potential solar storm damage to grid

[snow hope]

Anyway, in 1859, a solar flare took out most of the world's telegraph network. If a similar flare hit today, we would have at most 15 hours warning, and would need to shut down the entire planet's electricity grid and all satellites to avoid a total wipeout of electricity and comms infrastructure.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... ObpxQjrMQQ

Just a fun thought for monday morning

Whilst it is certainly possible that this could occur, I feel it is less likely due to the diminishing strength of the sun that is expected through solar cycle 24 (and cycle 25) as mentioned on the Positive Room thread, http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/forum/vie ... php?t=9895

Nevertheless the effects could be disastrous for a large portion of the world, if not globaly, should an eruption of sufficient strength be directed directly at our planet....

If electrical equipment is switched off and disconnected from the mains - plug pulled out of the walls, could the equipment still be damaged in any way? I am sure Adam2 or someone with more knowledge could advise?

[PS_RalphW]

Simply throwing the main power switch on your junction box would protect your house and contents from any grid surges. It is the large transformers and substations at the end of long power lines that could be cooked.

It would be necessary to shut down the entire national grid in advance to protect from surges. A complete cold boot of the grid has never been attempted, even without surge damage.

Not sure if it would be possible to protect satellites.

[adam2]

Simply throwing the main power switch on your junction box would protect your house and contents from any grid surges. It is the large transformers and substations at the end of long power lines that could be cooked.

It would be necessary to shut down the entire national grid in advance to protect from surges. A complete cold boot of the grid has never been attempted, even without surge damage.

Not sure if it would be possible to protect satellites.

Agree, any domestic appliance appliance could be totally protected by unplugging, and partialy protected by turning of at the socket.
The whole installation could be protected by turning off at the mains.

Solar storms cause damage by inducing undesireable currents in long conductors.
The 240/415 volt conductors linking your home to the transformer are too short for dangerous voltages to be induced.
That however does not protect entirely against damage, severe damage could be caused to the high voltage grid system, and this could result in damaging surges or overvoltages on the 240/415 volt network.

If a solar storm is forecast I would advise unplugging any sensitive electronics, and posibly turning the whole installation off at the mains.
Remember that replacing damaged appliances afterwards may be problematic if demand exceeds supply, as well as expensive.

IF we had enough warning, the degree of damage to the grid could be minimised by running it in isolated sections, or in extreme cases by a near complete shutdown.
No one knows how long recovery would take since it has never happened before.
Severe grid damage from a extreme solar storm is a low probability but high impact event, sometimes known as a "black swan event"

Standalone generators or battery systems should be fine.

Actions individuals can/should take now
Review stocks and supplies for coping for a month or more without grid power, ensure ample supplies of fuel and nonperishable food stuffs.

Actions individuals should take when a severe solar storm is forecast
Withdraw the maximum permitted cash from your bank
Panic buy fuel, food water, batteries. unless you have prudently stocked up beforehand
Put your freezer on fast freeze
Let go out any solid fuel stove or boiler that uses an electric pump.
Fill the bath with water, and any other suitable containers.
Unplug sensitive electronics, and consider turning off power at the mains.

Actions TPTB should take
Declare a state of emergency and requistion mobile generators for essiential facilities.
Cancel all non emergency hospital admissions.
Pre-position tanker trucks of fuel at strategic locations, under armed gaurd.
Evacuate below ground railways.
Pre-position diesel and steam railway locomotives at strategic places, together with coal and oil fuel
Cancel all military and police leave.
Ensure that the national grid and power stations have sufficient staff on duty.

[RenewableCandy]

erm...what about solar PV? Should we isolate them (they're connected to the mains)?

[biffvernon]

The unpredictability of a solar storm and the even greater unpredictability of the effect of a solar storm are such that it would take a very bold government to demand a shut-down of the grid - with all the consequences for coal and nuclear base load power stations, never mind the public. I expect governments would just cross their fingers and hope for the best.

If the worst happened so many transformers would be knocked out that it would take years to repair the damage - there is no big warehouse full of spare, just in case, transformers.

It could be the end of civilization as we know it.

[RenewableCandy]

Yeah but what about our solar PV ??

[adam2]

Yeah but what about our solar PV ??

The PV array should be fine.
The grid tied inverter is at some risk whilst connected to the grid, as it normally is.
In the event that a severe solar storm appeared likely I would dissconect the inverter from the grid.

[biffvernon]

I asked our installer bloke about lightning. He said it might be a good idea to throw the isolator switch in a storm.

My experience of lightning (my house was struck and partially demolished several years ago) is that it doesn't care much about switches. A few millimetre gap doesn't stop the sort of voltages that jump thousands of feet across the sky.

[adam2]

The unpredictability of a solar storm and the even greater unpredictability of the effect of a solar storm are such that it would take a very bold government to demand a shut-down of the grid - with all the consequences for coal and nuclear base load power stations, never mind the public. I expect governments would just cross their fingers and hope for the best.

If the worst happened so many transformers would be knocked out that it would take years to repair the damage - there is no big warehouse full of spare, just in case, transformers.

It could be the end of civilization as we know it.

Agree, it is one of those unlikely but potentialy devasting events, recovery could indeed take years, posibly decades.
Utilities keep stocks of the small transformers, but the large high voltage grid transformers are made to order.
I presume that a handful of spares are available, since these transformers although long lasting do sometimes fail in normal use. When such a failure occurs, we dont get blackouts whilst awaiting manufacture of a replacement.

[adam2]

I asked our installer bloke about lightning. He said it might be a good idea to throw the isolator switch in a storm.

My experience of lightning (my house was struck and partially demolished several years ago) is that it doesn't care much about switches. A few millimetre gap doesn't stop the sort of voltages that jump thousands of feet across the sky.

It depends on where the lightning strikes, in the event of a direct hit on the house, the PV array, or the service cables near your home, then turning off switches wont help, as you point out, a charge that can jump great distances through the air wont be stopped by a few mm gap in an open switch.
If however the strike is on electrical infrastructure some distance away, then turning off can help. The voltage although damaging is then far less, and turning off switches should save equipment.
Likwise in high winds, overvoltages can occur from faults, and turning off can help.
In the event of a solar storm, I would expect the overvoltages and surges to be held back by an open switch, but as it has never happened we cant be certain.

[biffvernon]

Yes, that's very sensible, Adam.

[adam2]

Solar storm on the way !
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12493980
I doubt that there will be any serious trouble, but it might be well to unplug sensitive electronics, just in case.
Possibly a slightly increased risk of power cuts, but not really that likely.

I shall activate my emergency plan for such events, which consists of taking 2 torches with when I go to the pub, and withdrawing a little extra cash.

[snow hope]

2 torches? Is that one for each hand?

a little extra cash? To buy batteries for the torches?

just pulling your leg mate.

[vtsnowedin]

A question or Four. One, we get a fifteen hour notice? How? Does the solar storm travel at a slower speed then the speed of light? It is electromagnetic radiation isn't it and should arrive here at the same eye blink as the visible light that would tell us something is up.
Two, does the night side of the earth suffer the same effect as the day side?Possible with magnetic fields I suppose but what do they expect?
Three, Requisition portable generators? and deliver them in fifteen hours? From what stockpile or yard are you going to requisition them from and what government agency other then the Black watch could get the paper work done in three days much less in time to have them set up.
and four:
Who has any steam trains still in service this side of India?
I expect there are good answers to the first two. i just don't know what they are. Enlighten me if you will.

[Andy Hunt]

I've just finished eating up my stores. Do you think that now would be a good time to re-stock?