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The nightmare scenario is a follows; You get a really large solar storm and no one notices it, so all of the high voltage grid transformers are connected to the
by anonuser123456 5y ago
The nightmare scenario is a follows; You get a really large solar storm and no one notices it, so all of the high voltage grid transformers are connected to the grid.
The currents induced by the grid burn out these transformers and
they have to be replaced before power can flow again. But these are very large, long lead time items that we don’t leave just laying around. And now you need hundreds of them, but the supply chain to build them has collapsed.
Thankfully, most of these transformers are connected to grids that automatically detect the high DC currents and shut down. And this assumes everyone missed the massive impending space weather event and grid operators forgot to shut them down.
So it probably wouldn’t be that bad.
- notabee 5y agoI would like to submit Texas' recent near grid collapse due to cold weather as exhibit A to prove that knowing about a potential problem for over a decade does not mean that a bunch of disparate private entities will do their due diligence to prevent disaster.
- anonuser123456 5y agoThe grid collapsed? Then how on earth are people using power? Oh you mean energy suppliers off-lined production temporarily and most resumed operation once the storm was over. Totally the same phenomena.
- notabee 5y agoYou don't have to take it from me, you can hear it from ERCOT via many sources. Texas’ power grid was “seconds and minutes” away from a catastrophic failure that could have left Texans in the dark for months, officials with the entity that operates the grid said Thursday. The worst case scenario: Demand for power outstrips the supply of power generation available on the grid, causing equipment to catch fire, substations to blow and power lines to go down. https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/18/texas-power-outages-ercot/ https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/18/texas-power-outages-...