Analyzing Electrical Centrality Metrics for Optimal Placement of Microgrids and Renewable Sources

Thegoal of this paper is to explore the effect of centrality metrics in complex power networks, focusing specifically on their applications in the analysis of power grids. Through an in-depth survey, the study delves into the realm of structural and operational centrality measures, shedding light on their crucial role in understanding the structure and operational dynamics of power systems. The research highlights the significance of shortest path-based centrality measures, i.e., closeness and betweenness, in power grid analysis, including original, structural, and operational metrics. Simulation results from IEEE test cases reveal key insights regarding the similarities between structural and operational measures, the impact of electrical distances on node positioning, and variations in closeness metrics compared to betweenness. Observations related to operational measures show the pronounced shifts in closeness under varied operating conditions and the minimal influence of demand and generation changes on betweenness. Furthermore, the study extends previous research to optimize the placement of microgrids and renewable sources using complex network analysis, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed methodology in identifying critical nodes in power grids during outage scenarios.