Cyber Topologies Impacts on Smart Grid Reliability Considering Direct Cyber-Power Interdependency

Due to the rising interest of using smart grids and its unreliable nature, the reliability analysis is highly regarded. The application of communication infrastructures and information technology in smart grids has created a system consisting power and cyber networks (control, monitoring, and protection networks). Due to the fact that cyber networks are prone to failure, using methods that cover the proper operation of both cyber and power networks together are essential for assessing reliability indices of smart grids. The importance of considering direct cyber network failures on reliability assessment is also studied. Cyber network topology transition is the main solution for the improvement of reliability assessment that is discussed in this paper. The method is simulated on an actual distribution network of Hormozgan Regional Electrical Company (HREC) of Iran. By calculating the reliability indices, the results clarify that smart grid reliability assessment will not be improved without considering an optimal cyber network topology. So, optimization techniques are used for improving reliability assessment, with the consideration of the constraints.