Brent Lello’s Post

This article is a must-read for anyone working in the power or cable industries or concerned about the reliability of the power grid. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, so this point is more critical than ever. #gridresilience #climatechange

🌬 The United Kingdom is in the middle of two quite big storms- Isha and Joselyn- bring strong winds and power failures affecting millions of people. High-risk weather patterns related to power system failures can be forecast reliably with valuable lead time, clear links between specific patterns and transitions can significantly improve the preparedness of the United Kingdom and broader European distribution network operators for adverse weather conditions. #windstorm #poweroutage #Storms #weatherforecast #unitedkingdom #weatherpatterns 🔗 Check out the timely study here:

Climate Central is out with some helpful numbers to show how vulnerable our #energy infrastructure is to #extremeweather. Now that may seem obvious, but having these data help us tell the story about why we’re investing in a modern, resilient #grid that can stand up to the effects of climate change: https://lnkd.in/eKd7iyUN. 

According to Climate Central’s analysis of major power outages between 2000 and 2023 (a major outage being one that affected more than 50,000 customers or disrupted service of 300MW or more), 80% were due to extreme weather. What is more, they found that extreme weather-related outages are on the rise, with twice as many outages in the last 10 years than the 10 years before that.

The bulk of these outages have occurred in the South and Southeast where we have a large #Army presence and are highly dependent on the commercial grid, and so we are vulnerable to these outages. When we lose power, it’s not just a nuisance; it impacts our ability to train and deploy forces to support our warfighting mission, and (especially depending on the duration of the outage) it can affect the condition of our soldiers and civilians living in the community and impede them from getting to our installations to support critical missions even when there are emergency systems keeping the power on.

These numbers simply reinforce why the Army must continue to invest in #energyresilience at our installations and in our defense communities. And we are! We’re driving #energyefficiency on our installations to reduce the amount of backup power we need in an emergency, and we’re deploying microgrids tied to on-site generation and #storage to support critical missions where energy reliability is a must. We’re also working with utilities and other stakeholders to extend energy resilience into the community by strengthening defense critical energy infrastructure across the board—from regional transmission to the last mile distribution. It's a journey, and we've still got a ways to go. But with strong Army leadership, a solid team of energy professionals, and robust industry partnerships, we've got the wind at our back and are building the energy resilience we need to secure the future.

As we prepare for the upcoming winter season, ERCOT is taking significant steps to bolster the reliability of our energy grid. CEO Pablo Vegas recently outlined new measures and tools to mitigate risks and enhance resilience. These efforts include: 🌐 Monthly Outlook for Resource Adequacy (MORA): ERCOT is shifting from seasonal to monthly reports. By using probabilistic models, they can now assess risks under thousands of different weather scenarios, ensuring a more proactive approach to grid management. 🔋 Request for Additional Reserves: To maintain a low-risk profile, ERCOT has requested an additional 3,000 MW in operating reserves. This measure is crucial, especially if extreme weather events like Winter Storm Elliot reoccur. ❄️ New Weatherization Standards: ERCOT has implemented new weatherization standards tailored to different geographic regions in Texas. These standards enhance temperature resiliency, ensuring that power plants across the state can withstand local weather conditions. Despite these proactive measures, challenges remain. Recent events like Hurricane Beryl have highlighted vulnerabilities in our system. Over 35,000 CenterPoint customers in Houston were without power for days following the Category 1 storm, prompting state officials to demand better storm preparedness and response. This situation raises concerns about our readiness for future storms, even those of lower intensity. As energy professionals, staying informed and adapting to these evolving conditions is imperative. The resilience and efficiency of our grid depend on our collective efforts and continuous innovation. As we look ahead, several critical questions arise: How will the proposed legislative changes and regulatory updates impact ERCOT's ability to maintain grid stability and reliability? What further actions can be taken to ensure that our grid is resilient against future extreme weather events and evolving market demands? 📊 Stay ahead with real-time insights and comprehensive energy market data. GridMonitor is free to try. No credit card required. #GridMonitor #ERCOT #EnergyProfessionals #TexasEnergy #GridReliability #WinterPreparedness #StormResilience #EnergyInnovation

Between 2000 and 2023, the U.S. experienced a significant number of #power outages, with 80% attributed to weather-related events. #SevereWeather was the leading cause, followed by winter storms and tropical cyclones. Texas, Michigan, California, North Carolina, and Ohio were the most affected states. Regions like the Southeast, South, Northeast, and Ohio Valley also faced numerous disruptions. This report underscores the critical need for enhanced electrical #GridResilience to withstand such weather impacts. Moreover, it highlights the importance of #CommunityEngagement — especially with rural and #Tribal partners — to ensure that resilience-building efforts are inclusive and address the needs of the diversity of communities throughout the process. Strengthening our electrical infrastructure and fostering collaborative community relationships are essential steps towards a more reliable power supply in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. #ClimateAdaptation #GridResilience

PJM has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for its Western Region for Jan. 14–17 ahead of expected frigid weather. A Cold Weather Advisory is a routine procedure PJM issues ahead of significantly cold weather in order to give generation owners ample time to provide information to PJM about their operating availability, capabilities and limitations to help PJM operators plan for the extreme weather. Read more at PJM Inside Lines. https://lnkd.in/eSxykUk7

Energy security is more important than ever with catastrophic weather events increasing in frequency and severity. Take a Critical Power Scorecard Assessment to determine which areas are your company's strengths and which need additional focus. https://lnkd.in/em5kZ7qy https://lnkd.in/esjv3HeF #criticalpower #energystorage #missioncritical #poweroutage #energysecurity

What does a Cold Weather Advisory mean and how does it affect your operations? PJM is going to expect certain behaviors and potentially increased reporting from their generators in addition to market volatility experienced by both load and generation. Reach out to see how White Pine can help you manage these situations and more.

What will your company do when the lights go out? What will be the cost of indecision about how to deal with the inevitable strain on our power grids and the impact of powerful storms? At Concentric, we are relentless in our pursuit of a better way...we have customized power solutions for your company's MHE fleets and Critical Backup Power for your infrastructure. Let's talk about energy security proactively today.

Resilient Structures for a more reliable grid. #gridhardening #resilience #utilities #ResilientStructures