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In the News

Home Communications In the News What is a Geomagnetic Disturbance and How Can It Affect the Power Grid?

12.10.2017

What is a Geomagnetic Disturbance and How Can It Affect the Power Grid?

by Joe Bennett – Senior NERC Reliability Specialist, NAES Corporation

A geomagnetic disturbance (GMD), also known as a geomagnetic storm, is a major event in Earth’s magnetosphere. It’s caused by a very efficient transfer of energy from solar wind into the space environment surrounding Earth. Solar wind shockwaves result from a solar flare that is followed by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) of charged and magnetized particles into space.

Graphic depiction of a coronal mass ejection (CME)

Solar flares followed by CMEs happen fairly often, but the majority do not produce a GMD. It depends on the magnitude of the flare, the direction in which the particles are emitted and the orientation of the magnetic field. Scientists can see when a solar flare is coming and determine when it will reach Earth, but it’s a lot harder to determine if a solar flare will actually cause a GMD and, if it does, what its magnitude will be.

GMDs are of particular concern to the reliability of the nation’s power grid because they can cause geomagnetically induced currents (GICs). To address this, NASA has been working on a project called Solar Shield that aims to determine which transformers on the grid would potentially be affected by a GMD.

GICs cause variations in electrical current in the magnetosphere and the ionosphere (layers of our atmosphere),which in turn adversely affect Earth’s magnetic field. They induce currents in conductors such as power lines that can affect power grid transformers. Specifically, GICs can cause ‘half-cycle saturation’ of high-voltage Bulk Electric System (BES) transformers, which can lead to increased consumption of reactive power and create disruptive harmonics that could potentially cause the BES to collapse.

Further, half-cycle saturation from GICs can potentially damage BES transformers by overheating them. NERC and the U. S. Department of Energy have determined that the increase of high-voltage power lines and electric energy usage in recent years has elevated this risk.

If a disturbance occurs that is large enough to damage transformers, it could take serious time to restore the grid. Replacing transformers can require a lead time of as much as 12 months. If this were to happen on a large scale, the sheer number of units requiring replacement would further contribute to the downtime.

Motivated by these concerns, FERC called for development of a NERC standard that requires transmission planning for GMDs. This resulted in the currently effective TPL-007- 1 – Transmission System Planning Performance for GMD Events. Under this standard, the nation’s planning entities are currently in the process of developing GIC system models for their respective planning areas using data and information provided by Generator Owners.

Over the phased-in implementation of the standard, certain Generator Owners may need to conduct thermal impact assessments of their BES power transformers. These will ultimately support planning entities’ development of an assessment of their vulnerability to GMD events and a corrective action plan to mitigate the potential threats described above.

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    CAISO Generator Modeling Process and Data Requirements

    Don’t wait until the last minute. You should allow time for at least one iteration with CAISO so that you are complete and deemed compliant before your deadline.

    On August 1, 2018, CAISO introduced a revised Business Practice Manual for Transmission Planning Process (BPM), which includes new data requirements for interconnected generation resources within the ISO’s footprint. Section 10 of the BPM establishes revised data requirements and compliance procedures for all participating generators including non-NERC registered entities. While additional requirements have been placed on larger NERC registered facilities, these changes may pose an even greater burden to entities that have been exempt from NERC mandated modeling and protection requirements.

    New data requirements include voltage and frequency protection models, power flow models, and in some cases, sub-synchronous resonance models. These models must be verified using criteria listed in the BPM, which can only be performed by entities with modeling software and knowledge of modeling practices.

    NAES is prepared to assist entities with data aggregation, modeling, and testing to ensure compliance with CAISO’s data requests. The following links will allow entities to determine when to expect their individual data requests (phase) and what data will be required (category).

    Business Practice Manual (BPM)

    Entity Category and Phase Listing

    CAISO Transmission Planning Website

    TPL-007

    TPL-007 establishes planning criteria for induced currents caused by geomagnetic disturbances. The standard is applicable to facilities using transformer(s) with a high side, wye grounded winding operated above 200 kV and can require both submittal of general geomagnetic data (R2) and thermal impact assessments (R6) depending on results of Planning Coordinator analysis.

    VOLTAGE AND REACTIVE (VAR) STANDARDS

    VAR-501-WECC

    VAR-501-WECC requires applicable entities within the WECC region to confirm performance settings and characteristics of Power System Stabilizers (PSS). NAES provides physical testing and reporting services to address WECC’s specific PSS requirements.

    PERSONNEL PERFORMANCE, TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

    PER-006

    PER-006 requires Generator Operators to provide training to personnel who are responsible for the Real-time control of a generator. NAES has developed specific protection system training materials suitable for compliance with the Standard and provides this training both on and off site

    PROTECTION AND CONTROL (PRC) STANDARDS

    PRC-001

    PRC-001 requires entities to coordinate protection system changes with other affected parties. NAES offers both procedural documentation and engineering services to establish the required coordination for both PRC-001 and PRC-027.

    PRC-002

    PRC-002 requires the installation and operation of disturbance monitoring equipment (DME) for applicable entities. NAES can assist with the design and installation of DME as well as ongoing compliance support.

    PRC-019

    PRC-019 requires applicable entities to show coordination between voltage regulating controls, limiters, equipment capabilities, and protection settings. NAES produces PRC-019 specific coordination studies for both traditional generators and renewable projects to establish compliance with the Standard.

    PRC-023

    PRC-023 requires load responsive protective relays be set according to criteria within the Standard to ensure settings do not limit transmission loadability. NAES provides full engineering analyses to maintain compliance with this Standard.

    PRC-024

    PRC-024 requires applicable entities to ensure generator protective relays do not trip within predefined frequency and voltage limits. NAES can complete protection settings analyses and provide compliance documentation that clearly identifies protection settings as they relate to NERC’s “no trip” zones.

    PRC-025

    PRC-025 establishes minimum settings requirements for load-responsive relays protecting generators, step up transformers, and auxiliary transformers. NAES utilizes predefined calculation options as well as simulations to determine a facility’s compliance status and development of new relay settings if required.

    PRC-026

    PRC-026 requires applicable entities to perform load responsive relay settings analyses based on criteria identified within the Standard. Entities are typically notified by the Planning Coordinator when an analysis is required. NAES performs all required studies to establish compliance.

    MODELING, DATA, AND ANALYSIS (MOD) STANDARDS

    MOD-025

    MOD-025 requires Real and Reactive Power capability testing for individual generating units over 20 MVA or facilities with over 75 MVA of generation capacity. NAES offers site specific test procedures and/or complete onsite testing services to meet the requirements of this standard.

    MOD-026

    MOD-026 requires verification of excitation or volt/var control dynamic models through utilization of either system disturbances or physical testing. NAES offers full testing and modeling services to meet the requirements of this standard.

    MOD-027

    MOD-027 requires verification of governor or active power/frequency control dynamic models through utilization of either system disturbances or physical testing. NAES offers full testing and modeling services to meet the requirements of this standard.