SUGAR-R: Robust Online Restoration Platform for SCADA-Absent Grid

TL;DR

This paper presents SUGAR-R, an online, SCADA-independent grid restoration platform that dynamically updates local grid models in real-time to enable secure and efficient blackstart procedures, especially useful in cyber-blackout scenarios.

Contribution

It introduces a novel online framework for localized grid restoration that operates without relying on SCADA, using real-time measurements to maintain and update grid topology.

Findings

Successfully maintains voltage and frequency within bounds during blackstart.

Enables synchronization of disconnected sub-grids in real-time.

Demonstrates effectiveness in both simulated and practical scenarios.

Abstract

Secure and fast grid restoration from a collapsed state is increasingly critical as blackouts are becoming more prevalent around the globe. Generally, the restoration of grid during a blackout is achieved with the help of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) based central control; however, with the threat of cyber-blackouts, this presumption of an available and secure SCADA system is not valid. This is also true for grids in developing countries as well as for many distribution and micro grids that lack SCADA. In this paper, we introduce an online framework for localized grid restoration that validates and updates a pre-defined crank path in real-time based on the vital grid states of voltages, currents and frequency. The proposed framework maintains an online network topology of the localized grid that can continuously sample local measurements and update the grid model, thereby circumventing SCADA based central control. In the results section we demonstrate the efficacy of this framework for blackstart by ensuring a feasible crank path with voltage and frequency states within bounds, while further assisting in synchronization of two disconnected sub-grids during the re-energization process using a distributed framework.