Australian DSO warns of trifecta weather threat to power grid
Catastrophic fire danger for South Australia on Friday. Image courtesy Weatherzone.
SA Power Networks, a DSO in the state of South Australia, has forecast a trifecta of weather threats, including catastrophic bushfire risk, thunderstorms and wind gusts up to 100kmh, to electricity supply and grid operations in its operating area.
“This trifecta of weather conditions is the worst combination possible in terms of the potential for causing (grid) outages,” says Paul Roberts, head of corporate affairs in a media release detailing the weather threats.
Catastrophic bushfire conditions are currently forecast by the CFS for eastern Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Mid North, Flinders and the Riverland and extreme conditions are forecast in the Mt Lofty Ranges and Murraylands.
These will be mixed with and followed by forecast lightning strikes and very high winds up to 100kmh in some areas, accompanied by heavy rainfall, destructive winds and possible tornados.
According to Weaterzone, the fires could be some of the worst since Black Summer in 2019 to 2020, with a dangerous mix of high temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds combined.
Have you read:
Investment needed to keep grid fit for purpose says Enel Grids boss
Grid resilience lessons from the frontline of climate change
“We will be juggling our response between setting the network up to minimise the risk of fire starts and managing outage risk from storm impacts.
“In catastrophic fire conditions, equipment is set to disconnect supply in response to a fault to minimise a potential fire start. During storms we set the network equipment to make several attempts to reconnect power as many faults clear themselves allowing supply to be reconnected safely,” says Roberts.
Roberts adds that, through this combination of weather risks, there will be potential for multiple outages across areas, “for example as a lightning strike will cause an outage when the network is in bushfire setting, whereas the potential for that outcome is reduced when the network is in storm settings.
“Those outages may also be extended in regional and remote areas if crews are stretched by managing safety in severe conditions and responding to the trifecta of weather conditions.”
SA Power Networks says it is mobilising a range of additional resources including contractors, asset inspectors and volunteer wire watchers to assist local crews in responding to the conditions and cancelling non-critical planned work to free up additional crews.
