Electric System Vulnerabilities: the Crucial Role of Information & Communication Technologies in Recent Blackouts

Vulnerability of the electrical infrastructure is growing due to liberalisation, growing demand, transactions escalation, resulting in an infrastructure that is more complex to manage. This was illustrated by major recent blackouts over Europe and North America, which have similar root causes in the inadequacies of current power system controls. Both risk assessment methodologies and real-time controls need substantial revision to address increasing vulnerabilities and to cope at the same time with a new map of jurisdictional responsibilities, cross-border procedures and technological innovation.

STEFANINI Alberto;  PUPPIN Stefano;  SERVIDA Andrea; 

2006-10-26

CIGRE'

JRC32785