Spatio-temporal complexity of power-grid frequency fluctuations

TL;DR

This paper investigates the complex spatio-temporal fluctuations of power-grid frequency in the Nordic Grid, revealing distinct stochastic behaviors and transitions between different superstatistical regimes at various locations and time scales.

Contribution

It introduces superstatistical analysis to characterize local frequency fluctuations and identifies spatially varying stochastic regimes and their transitions over time.

Findings

Different locations exhibit distinct superstatistical behaviors.

Transitions between superstatistics occur as the time lag changes.

Frequency fluctuations display complex, location-dependent stochastic patterns.

Abstract

Power-grid systems constitute one of the most complex man-made spatially extended structures. These operate with strict operational bounds to ensure synchrony across the grid. This is particularly relevant for power-grid frequency, which operates strictly at $50\,$Hz ($60\,$Hz). Nevertheless, small fluctuations around the mean frequency are present at very short time scales $<2$ seconds and can exhibit highly complex spatio-temporal behaviour. Here we apply superstatistical data analysis techniques to measured frequency fluctuations in the Nordic Grid. We study the increment statistics and extract the relevant time scales and superstatistical distribution functions from the data. We show that different synchronous recordings of power-grid frequency have very distinct stochastic fluctuations with different types of superstatistics at different spatial locations, and with transitions from one superstatistics to another when the time lag of the increment statistics is changed.