Robust and Scalable Game-theoretic Security Investment Methods for Voltage Stability of Power Systems

Abstract: We develop investment approaches to secure electric power systems against load attacks where a malicious intruder (the attacker) covertly changes reactive power setpoints of loads to push the grid towards voltage instability while the system operator (the defender) employs reactive power compensation (RPC) to prevent instability. Extending our previously reported Stackelberg game formulation for this problem, we develop a robust-defense sequential algorithm and a novel genetic algorithm that provides scalability to large-scale power system models. The proposed methods are validated using IEEE prototype power system models with time-varying load uncertainties, demonstrating that reliable and robust defense is feasible unless the operator's RPC investment resources are severely limited relative to the attacker's resources.