You mention microgrids, but what about energy storage systems? Geomagnetic storms typically last minutes ot hours, so if I have even a 4 hour battery in my home, with an inverter, I’m a lot less susceptible to grid failures. And if everyone does, the grid operators have more options for shutting down parts of the grid to prevent equipment failures without causing blackouts. If most large centralized generating facilities have energy storage, then temporarily shutting down parts of the grid does not need to involve much loss of energy production.
Good points. Yes, storage definitely helps, and microgrids are generally able to have some storage, if only to smooth out variation in power generation for local use. But solar storms can last days, even if a large long-lasting event is very, very unlikely. And it’s definitely true that if large facilities have storage, shutdowns will have reduced impact—but I understand that the transformers are used for power transmission, so having local storage at the large generators won’t change the need to shut down the transformers used for sending that power to consumers.
You mention microgrids, but what about energy storage systems? Geomagnetic storms typically last minutes ot hours, so if I have even a 4 hour battery in my home, with an inverter, I’m a lot less susceptible to grid failures. And if everyone does, the grid operators have more options for shutting down parts of the grid to prevent equipment failures without causing blackouts. If most large centralized generating facilities have energy storage, then temporarily shutting down parts of the grid does not need to involve much loss of energy production.
Good points. Yes, storage definitely helps, and microgrids are generally able to have some storage, if only to smooth out variation in power generation for local use. But solar storms can last days, even if a large long-lasting event is very, very unlikely. And it’s definitely true that if large facilities have storage, shutdowns will have reduced impact—but I understand that the transformers are used for power transmission, so having local storage at the large generators won’t change the need to shut down the transformers used for sending that power to consumers.
How much impact, if any, would it have if more of our long and medium distance transmission lines eventually moved to HVDC lines?
That is an interesting question l, but I unfortunately do not know enough to even figure out how to answer it.