Aurora Impact on Power Grid: Strategies for Solar Storm Resilience

A team of research_worker from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University , light-emitting_diode by Dr. Jonathan Snodgrass and Dr. Thomas Overbye , is focus on the impact of solar storm on the Power Grid . These storm , like the Aurora Borealis , can cause break to the power grid and communication networks.

The research_worker are exploitation real_number and synthetic grid model to survey how major solar storm affect the grid and are working on recommendation for power grid operator to extenuate these impact . solar storm can make direct current in the electric grid , which can cause issue with transformer and parts of the grid to trip . depend on the class of the solar storm ( G1 - G5 ) , the power system can be affect to change degrees.

Recently , a mild G5 geomagnetic perturbation ( GMD ) cause the Aurora Borealis light to be visible in Texas , include College Station . This event was one of the large solar storm in 20 old_age , suggestion the research_worker to investigate the potential impact of a superstorm GMD event , like the Carrington Event of 1859.

The Carrington Event , name after English astronomer Richard Carrington , was the large record GMD event in history that affect the telegraph system . anecdotal evidence from this event is being use by Dr. Overbye and his team to fix the grid for future superstorms . The team is also working with NASA to proctor wreath mass expulsion ( CMEs ) from the sun , which can cause solar superstorms.

In the stopping_point 20 old_age , there have been large CMEs , but none have hit Earth . research_worker are exploitation magnetometer network to behavior experiment and record data on geomagnetic perturbation . This research is crucial in fix for potential superstorms that could rich_person a severe impact on the power grid . Dr. Snodgrass stress the importance of have a plan in topographic_point for when a large superstorm happen , highlight the need for advance warning and predictive model to prevent widespread blackout . The team at Texas A&M , along with other research institution , is at the forefront of this research to protect the power grid from the effects of solar storms.