Advancements in Enhancing Resilience of Electrical Distribution Systems: A Review on Frameworks, Metrics, and Technological Innovations

TL;DR

This review surveys the evolution of power system resilience, contrasting it with reliability and detailing frameworks, metrics, and data-driven techniques for distribution networks. It synthesizes resilience definitions from international bodies, formalizes core characteristics, and presents the Sandia RAP and RAND frameworks as structured approaches to metric development. The paper then outlines essential inputs (fragility models and data sources), a suite of quantitative resilience metrics (energy served, ENS/EENS, LOLE/LOLP, VaR/CVaR, degradation and restoration indices, and AWR), and explores complex network theory applications and data-driven analytics for resilience assessment. Finally, it analyzes planning and operational enhancement techniques, including microgrids, renewable integration, and P2P energy trading, while identifying significant gaps and future research directions to enable robust, scalable, and cyber-resilient power systems with real-world impact.

Abstract

This comprehensive review paper explores power system resilience, emphasizing its evolution, comparison with reliability, and conducting a thorough analysis of the definition and characteristics of resilience. The paper presents the resilience frameworks and the application of quantitative power system resilience metrics to assess and quantify resilience. Additionally, it investigates the relevance of complex network theory in the context of power system resilience. An integral part of this review involves examining the incorporation of data-driven techniques in enhancing power system resilience. This includes the role of data-driven methods in enhancing power system resilience and predictive analytics. Further, the paper explores the recent techniques employed for resilience enhancement, which includes planning and operational techniques. Also, a detailed explanation of microgrid (MG) deployment, renewable energy integration, and peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading in fortifying power systems against disruptions is provided. An analysis of existing research gaps and challenges is discussed for future directions toward improvements in power system resilience. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of power system resilience is provided, which helps in improving the ability of distribution systems to withstand and recover from extreme events and disruptions.

Figures (12)

• Figure 1: Chronology of most significant blackouts that caused a huge loss in infrastructure and electricity supply.
• Figure 2: Resilience triangle.
• Figure 3: Resilience trapezoid.
• Figure 4: The resilience trapezoid depicting the power system's performance at various time points illustrating the system's transition from normal operation through disruptive events, emergency states, and eventually complete system restoration.
• Figure 5: Illustration of the sequential stages of the resilience analysis process, providing a visual representation of the process.