Title: Challenges in Network-based Study of Cascading Failure in Power Systems

Speaker: Chi K. Michael Tse, Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences

Time: Monday, December 15, 2025, 9:30 AM

Venue: Conference Hall 2, New Main Building, Xueyuan Road Campus

Organizer: Association for Science and Technology, Beihang University

Registration: Students may register via the Boya platform (https://bykc.buaa.edu.cn).

Abstract:

The increasing complexity of modern power grids and their pivotal role in sustaining economic and societal functions necessitate a robust and resilient infrastructure. Power grids, the backbone of modern societies, ensure the continuous flow of energy that powers industries, businesses, and homes. As the energy landscape evolves with the integration of renewable energy sources, artificial intelligence, and complex connectivity with cyber coupling, the power grid faces unprecedented challenges, including cascading failures, cyber vulnerabilities, and the need for efficient resource management. In this talk, we will focus on the study of cascading failure in power systems and how complex network theory can be applied to model the cascade of failure events. We will highlight some challenges in applying complex network methods in light of the physical laws governing electrical system operation and the common inconsistencies arising from simple but subtly invalid assumptions of failure spreading on electrical networks, leading to unrealistic results and conclusions. We will examine the combined use of deterministic model and stochastic processes to generate realistic simulation models for analyzing cascading failure in power systems.

About the Speaker:

Chi K. Michael Tse is the Associate Vice-President (Innovation) and Director of CityU Academy of Innovation, as well as the Chair Professor of Electrical Engineering. He was elected as a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences in 2025 and an IEEE Fellow in 2006. Recognized among the top 2% of scholars worldwide in the Stanford University rankings, he is ranked 28th globally in comprehensive citations within the field of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

His research covers complex networks, power electronics, and nonlinear systems. He is a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the IEEE CASS Charles A. Desoer Technical Achievement Award, multiple best paper awards from IEEE and other leading international journals, as well as international invention awards. He has also been conferred honorary professorships and titles by several renowned universities worldwide.

Professor Tse has served as Editor-in-Chief of several prominent international journals, including IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems Part II (2016–2019), IEEE Circuits and Systems Magazine (2013–2016), and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society Newsletter. His extensive IEEE leadership roles include Chair of the IEEE CAS Nonlinear Circuits and Systems Technical Committee, Chair of the Steering Committee for the IEEE Transactions on Network Science and Engineering, and membership on both the IEEE Fellows Committee and the IEEE Awards Committee.

He has also contributed as a review panel member for the European Research Council (ERC), the Hong Kong Research Grants Council, the Steering Committee of the Hong Kong Quality Education Fund, the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Fund, and the Advisory Committee on Gifted Education in Hong Kong.

Editor: Lyu Xingyun