Abstract
Traditional protection systems for microgrids, which rely on high fault currents and continuous communication, struggle to keep up with the changing dynamics and cybersecurity concerns of decentralized networks. In this study, we introduce a biologically inspired protection system based on neuromorphic principles, where each distributed energy resource (DER) functions as a simple neuron. These neurons process local changes in voltage and current signals, and convert them into spike patterns that represent the severity of disturbances. Just as neurons communicate via synapses in biological systems, we exploit transmission cables to coordinate between DERs, enabling them to share information and respond to faults collectively. Fault detection and circuit breaker activation are driven by a First-To-Spike (FTTS) mechanism, similar to the concept of traveling wave protection, but without needing GPS synchronization or communication links. A key innovation is the ability to use the timing of spikes to locally determine the nature of a fault, offering an intelligent, adaptive response to disturbances. Performance shows tripping latency of 10–58 ms, surpassing conventional relays and even traveling-wave methods (60 ms), while maintaining detection accuracy above 98% and spatial selectivity over 97%, enabling real-time, communication-free, scalable protection for plug-and-play microgrids.
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Data availability
All data generated and analysed during this study are deposited in GitHub: https://github.com/saurabhprabhakar/Neuromorphic_Protection.git.
Code availability
All custom code, datasets, and instructions to reproduce results and figures are deposited in GitHub: https://github.com/saurabhprabhakar/Neuromorphic_Protection.git.
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Saurabh Prabhakar: Conceptualization, methodology, software, investigation, formal analysis, data curation, visualization, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing. Subham Sahoo: Conceptualization, methodology, investigation, formal analysis, data curation, visualization, writing—review and editing. Bijaya Ketan Panigrahi: Investigation, validation, resources, supervision, writing, review, and editing. Frede Blaabjerg: Investigation, validation, writing, review, and editing.
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Communications Engineering thanks Ali Moradi Amani and the other anonymous reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. Primary Handling Editors: [Wenjie Wang]. A peer review file is available.
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Prabhakar, S., Panigrahi, B.K., Blaabjerg, F. et al. Synapse-inspired energy networks: a neuromorphic approach to microgrid protection without communication links. Commun Eng (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-026-00643-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-026-00643-2
