4 ms·

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&ved=2ahUKEwiygqvq0vvkAhVWu54KHT6VBaEQFjAJegQIAhAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lloyds.com%2F~%2Fmedia%

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&ved=2ahUKEwiygqvq0vvkAhVWu54KHT6VBaEQFjAJegQIAhAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lloyds.com%2F~%2Fmedia%2Flloyds%2Freports%2Femerging-risk-reports%2Fsolar-storm-risk-to-the-north-american-electric-grid.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0Hg4EvoNAgqpCKI0oteQHI https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&c... [Lloyds insurance pdf] Transformers are the fundamental problem. Once they are fried it could take years to get grid back up and running. There was US legislation proposed to mandate spares in the the event of a major solar flare, don't have time to locate right now

adt2bt 7y ago
I remember a few years back hearing that one reason we are studying the sun is to hopefully detect such a powerful solar storm on the order of ~hours before such a solar flare hits Earth. This might give grid operators enough time to effectively shut off and disconnect those massive transformers to save them from the brunt of the damage.
- olivermarks 7y ago
  '... it is a problem the same way hurricanes are a problem. One can protect oneself with advance information and proper precautions. During a hurricane watch, a homeowner can stay put … or he can seal up the house, turn off the electronics and get out of the way. Similarly, scientists at NASA and NOAA give warnings to electric companies, spacecraft operators and airline pilots before a CME comes to Earth so that these groups can take proper precautions'.. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/flare-impacts.html https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/flare-impac...
deleted 7y ago
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peter303 7y ago
The US has something like a supply of 2% replacements for normal repairs. Something much larger than that could mean the end of the US power grid for years. Plus the suply chain to manufacture replacements could be terminally destroyed.

adt2bt 7y ago

I remember a few years back hearing that one reason we are studying the sun is to hopefully detect such a powerful solar storm on the order of ~hours before such a solar flare hits Earth. This might give grid operators enough time to effectively shut off and disconnect those massive transformers to save them from the brunt of the damage.

olivermarks 7y ago
'... it is a problem the same way hurricanes are a problem. One can protect oneself with advance information and proper precautions. During a hurricane watch, a homeowner can stay put … or he can seal up the house, turn off the electronics and get out of the way. Similarly, scientists at NASA and NOAA give warnings to electric companies, spacecraft operators and airline pilots before a CME comes to Earth so that these groups can take proper precautions'.. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/flare-impacts.html https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/flare-impac...

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

peter303 7y ago

The US has something like a supply of 2% replacements for normal repairs. Something much larger than that could mean the end of the US power grid for years. Plus the suply chain to manufacture replacements could be terminally destroyed.