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Abstract

In this work we model the dynamics of power grids in
terms of a two-layer network, and use the Italian high
voltage power grid as a proof-of-principle example. The
first layer in our model represents the power grid con-
sisting of generators and consumers, while the second
layer represents a dynamic communication network that
serves as a controller of the first layer. The dynamics of
the power grid is modelled by the Kuramoto model with
inertia, while the communication layer provides a con-
trol signal Pci for each generator to improve frequency
synchronization within the power grid. We propose dif-
ferent realizations of the communication layer topology
and of the control signal, and test the control perfor-
mances in presence of generators with stochastic power
output. When using a control topology that allows all
generators to exchange information, we find that a con-
trol scheme aimed to minimize the frequency difference
between adjacent nodes operates very efficiently even
against the worst scenarios with the strongest perturba-
tions. On the other hand, for a control topology where
the generators possess the same communication links as
in the power grid layer, a control scheme aimed at restor-
ing the synchronization frequency in the neighborhood
of the controlled node turns out to be more efficient.