which grid-edge devices can be tapped to provide help. In all scenarios, the grid was stabilized.

The largest issue with these solutions is actually getting them implemented. There needs to be a “buy-in from customers, policymakers, and local officials,” as well as innovations in power conversion equipment, the study states. However, the concept presents another way that the U.S. could meet the electricity challenges of the future.