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EMP-Shielded Power Grids Under Development

Posted by Soulskill on from the solution-looking-for-a-problem dept.

An anonymous reader writes with this excerpt from MarketWatch: "A one-megaton nuclear bomb detonated 250 miles over Kansas could cripple many modern electronic devices and systems in the continental US and take out the power grid for a long time. ... A solar storm similar to the one that occurred in 1859, which shorted out telegraph wires in the United States and Europe, could wreak havoc on electrical systems. Each of the above scenarios can create a powerful electromagnetic pulse that overloads electronic devices and systems. IAN staff and Frostburg State University physics and engineering professor Hilkat Soysal are teaming — through a $165,000 project recently approved by the Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program — to create renewable energy-powered, electromagnetic pulse (EMP)-protected microgrids that could provide electricity for critical infrastructure facilities in the event of a disaster." Also available are an EMP threat assessment (PDF) written for the US Congress and an estimate of economic impact (PDF).

2 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. Nice by mysidia · · Score: 3, Interesting

    that could provide electricity for critical infrastructure facilities in the event of a disaster."

    "Critical infrastructure" had better include the Wal-marts, fire, police, gas stations...

    And most importantly: the internet.

    The potential effects of a massive EMP or power outage are so bad, that the traditional notion of "critical infrastructure" may not be enough.

    I.E. If businesses are down (no power) for months, then you have a situation where people can't purchase essential supplies, AND since a large EMP would effect a large area, noone nearby can spare them.

  2. How about Hurricane Resistant Power Grids? by jefftp · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Hurricane Ike knocked out power across Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. We need to divert this money away from worrying about preventing a power grid outage due to an extremely unlikely nuclear strike and towards finding ways to keep natural, regularly occuring forces from bringing down power for 6 million people across the center of the US.