The construction of a power grid emergency response system refers to the improvement of rapid grid response and management of events such as typhoons, floods, fires, ice storms, lightning strikes, earthquakes, war, geological disasters, network attacks, chain reaction accidents, and other catastrophes. Such events require rapid and careful response to minimize impact and loss, provide adequate dispatch, quickly restore power supply to key infrastructure, and repair grid networks quickly.
Below, we identify some key factors related to grid emergency response, and suggestions for improvement:
1. Include “solar+storage” and other new energy technologies as part of the grid’s emergency response infrastructure
“Solar+storage” can help stabilize the intermittency and fluctuation of solar generation during normal operation of the power grid. In the event of a grid accident, “solar+storage” systems can help restore grid operations within a certain range. When necessary, such installations can also provide blackstart services. Grid-connected intelligent microgrids, energy storage, and mobile power generation should also be included in grid emergency system infrastructure. In the event of a power grid security emergency, it is necessary to ensure that emergency power sources for government, emergency command, communications, hospitals, television stations, and other key infrastructure are fully available, and that technologies such as mobile generator vehicles and emergency repair teams are in place in a timely manner.
2. Reduce the burden on smaller power generation companies and improve emergency response capabilities
We recommend reducing the burden on smaller power generation companies caused by excessive reports, price competition, inspection, evaluations, approvals, index ratings, and other requirements. Grid experts, engineers, and other personnel should be encouraged to speak the truth, suggest rational solutions, respond to problems as soon as they are discovered, and report equipment defects in a timely manner, thereby minimizing the risk of accidents.
In the event of a power grid emergency, dispatch orders must be strictly followed. Workers and responsible entities must respond quickly, flexibility, and efficiently according to voltage level, territorial scope, dispatching area, grid dispatching regulations, safety regulations, field operation regulations, accident recovery procedures, and accident analysis procedures. The grid should not risk the possibility of a large-scale power outage due to excessive red tape, delays in the chain of command, step-by-step reporting requirements, or similar regulations.
In order to improve emergency response capabilities, emergency repair materials and equipment should be set aside in advance. A suitable amount of urgent maintenance materials should be prepared and properly distributed to ensure that they can be delivered to repair sites in the shortest possible time. Such materials include distribution transformers, switch cabinets, ring network cabinets, wires, cables, complete sets of hardware, protective masks, and other key components.
3. Prepare accident response drills and grid emergency drills in accordance with regional conditions
A power grid emergency response system should be based on the principles of early prevention and early warning. A variety of accident preparedness plans should be in place before an accident happens, and grids should always be prepared for the worst. In normal times, frequent drills should be conducted. When an accident does occur, departments including those responsible for dispatch, safety supervision, equipment, vehicles, administration, and medical services should respond quickly, maintain smooth communication channels (especially wireless communication), and coordinate together to provide a meaningful response.
Emergency drills should be adaptable to a variety of situations rather than repeated blindly. Emergency drills for large-scale power outages should be conducted at the prefectural level. Such drills include grid blackstart emergency response drills, substation shutdown response drills, flood response joint drills, large-scale power outage joint drills, and others. These prefecture-level drills should be conducted in close contact with provincial and municipal governments, related departments, as well as key infrastructure. A national power emergency response training base should be established, as well as a national power emergency repair and rescue team. When necessary, an appropriate team should be dispatched to handle emergency repairs.
4. Strengthen weather monitoring to anticipate ice storms and prevent conductor gallop
At present, we are currently in a transition from winter to spring, a time in which grid infrastructure in regions such as Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi, and other provinces is prone to ice storm disasters and conductor gallop. Under certain weather conditions, transmission lines may form ice, which when combined with sufficient windflow, can cause the power lines to oscillate, a phenomenon known as conductor gallop. If severe, conductor gallop may cause trips, disconnections, metal fatigue, and even tower collapse, leading to widespread power outages.
Power companies in Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi, and other regions prone to these type of weather conditions must pay close attention to meteorological forecasting, strengthen monitoring of ice conditions and conductor gallop, provide timely warnings on cold weather conditions, increase special patrol and special protection of power lines, develop emergency repair plans, and develop additional accident preparedness and deicing strategies to respond to conductor gallop. With the center of the outbreak located in Wuhan, it is a reminder of how important it is for the grid to ensure emergency hospitals in Hubei and other severely affected regions supplied with stable power.
Thoughts and suggestions
Although the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic may be thought of as an emergency in the field of public health, it also provides an opportunity for those in the energy sector to consider the safety and emergency preparedness of the power grid.
The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic has exposed problems such as untimeliness in warning systems, response, and decision-making, as well as improperly enacted control measures, and inadequate implementation. This is especially true in the lack of respect that was given to professionals in the medical industry. The mistake of labeling eight doctors who dared to bring the true situation to light as “rumor makers,” failure to act within the ideal time frame, and failure to contain the epidemic in its nascent stages all failed to embody the principle of early and responsible action.
Thoughts for the power grid’s emergency response system:
1. Establish and improve an early warning system for emergencies according to the law
The “Emergency Response Law of the People’s Republic of China” stipulates, “When a natural disaster, calamitous accident or public health incident that can be forewarned is imminent or the possibility of its occurrence increases, the local people’s government at or above the county level shall, within the limits of its power and in compliance with the procedures, as prescribed by relevant laws and administrative regulations and by the State Council, give an alarm of the appropriate grade, decide and declare that the areas concerned enter a period of early warning and, at the same time, report the matter to the people’s government at the next higher level and, when necessary, it may do so by bypassing the government at the next higher level.”
“The early warnings about natural disasters, calamitous accidents and public health incidents that may be forewarned shall be classified in four grades: Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 and Grade 4, which shall be indicated respectively in red, orange, yellow and blue, Grade 1 being the highest one.”
2. Establish a specialized power grid emergency response mechanism and emergency response team
Establish mechanisms for emergency plans, emergency response, emergency decisionmaking, emergency command, emergency notification, and emergency operations. Create a specialized, rapid-response power grid security emergency team that can be on standby at any time. A diverse team of specialists will help ensure the grid remains stable and that emergencies can be dealt with quickly.
3. Establish a mechanism for raising suggestions and fostering communication
We must respect industry experts who are willing to provide rational and valuable suggestions, and not punish or ignore those who maintain different opinions. Expert opinions should be treated as beneficial to the grid and grid security, and never as malicious. In any system, if no one discovers problems, no one raises questions, and no one is willing to speak up or go against the grain, then the whole system is at risk. This is no different in the context of the power grid and grid security.
Specific methods:
1. Utilize internet technologies to establish a platform for specialists, engineers, and even junior staff to provide suggestions and establish communication. Such a platform will allow concerns about grid safety and operations to be heard clearly and proper solutions implemented quickly. A national database of experts should also be created that can respond quickly to safety concerns.
2. Utilize big data analysis to proactively find faults and hidden dangers in the grid and conduct proper repair measures before accidents occur. Smart apps, intelligent robots, remote monitoring, remote maintenance and operations, fault location, fault inspection, and other advanced methods can be used to quickly handle defects and remove hidden dangers before they become a problem.
3. Establish a remote office system, remote conferencing system, cultivate remote management talents, and build grid companies’ own remote emergency response team. Develop remote software that can be used for emergency response inside grid companies.
Final Thoughts
During the COVID-19 outbreak, the power grid is tasked with focusing on its own epidemic prevention and control, ensuring safe operations of the grid, resuming production, and continuing power supply marketing. The grid must particularly take care of personnel and their families to ensure that they are not put at risk of infection. The grid must also ensure that dispatchers, substation operations managers, and emergency repair personnel at all levels can quickly respond to national grid security emergencies and restore power to key infrastructure. If the epidemic experience tells us anything, it is that grid personnel should not be afraid to speak up should safety issues be found, nor should they risk reprisal for doing so. We must also be sure to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy and strict adherence to the chain of command when such practices may cause delays that would prevent action from being taken before it is too late. When disaster strikes, we must make every effort to act as quickly and decisively as possible.
Originally Published in China Energy News
Author: Feng Qingdong
Translation: George Dudley