Tools and strategies for managing critical grid situations and extreme weather events

Abstract

One of the most critical situations that a TSO (Transmission System Operator) periodically faces is the management of emergency situations caused by critical events, most of the time adverse weather conditions, which impair the normal operation of the National Transmission Grid. Due to the significant series of line and substation outages which normally occur in a short time, the most important need consists in keeping the top management updated promptly and efficiently, about the ongoing situation. Furthermore, especially when weather conditions persist or get worse, the affected area is likely to spread; for this reason, it is crucial to follow the chronological evolution of the events. Terna, in order to meet the requirement for a new efficient way to manage this kind of situations, developed a dedicated tool which aims to speed up the data collection process, standardize the communication channel and improve the graphical representation of the information, creating a robust data flow between people working in real time and people that must be informed offline. This paper describes the tool’s main functionalities, its data architecture and the way it collaborates with external institutions.