Did ‘induced atmospheric vibration’ cause blackouts in #Europe? An #electrical engineer explains the phenomenon

#Portugal’s grid operator #REN was quoted as blaming the event on a rare phenomenon known as “induced #atmospheric #vibration”. REN has since reportedly refuted this.

But what is this vibration? And how can #energy systems be improved to mitigate the risk of widespread blackouts?

https://theconversation.com/did-induced-atmospheric-vibration-cause-blackouts-in-europe-an-electrical-engineer-explains-the-phenomenon-255497

I saw something celebratory go by about Spain managing a day powered totally by renewable energy sources recently, and yet today they've been hit by a blackout.

This highlights how, while renewable energy is an excellent step forward, a transition towards networks of microgrids is an important step the world needs to embrace for more resilient, robust and adaptable operation.

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced it will put $360 million toward a project to create a new link between the Texas power grid, which operates independently from its neighbors, and other grids in the Southeast.

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/infrastructure/2024/10/09/502358/plan-for-new-link-between-texas-grid-and-neighboring-states-gets-boost-from-the-federal-government/

To arrive at their breakthrough, the study researchers combined two prior approaches: the original solution that treated #networks as #traffic; and a later one that instead viewed them as an #ElectricalGrid.

#Algorithms

'Absurdly fast' algorithm solves 70-year-old logjam — speeding up #NetworkTraffic in areas from #AirlineScheduling to the #internet
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/absurdly-fast-algorithm-solves-70-year-old-logjam-speeding-up-network-traffic-in-areas-from-airline-scheduling-to-the-internet/ar-BB1qSRdF?ocid=emmx-mmx-feeds&PC=EMMX01

A Field Guide to the North American Substation - Drive along nearly any major road in the United States and it won’t be long before... - https://hackaday.com/2024/08/22/a-field-guide-to-the-north-american-substation/ #electricalgrid #engineering #highvoltage #substation #scada

Austraila’s Controlled Loads Are In Hot Water - Australian grids have long run a two-tiered pricing scheme for electricity. In man... - https://hackaday.com/2024/08/15/austrailas-controlled-loads-are-in-hot-water/ #electricitymeter #controlledloads #powergeneration #controlledload #electricalgrid #currentevents #solarenergy #greenhacks #smartmeter #solarpower #australia #homesolar #featured #victoria #meter #solar #news

Interesting to think, there must be someone who is managing the energy supply in each region across N America who needs to ensure they're ready for when solar panels all along the #eclipse path lose power and the conventional grid needs to fill in for three minutes or so.

Large cryptocurrency miners in US now have to report energy use to government - Enlarge / A worker installs a row of new mining machines at the largest... - https://arstechnica.com/?p=2001578 #cryptocurrency #electricalgrid #syndication #policy

2014: Lights Out

by Michael Collins

Failure to harden electrical structures and spent #nuclear fuel storage leaves U.S., global population vulnerable to #solar or #terrorist induced #apocalypse

#ElectricalGrid #SolarFlares #NoNuke #SolarCycle25

https://www.enviroreporter.com/2014/10/lights-out/

How secure is America's #ElectricalGrid #Grid

60 Minutes

https://youtu.be/GlGI643vUIg