Grid Overload
This week’s list of concerns places grid at the top of the queue – specifically the vulnerability of the US to electricity disruptions. To be clear, there is of course no single grid in the United States. We enjoy reliable and ubiquitous service in this country, but it is not a single footprint or even a consistent design. There is of course standardization, but the simplicity of plugs and switches that we see in our homes and businesses masks an extraordinarily complex system of generation, distribution, and local services (as in your billing) across the nation.
Why all the questions this week? Is it the feeling of uncertainty; there was definitely no shortage of that factor in the news this past week. Missiles and drones flying in Eastern Europe and Russia is certainly a catalyst. The current political administration in the US is submitting proposed cuts in subsidies for Electric Vehicles – people ask why, are we out of power? There is even a new documentary featuring Dennis Quaid reviewing the vulnerabilities of the ‘grid.’ Perhaps he is still upset about the catastrophic situation in Pacific Palisades – cannot say that we blame him.
Should you be worried? Stop worrying and act. Better resiliency starts with awareness, grows with superior planning, and thrives on seamless execution. Where are problems most likely to occur?
Phase overload is still the primary concern in the US as we head into summer. Just like the situation in Spain and Portugal earlier this year, as new generation sources are layered into the ‘grid,’ complexity is expanding. Add summer heat due to increased demand, and you have a disaster in the making. Of course, fire is another major issue. As battery technology is utilized for longer term storage, particularly from generation sources like wind and solar, the probability of fire risk is significantly expanded. With summer conditions that are dry we also have the ever-present wildfire risk in the western US and increasingly in the eastern part of Canada due to catalyst ignition from transmission facilities. Not to be outdone, it is worth mentioning that aerial drones bring an entirely different risk profile to protecting your physical assets. In the early phases of this technology, drones introduced a more efficient method to monitor facilities and transmission at lower costs than say a helicopter. While true, whether it is civil mischief (vandalism), terrorism, or war, a drone in the wrong hands can wreak havoc with electrical systems.
At Cloud Nine Data, we are pioneers in fusion management technology. We examine the virtual as well as physical vulnerabilities of your data center facilities. This inspection yields more resilient designs than a typical physical asset driven project. A more resilient design renders fortified infrastructure by intention, one that can put up a better defense than traditional approaches. While our consultations are ‘free’ the available times are limited in the coming weeks. That said, there is always room for one more.