# Transferable Graph Learning for Transmission Congestion Management via Busbar Splitting

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.20591 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.20591/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 9 of its 26 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 23 Oct 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 9 of 9)

- [The Power Grid Library for Benchmarking AC Optimal Power Flow Algorithms](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1908.02788/) (2019)
- [Power Grid Congestion Management via Topology Optimization with AlphaZero](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.05612/) (2022)
- [PowRL: A Reinforcement Learning Framework for Robust Management of Power Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.02397/) (2022)
- [Managing power grids through topology actions: A comparative study between advanced rule-based and reinforcement learning agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.00765/) (2023)
- [Curriculum Based Reinforcement Learning of Grid Topology Controllers to Prevent Thermal Cascading](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2112.09996/) (2021)
- [Optimizing Power Grid Topologies with Reinforcement Learning: A Survey of Methods and Challenges](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.08210/) (2025)
- [Flow-Aware GNN for Transmission Network Reconfiguration via Substation Breaker Optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.01951/) (2025)
- [Universal Graph Learning for Power System Reconfigurations: Transfer Across Topology Variations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.08672/) (2025)
- [Learning Topology Actions for Power Grid Control: A Graph-Based Soft-Label Imitation Learning Approach](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.15190/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Network topology optimization (NTO) via busbar splitting can mitigate transmission grid congestion and reduce redispatch costs. However, solving this mixed-integer nonlinear problem for large-scale systems in near-real-time is currently intractable with existing solvers. Machine learning (ML) approaches have emerged as a promising alternative, but they have limited generalization to unseen topologies, varying operating conditions, and different systems, which limits their practical applicability. This paper formulates NTO for congestion management considering linearized AC power flow, and proposes a graph neural network (GNN)-accelerated approach. We develop a heterogeneous edge-aware message passing GNN to predict effective nodes for busbar splitting actions as candidate NTO solutions. The proposed GNN captures local flow patterns, improves generalization to unseen topology changes, and enhances transferability across systems. Case studies show up to 4 orders-of-magnitude speed-up, delivering AC-feasible solutions within one minute and a 2.3% optimality gap on the GOC 2000-bus system. These results demonstrate a significant step toward near-real-time NTO for large-scale systems with topology and cross-system generalization.