Climate change
Fistly, hurricane season in North America runs from June to November. They are destructive forces in nature. In the past, they produced heavier rains and stronger winds. Due to climate change, and their impact on the electric grid is increasing.
Secondly, an Atlantic hurricane season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes, according to the National Hurricane Center. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting that the 2022 hurricane season will be above average.
Thirdly, U.S. has experienced devastating climate change activity this season. Heatwaves, wildfires, and floods, affected communities
As a result, the need to prepare electric grid for the extreme weather to avoid causing widespread, long-lasting power outages is urgent.
Electric grid damage
Power lines are destroyed by high winds and falling trees, while substations and other facilities can be overcome by flooding. There is also, an overall increase in temperatures across the world. There are moreheatwaves. A high demand for air conditioning, refrigeration, and other critical services is becoming higher every day.
As a result, power grids are under pressure; government and companies are working to mitigate the consequences.
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Actions to get a better grid
The first step consists in modernizing the grid. In case of any damage every power station needs to return to service as quickly and safely as possible.
On the other side, protect stations against floods is essential. This can include building dams, walls, or elevated relay panels and raising transformers, control houses, and other major substation components well above flood level
Moreover, introducing new technology, will help to build a more resilient and sustainable grid. Data analysis may be use to predict the anticipated impact of a forecasted storm; by matching the characteristics of the oncoming weather to those of previous storms; and analyzing the kinds of the damage caused to the grid in those instances.
The establishment of a smart grid, with a smart meter and field sensor information to quickly identify, isolate, and restore power outages. The meters can determine the extent of an outage; and identify the protective device that was used to isolate the fault that initiated the outage, and ultimately clear that fault.
Finally, building a more resilient grid can lower operating costs, ultimately delivering significant savings in terms of money and energy.
