FURTHERING THE RESEARCH OF GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCES IMPACT ON THE BULK POWER SYSTEM
April 2018
Background and Project Objectives
The interconnected bulk power system (BPS) has a long record of reliable, secure delivery of electric power. However, GMDs have demonstrated their ability to disrupt normal BPS operation. For ex- ample, in March of 1989, a GMD led to the collapse of the Hydro- Québec system. The 1989 event and other GMDs have resulted in numerous BPS impacts (e.g., capacitor bank tripping, line tripping, and transformer damage) across the continental United States and elsewhere.
To mitigate the potential risk that severe GMDs pose to the reliabil- ity and resiliency of the BPS, NERC developed Reliability Standard TPL-007-1
(Transmission System Planned Performance for Geo-magnetic Disturbance Events).
This standard requires owners and operators of BPS assets to conduct initial and ongoing assessments of the potential impact of a defined benchmark (1-in-100-year) GMD event on their individual BPS assets and on the entire bulk power system.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved Reli- ability Standard TPL-007-1 in Order No. 830, issued on September 22, 2016 [1].
However, FERC directed NERC to develop modifica- tions to the standard and undertake additional actions to improve understanding of GMD events and their potential impacts on reliability. The objective of this white paper is to enhance collabora- tive research in each of the areas identified in FERC Order 830. The outcome will lead to a better understanding of the threat that severe GMDs pose on the BPS, and as a result, will provide society with more reliable, secure, and economical delivery of electric power.
http://www.ercot.com/content/wcm/key_documents_lists/54489/EPRI_Furthering_the_Research_of_GMD_Impact_on_BPS.pdf