How Innovations Improve Grid Resilience

"One of the key ways to make energy systems more reliable is by maximizing flexibility — improving how well the system can adapt in real time to changes in supply and demand. The more flexible the system, the better it can handle sudden demand spikes in the event of extreme weather, such as cold snaps or heat waves, or respond to supply disruptions such as plant outages. Improving flexibility includes upgrading aging infrastructure. Much of the U.S. grid was built decades ago under different demand patterns. Modernizing the grid — by updating substations and transmission equipment, deploying advanced sensors and incorporating advanced transmission technologies (ATTs), for example — can reduce failure rates during extreme heat and cold. These technologies help operators detect problems quicker, reroute power if equipment is damaged and restore service fast. Modernization not only improves reliability but also reduces expensive emergency interventions and lowers long-term maintenance costs. Increasing grid capacity, both through deployment of ATTs and building regional and interregional transmission lines, can reduce the risk of a local weather event turning into a widespread outage. Creating a more interconnected grid allows regions to share power during shortages. Having this greater transmission capacity also help keep prices down by allowing lower-cost electricity to reach areas facing higher demand. Demand-side management options can help ease pressure on the system during extreme weather events. These include encouraging customers and large users to reduce or shift electricity use during peak periods in exchange for lower bills or leveraging distributed energy resources to help prevent shortages. Systems that rely too much on a single fuel are more vulnerable to disruption. Diversification across energy sources and technologies helps reduce the risk of issues related to fuel shortages, infrastructure failures and localized weather impacts. Finally, policy is also critical. It’s vital that incentives are properly aligned with modern needs for flexibility and preparedness. This can help utilities make system investments that really work in extreme weather and minimize costs to consumers in both the short and the long run." Kelly Lefler World Resources Institute https://lnkd.in/e5syqXQp

⚡ Grid-Forming Inverters: The Hidden Enabler of Green Hydrogen & Next-Generation Power Systems 🌍 As renewable energy penetration continues to rise, one challenge is becoming increasingly clear: How do we maintain grid stability when traditional synchronous generators are replaced by inverter-based resources? Recent insights from power system studies highlight the growing importance of Grid-Forming (GFM) technology in unlocking new applications across renewable energy, battery storage, and green hydrogen production. 🔋 GFM + BESS: Building a Stable Foundation for Off-Grid Green Hydrogen One of the most exciting applications is the integration of Grid-Forming Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with renewable-powered hydrogen projects. 💡 Instead of relying on a strong utility grid, GFM BESS can: ✅ Establish voltage and frequency reference for the entire system ✅ Absorb transient power fluctuations from renewable sources ✅ Maintain minimum Short Circuit Ratio (SCR) requirements ✅ Support system resilience during wind turbine or feeder outages ✅ Enable stable operation of electrolysers in isolated environments This architecture is particularly valuable for: 🌊 Offshore wind-to-hydrogen projects 🏜️ Remote renewable energy hubs 🚢 Islanded industrial facilities ⚙️ Large-scale Power-to-X developments In essence, the battery does more than store energy—it becomes the virtual backbone of the grid itself. 🌬️ Enhancing Wind Power Stability Through GFM Another compelling use case is power system damping and Sub-Synchronous Control Interaction (SSCI) mitigation. Traditional wind farms connected through series-compensated transmission networks often face stability limitations that can restrict power output. Research demonstrates that adding a relatively small amount of Grid-Forming capacity can generate disproportionately large benefits. 📈 Example highlighted: 🔹 50 MW of GFM capacity added 🔹 Wind farm stable operating limit increased by approximately 200 MW 🔹 Improved damping characteristics across the system 🔹 Enhanced resilience against oscillatory instability This illustrates a critical industry lesson: 🚀 Grid stability is no longer solely about adding more generation capacity. It is increasingly about adding the right control architecture. 🔄 From Grid-Following to Grid-Forming For years, inverter-based resources have primarily operated in Grid-Following (GFL) mode, requiring a strong external grid reference. Today, the industry is transitioning toward Grid-Forming technologies capable of: ⚡ Establishing grid voltage autonomously ⚡ Providing synthetic inertia and fast frequency response ⚡ Supporting weak-grid operation ⚡ Enabling black-start capability ⚡ Stabilizing high-renewable power systems As renewable penetration accelerates worldwide, GFM is rapidly moving from an innovative concept to a strategic necessity.

Grid stability and security are becoming data + control problems. Utilities and large energy operators are already using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to move from reactive alarms to predictive, resilient, and cyber-aware operations—especially as renewables increase volatility. Here’s where Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) deliver real impact: ✅ Anomaly Detection: clustering + autoencoders to flag abnormal grid states and potential cyber events ✅ Fault Detection & Classification: Decision Trees, Random Forests, Support Vector Machine (SVM) models using voltage/current/frequency features ✅ Predictive Maintenance: Remaining Useful Life (RUL) forecasting to reduce unplanned outages (breakers, transformers, lines) ✅ Voltage Stability: Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) + Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models to anticipate instability and corrective actions ✅ Cybersecurity: Intrusion Detection System (IDS) + Anomaly Detection System (ADS) using supervised and unsupervised Machine Learning (ML) ✅ Optimal Power Flow (OPF): faster optimization with Machine Learning (ML) surrogates + Linear Programming (LP), Quadratic Programming (QP), Interior Point Method (IPM) constraint handling ✅ Forecasting: Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) + Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) for load and generation inputs ✅ Uncertainty: Monte Carlo simulation + stochastic programming for renewables and market variability ✅ Autonomous control (next wave): Reinforcement Learning (RL) + Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL), plus Federated Learning for privacy-preserving training What’s your biggest grid pain right now: false alarms, asset failures, voltage events, congestion, or cybersecurity? #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #DeepLearning #PowerSystems #GridReliability #Cybersecurity #PredictiveMaintenance #EnergyTransition

For the last part of my Energy Resilience series, we have to talk about the worst-case scenario – when the lights actually go out. Earlier this year we saw that happen in Spain and Portugal. A major blackout left millions without power. Trains stopped, shops couldn’t take card payments, hospitals and factories switched to backup. A wake-up call that modern life depends on electricity in ways we often forget until it is gone.   This is what happens when grids are pushed to the edge by fast-moving disturbances or extreme conditions. A couple of years ago, South Australia experienced a state-wide blackout after severe weather took out multiple transmission lines. Investigations showed the system lacked enough inertia to stay stable through the shock. Part of the solution was to install synchronous condensers – giant flywheels that give the grid “weight” and stability. Siemens Energy delivered two of them as part of the response. Not the only measure of course – adapting regulation is also essential – but it showed something important: without resilience in the system, recovery is slow and uncertain. So what do we actually need if we want a fast ramp-up after a major incident? From my perspective, it comes down to three things. 1️⃣ Standardize before the crisis: When parts fail, every minute spent interpreting drawings or debating specifications is a minute the lights stay out. Standard equipment and uniform processes mean teams can move quickly because they are working with tools they already know. Recovery begins long before the fault happens. 2️⃣ Design power plants with failure in mind: A fast restart depends on assets built to recover quickly, not just run efficiently. That means black-start capability, smart redundancy where it matters and systems that can restart without waiting for the wider grid. In the U.S. for example we supported a power plant with a battery system that enables multiple restart attempts within one hour – resilience designed into the plant itself. 3️⃣ No improvisation in the dark: A blackout is the worst moment to negotiate who does what. Good restoration plans spell out which assets come back first, how to stabilize small sections of the grid and when to reconnect them safely. Regular drills with operators, authorities and major customers turn these plans into routine rather than theory. These steps matter because in any major incident skilled people are often the scarcest resource – grid operators, field crews and technical specialists. That is why preparation matters so much. Clear roles, common standards and trusted partnerships mean limited teams can do more in less time. Because when the worst happens what people remember is how long it stayed dark. I hope you have found this mini-series useful. I know social media is often about speed and short takes but sometimes – especially on important topics like this – I find it worthwhile digging into the detail together.✍️ I’d be interested to hear if you agree.

There was enough power, but there wasn’t enough resilience. Last week’s Heathrow shutdown wasn’t just a power outage—it was an exposure. A transformer fire at the North Hyde substation took out electricity to the world’s second-busiest airport. The ripple effects were felt across global aviation, supply chains, and headlines. John Pettigrew, CEO of National Grid, says the other two substations serving Heathrow had enough capacity to keep the airport running. So why the closure? Because operational resilience isn’t just about capacity—it’s about design, systems, decision-making, and time. Heathrow’s CEO explained that they had to shut down thousands of systems and methodically reboot them to ensure safety. Backup generators existed—but only to cover critical safety systems, not full operations. Switching to alternate substations wasn’t instantaneous; reconfiguring and restoring took hours. This is a classic example of design resilience vs. lived resilience. We often assume that having backup available is enough. But in complex systems—airports, hospitals, data centers—it’s how quickly and safely that backup can be activated that defines true resilience. Other major airports have made resilience a priority: - JFK, New York – 110 MW gas-fired CHP plant enabling full microgrid operation during outages. - Frankfurt Airport – Redundant grid feeds, on-site gas turbine generation, and UPS systems. - Amsterdam Schiphol – Integrated energy management system with diesel and battery backup for essential systems. - Changi Airport, Singapore – Multiple grid connections, standby diesel generation, and automated switchgear. - Incheon International, South Korea – Dual-feed substations, backup diesel generators, and smart grid control. These airports understand that resilience isn’t a luxury—it’s a license to operate. This is the future of energy for critical infrastructure: - Decentralized - Redundant - Fast-switching - Integrated with grid and on-site systems. If Heathrow—despite being served by three substations—could still go dark for nearly 24 hours, the question isn’t who to blame. It’s what to build differently. Are we designing our infrastructure for availability, or for agility? Are we investing in energy systems that can recover, or just survive? Let’s make sure this isn’t just a red flag—it’s a redirection. #EnergyResilience #InfrastructureLeadership #FutureOfPower #CriticalInfrastructure #Heathrow #GridSecurity #Digitalisation #Electrification

Thinking differently about network restoration: Black start capability has traditionally relied on large thermal generation. But as the grid evolves and more renewable generation comes online, the question becomes: How do we maintain resilience without relying on those same legacy systems? One of the projects we recently worked on explored exactly that. Using an 11.6 MVA grid-forming battery energy storage system, combined with point-on-wave control, it was possible to re-energise transmission assets through a distributed restart approach - effectively demonstrating a pathway to restore parts of the network without relying on conventional generation. From an engineering perspective, projects like this are interesting because they sit at the intersection of innovation and real-world constraints. It’s not just about proving something works in theory - it’s about making sure switching events are controlled, equipment behaves predictably and the wider system remains stable as assets are re-energised. As power systems continue to change, approaches like this will become increasingly important for maintaining grid resilience. If you’re interested in the details, you can read the full project case study via the link in the comments.

As an engineer working in protection and control, I’ve always appreciated the elegance of well-coordinated protection schemes. Solid protection schemes are designed to act fast, correctly, and only when truly needed. But lately, I keep asking myself: Are the schemes we relied on for decades still ready for the evolving grid we’re stepping into? We're integrating more IBRs into the transmission and distribution systems. With this shift comes a new kind of complexity. Fault levels usually drop, current flow can become bidirectional, the grid can become weaker, and this new grid don’t always behave the way our legacy protection schemes expects. We’ve seen it firsthand: - Distance relays under-reaching due to low fault current contribution - Directional elements confused by fluctuating power flow - Coordination challenges between utilities and customer-owned generation This isn't just a technical challenge, it’s also a human one. Protection settings we used to apply by intuition now need more nuance. Experience with synchronous machines doesn’t always translate to IBRs. And honestly? That can feel overwhelming and difficult to understand. But it’s also an opportunity. We’re starting to talk more about adaptive protection, advanced communication schemes based in IEC 61850, synchrophasors and real-time system awareness. These aren’t just buzzwords, but very useful and innovative tools to help us build resilience and flexibility into the grid. Here’s what I think will help: - Closer collaboration between protection engineers, planners, utilities and developers. - More mentorship and knowledge-sharing between generations of engineers. - Investing in simulation and testing, not just modeling, but challenging our assumptions. - Making room for the uncomfortable questions that spark real innovation. The future grid won’t be protected by doing things the way we always have. It’ll be protected by those who are willing to ask: “Is this still working?” and “Can we do better?” If you're in this space, P&C, substations, IBR integration, I'd love to hear your experience. What’s one challenge you've faced (or foresee) in adapting protection systems to the new energy landscape? RMS Energy Co, LLC #PowerSystems #GridModernization #ProtectionAndControl #EnergyTransition Photo : Impedance loci and OST relay characteristics. Source : IET.

I was honored to join Axios energy reporter Ben Geman at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC, for a fireside chat to discuss what it will take to power an economy that’s more electrified, resilient and competitive. The reality is stark: demand for electricity is projected to grow far faster than overall energy use. This is no threat to prosperity; it’s an opportunity - if we act with realism and speed. I have three takeaways from our discussion, and they are based on one simple insight: a successful energy transition needs energy security. We need to put the technologies and infrastructure in place to ensure we have the right energy, at the right time, at the right price. We can achieve this if we: 1. Squeeze more from every kilowatt: Energy efficiency and grid modernization are just as important as energy supply. We can quickly improve energy efficiency in industries and buildings by using high-efficiency motors with variable-speed drives. If widely adopted, this could reduce electricity demand by about 10% - the same as the output from around 100 coal plants or 35 nuclear plants. These savings could meet the growing energy needs of data centers for several years. 2. Modernize and digitalize the grid: We are still trying to run a 21st century economy on 20th century infrastructure. By 2040, the world needs 80 million kilometers (almost 50 million miles) of grid upgrades, plus storage and digital control, to integrate variable renewables, balance peaks, and improve resilience. Permitting is now a critical bottleneck. This is where targeted policy – with smarter approvals, clear standards, and investment in distribution networks – can unlock real capacity quickly. 3. Make AI part of the solution: There are a lot of headlines that Artificial Intelligence is driving up demand for energy. However, AI-enabled energy management – with digital substations and edge control – can also optimize usage, reduce losses and prevent outages. We have to see AI as a crucial tool to manage grids, to forecast, shift and reduce demand. AI can help us align demand growth with grid reliability. None of this scales without people. Resilient energy systems need a skilled workforce, from electricians to data scientists. Upskilling, retraining, and apprenticeships have to be made a priority by both the public and the private sector. The path forward is clear: electrify everything you can; deploy efficiency first; digitalize the grid; and use AI to manage what we add (and have). For regions and countries that do this, energy security will be a competitive advantage creating the foundations for sustainable growth. Listen to the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/emMu-4zr

11 hours. That's how long the average U.S. electricity customer went without power in 2025; which is nearly double the previous decade's average. The main impact is extreme weather, which is responsible for roughly 80% of outages. With overall U.S. peak demand projected to grow ~26% by 2035; strain on the system is only intensifying So what are operators doing to shrink downtime and harden the system? A few clear patterns have emerged across the industry: 🔹 From reactive to predictive. Online condition-based monitoring on transformers are flagging potential failures days or weeks before they trip; as time-based maintenance gives way to data-driven intervention. 🔹 Self-healing distribution. FLISR (Fault Location, Isolation & Service Restoration) schemes now isolate faults and reroute power in seconds, dramatically reducing outage impact and duration. 🔹 Targeted grid hardening. Selective undergrounding, storm-rated structures, and wildfire-mitigation designs are being deployed where the risk-value math works; not as blanket investments, but as region-specific strategies. 🔹 Digital twins for planning and operations. Virtual replicas of the grid are helping operators stress-test scenarios, sequence capital work, and integrate DERs with more confidence. The common thread? Utilities are shifting from restoring power quickly to preventing the interruption in the first place. Resilience is becoming the new reliability benchmark. For utility leaders, the question isn't whether to invest; it's how quickly the operating model can catch up to the risk environment. Grid resilience is no longer a technical topic. It's a strategic one. Doble Engineering #GridResilience #UtilityIndustry #GridModernization #Reliability #EnergyTransition #SmartGrid

America’s grid faces a stress test: demand is surging, but supply can’t keep up. Data centers, EVs, and electrified heating are pushing U.S. electricity demand up 21.5% this decade. AI alone is creating jaw-dropping energy needs, with Microsoft and Google racing to secure 24/7 clean power for their data centers. Yet new plants and transmission take years, stuck in queues, permitting delays, and regulatory gridlock. So how do we meet demand today without waiting a decade for steel in the ground? A recent paper by Norris, Profeta, Patino-Echeverri, and Cowie-Haskell highlights one answer: load flexibility. Instead of treating demand as fixed, flexible loads (data centers, industrial plants, EV fleets) can temporarily scale back when the grid is stressed. The findings are striking: - With just 0.25% annual curtailment (~1.7 hrs/yr), the U.S. could integrate 76 GW of new load. - At 1% curtailment, that expands to 126 GW. - In PJM (the nation’s largest power market, serving 65 million people across 13 states) 18 GW of new demand could be added without building new plants. Flexibility isn’t a silver bullet, meaning it can’t replace the need to build new clean generation, transmission, and storage. But it buys time, reduces costs, and makes the system more resilient. Software, sensors, and batteries can unlock efficiency at a fraction of the price of new steel in the ground. The lesson is simple: flexibility is capacity. Execution is survival. But we need both efficiency and investment if we want a grid that keeps up with the 21st century. Here's the full paper from Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability at Duke University: https://lnkd.in/gBh_3Fva