1. The end users requirements for service to power system operators
Session 2: 14th Nov. 2016
SSA Space Weather Service Network
Kåre Rudsar
Oostende Nov 14

2. Fremtiden er elektrisk
Introduction
What we need
1) A GIC forecast that is precise and reliable 4-5 days before the storm hit the earth.
Who are we?
Power grid owning companies
Pipeline owning companies
Radio communications
Businesses dependt on information from satelites (telecom, aviation, water supply etc).
Fremtiden er elektrisk

3. What dilemmas do we have in common?
The economic, social, technical and even political consequences of doing nothing in case of a Carrington storm may be enormous for the entire society.
But, "no" harm by doing almost nothing so far
We can "shut down" our systems, but to do this in a controlled way will take days. The economic and social consequences will be enormous.
Nobody would dare to take that decision based on today's uncertain forecast
"Shutting down" the system based on a false alarm will make it almost impossible to act up to a solar storm forecast again.
Better sorry than safe
Fremtiden er elektrisk

4. Measures to make the powersystem more robust to GIC
Soft measures
Recalibration of protection system and rising of trip level
Modification of power system operating procedures
Buy transformers designed to be more robust to handle GIC
Hard Measures
Neutral blocking device (more than 220 transformers)
Series capasitors compensation of transmission lines ( km high voltage power lines)
Neutral capacitor blocking device
Active cooling of transformers
What do Statnett and other grid operators do?
Soft measures are executed. Hard measures are costly, and will probably only be seriously considered if GIC damage a number of transformers in Europe
Fremtiden er elektrisk

5. Fremtiden er elektrisk
Conclusion
We think that a Carrington storm will hit the earth sometimes in the future
But
Current forcasts is to vague, to uncertain and comes to late to enforce any action.
We do not know enough about the destructive effect of sunstorms on our lines and transformers to invest in hard measures.
NERC (The North American Electric Reliability Corporation) is turning its focus from protection to
planning before and during a destructive storm
Fremtiden er elektrisk

6. Thank you for your attention
Fremtiden er elektrisk