Urban Power Grid Topology and Hierarchy Identification from Open Data

Abstract

Understanding the complex topology and hierarchy of urban power grid is crucial for energy prognosis, power flow management, and system resilience analysis. However, detailed grid information remains largely proprietary. This information, nevertheless, is crucial especially for analyzing the last-mile distribution networks connecting individual buildings. This paper addresses this challenge by developing an open-data-driven framework to identify urban power grid topology, from high-voltage transmission down to individual building connections. We integrate public infrastructure data (power-lines, substations, transformers, poles) to map the high and medium-voltage grid skeleton. We then leverage geospatial machine learning on OpenStreetMap building data to cluster loads of building energy demand. Upon the clustering, we develop the physical topology of the final distribution lines linking the clustered buildings and low-voltage distribution grids. Our derived grid topology incorporates physical and geographical constraints like voltage level and road networks, thus leading to reasonable topology and hierarchy of grid networks. We apply the developed framework to the districts of Alna in Oslo, Norway, and Waiheke Island in New Zealand, and we reconstruct the complete grid topology that connects all the buildings, power lines, and electricity infrastructure assets. With the developed framework, we provide a critical tool that facilitates power system analysis, e.g., power flow optimization, cascading failure simulation, and grid resilience against the penetration of distributed renewable generation. This work also opens the opportunity to build energy digital twins that fuse power assets and grid topology, geographic constraints, and fine-grained power demand profiles.