Electric grid vulnerability assessment under attack-defense scenario based on game theory

Abstract

In recent years, how to effectively assess the electric grid vulnerability in protecting against a malicious attack becomes one of the most challenging cutting-edge issues to be solved in power systems. This paper presents a framework to analyze the vulnerability of electric grid under different attack-defense scenarios based on the knowledge of game theory. Pure strategy and mixed strategy Nash Equilibrium corresponding to the attack-defense contest can be obtained by solving the payoff matrix under different pre-defined attack-defense scenarios. Based on the Nash Equilibrium, the vulnerability rankings of power grid components can be obtained and the vulnerability assessment can be conducted as well as the allocation plan of defense fund.