Shoring up the grid against extreme weather

The West’s electrical grid, a 136,000-mile collection of transmission lines that connect two Canadian provinces and 11 Western states, including California, serve 80 million people. With extreme weather events increasing in frequency and intensity worldwide, widely attributable to climate change, this power grid—and the entire power generation and delivery infrastructure—is under increasing stress. In California and other states, this has led to emergency outages that have left thousands of people without power during periods when it was needed most.

The effects of weather on power generation

Not only does electricity demand rise during a heatwave with the increasing use of air conditioning, but electricity moves through the grid less efficiently. Natural gas turbines, for example, are 25 percent less efficient in hot weather. Any power plants that rely on water for cooling become less efficient as well, because as the ambient temperatures rise, so does the water temperature. Even solar panels are less efficient in hot weather. Excessively high temperatures can cause molecules in the photovoltaic material to vibrate—reducing its ability to transport electrons.

Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are investigating different materials to conduct electricity more efficiently in high temperatures. A team recently found that adding a small amount of graphene (similar to the graphite found in pencils) to copper wiring can preserve its ability to conduct electricity in extreme heat.

Recent advancements in grid modernization

Innovative approaches to grid stabilization and reinforcement are being implemented worldwide. A wind farm in Puebla, Mexico, for example, is leveraging static compensators (a set of electrical devices used to provide fast-acting reactive power on high-voltage transmission networks) to increase power transfer capability, improve power quality and enhance grid stability in an effort to ensure the availability of power to thousands of households in the area.

The increasing use of automated control systems is another important development in improving grid stability during periods of extreme weather. Driven by IoT sensors, AI and energy software, these systems help to balance supply and demand, resulting in more efficient power distribution. Power companies are also using technology for detailed modeling in an effort to detect potential fire risks and take proactive measures to ensure that none of their transmission and distribution lines have the potential to cause wildfires.

Blymyer’s efforts to bolster the grid

Another measure to enhance grid resilience is the combination of microgrids and storage solutions. This is particularly beneficial for mission critical infrastructure like hospitals, government facilities and transportation centers.

“We’re seeing growing demand for design and engineering services for microgrid and BESS installations,” says Blymyer President Mike Rantz. “Among our recent microgrid installations in California is one for the the City of Menlo Park Community Center, which combines solar, BESS and EV charging, and another for El Dorado Union School District, which includes BESS and power generators. This is all infrastructure that delivers critical public service functions where weather disruption would have serious consequences.”