Distributed Ledger Technology for Fault Tolerant Distribution Grid Operations

This paper explores the potential of distributed ledger technology (DLT) to improve fault-tolerant grid operations by leveraging its core features as an immutable, decentralized ledger, a distributed, consensus-based agreement process, and state-replication engine. Distribution power systems deliver electricity millions customers; however, they are susceptible various threats that can result in customer interruptions. These include faults caused adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, vegetation growth, equipment failure, malicious attacks. To minimize effects these faults, fault-handling approaches rely on network knowledge isolate affected areas reconnect unaffected areas, reducing number customers while maintaining safety. Here, we present trusted data-sharing architecture enables independent, actors reconstruct pre-fault system state enabling resources make appropriate decisions with limited network/system information. Although process requires some data sharing between switch-delimited approach limits amount private information shared, preserving customers’ privacy business-sensitive We three use cases form foundation for third parties develop functional solutions eventually be deployed field. The gross error detection method used within identify sensor errors accurately detect circuit breaker states. evaluation possible reconnection ownership resulted voltage magnitude difference smaller than 0.01% from OpenDSS flow solution has full knowledge, which is below expected tolerance. offers promising opportunity improving distribution operations.