Spatio-temporal complexity of power-grid frequency fluctuations

Power-grid systems constitute one of the most complex man-made spatially extended structures. These operate with strict operational bounds to ensure synchrony across the grid. This is particularly relevant for power-grid frequency, which operates strictly at 50 Hz (60 Hz). Nevertheless, small fluctuations around the mean frequency are present at very short time scales <2 s and can exhibit highly complex spatio-temporal behaviour. Here we apply superstatistical data analysis techniques to measured frequency fluctuations in the Nordic grid. We study the increment statistics and extract the relevant time scales and superstatistical distribution functions from the data. We show that different synchronous recordings of power-grid frequency have very distinct stochastic fluctuations with different types of superstatistics at different spatial locations, and with transitions from one superstatistics to another when the time lag of the increment statistics is changed.