TY - JOUR AU - Schäfer, Benjamin AU - Pesch, Thiemo AU - Manik, Debsankha AU - Gollenstede, Julian AU - Lin, Guosong AU - Beck, Hans-Peter AU - Witthaut, Dirk AU - Timme, Marc TI - Understanding Braess’ Paradox in power grids JO - Nature Communications VL - 13 IS - 1 SN - 2041-1723 CY - [London] PB - Nature Publishing Group UK M1 - FZJ-2022-06154 SP - 5396 PY - 2022 AB - The ongoing energy transition requires power grid extensions to connect renewable generators to consumers and to transfer power among distant areas. The process of grid extension requires a large investment of resources and is supposed to make grid operation more robust. Yet, counter-intuitively, increasing the capacity of existing lines or adding new lines may also reduce the overall system performance and even promote blackouts due to Braess’ paradox. Braess’ paradox was theoretically modeled but not yet proven in realistically scaled power grids. Here, we present an experimental setup demonstrating Braess’ paradox in an AC power grid and show how it constrains ongoing large-scale grid extension projects. We present a topological theory that reveals the key mechanism and predicts Braessian grid extensions from the network structure. These results offer a theoretical method to understand and practical guidelines in support of preventing unsuitable infrastructures and the systemic planning of grid extensions. LB - PUB:(DE-HGF)16 C6 - 36104335 UR - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000853935100011 DO - DOI:10.1038/s41467-022-32917-6 UR - https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/916353 ER -