The Energy Grid and Extreme Weather

The electrical grid delivers electricity to almost all critical infrastructure elements through a network of power generation stations, transmission lines, and distribution lines. Electrical engineers design the electrical aspects of wires and connected equipment and the civil engineers design the structural and subsurface requirements for supporting the grid. The power infrastructure in the US is aging and struggling to meet a rapidly growing demand for electricity, and is susceptible to load flows, voltage/frequency management, technologies failures, cybersecurity risks, as well as extreme weather event damage. While the power grid is evolving from central to distributed power generation, and incorporating more renewable energies, our growing population, increasing electrification including electric vehicles is putting more demand on it. Weather also plays a huge impact on consistent delivery of electricity, and climate change will continue to impact the power grid (remember Sandy taking out the power in NYC in 2012 and the winter storms in Texas in 2021). This collection of papers and book chapters, focusing on the impact weather has on the electrical grid, will assist engineers in identifying areas to target IIJA funding to plan for climate change.

This collection is curated by Wesley J. Oliphant, P.E., Principal, Chief Technical Officer, Exo Group.