Protecting The Power Grid: Emp Shielding Strategies

Protecting electric grids from electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) is a critical issue for governments and utility companies. An EMP is a powerful wave of energy that can be caused by natural phenomena, such as solar flares, or human activity, such as a nuclear detonation or a terrorist attack. The impact of an EMP on an electric grid can be catastrophic, causing voltage surges that lead to dramatic power surges, damaging electronic devices, and causing long-term power outages. Given the aging and vulnerable state of the US grid infrastructure, there is a growing danger of EMP attacks from adversaries. To protect against EMPs, there have been proposals for grid hardening, the use of ultrafast devices, and the implementation of NBDs at critical substations. The cost of such protections is estimated to be less than $50 billion, which is a small fraction of the grid's replacement cost and a worthwhile investment to safeguard modern life and prevent economic losses.

Develop ultrafast devices to protect the grid from EMP voltage surges

The development of ultrafast devices is a crucial step in protecting the electric grid from EMP voltage surges. An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) can cause significant voltage surges, leading to potential damage to electronic devices and large-scale power interruptions.

The Sandia team has made significant progress in this area by creating a tiny electronic device that can shunt excess electricity within a few billionths of a second while operating at high voltages. This device, made from gallium nitride, is a crucial step towards safeguarding the electric grid from EMPs. Gallium nitride is a semiconductor with superior chemical properties, allowing it to withstand higher voltages before breakdown compared to silicon. This material's quick response makes it ideal for protecting the grid from EMPs.

The Sandia device's testing procedure involved applying a high-voltage pulse and measuring the reflected electric pulse to determine the device's activation time. This ultrafast device can react within ten billionths of a second, making it effective against EMPs.

The development of these ultrafast devices is essential because the electric grid's existing protections may not be sufficient against EMPs. The voltage surges caused by EMPs are significantly faster than those caused by lightning, so the effectiveness of lightning protection devices against EMPs is uncertain.

The ultrafast devices being developed offer a promising solution to protect the electric grid from EMP voltage surges, ensuring that a single EMP event does not cause a widespread and long-lasting power outage.

Invest in grid-hardening technology, including grounding power and transmission lines

The electrical grid is vulnerable to electromagnetic pulses (EMPs), which can be caused by natural phenomena such as solar flares, or human activity, including nuclear detonations and cyberattacks. An EMP can cause voltage surges and dramatic voltage spikes, leading to power interruptions and long-term outages. Given the potential impact of an EMP attack, it is imperative to invest in grid-hardening technology, including grounding power and transmission lines.

Grid hardening is an expensive process that involves grounding power lines and constructing shielding containers and mechanisms. While the cost of grid hardening is significant, it is a small fraction of the replacement cost of the grid and the potential long-term recovery costs in the event of an EMP attack. For example, Dr. Baker estimates that it would cost less than $50 billion to prioritize the protection of the existing electric power system, which is about 1% of the grid's replacement cost.

Furthermore, the grounding of power and transmission lines is a critical component of grid hardening. The electrical grid is only as strong as its weakest link, so it is important to ensure that all power and transmission lines are properly grounded and protected. This includes investing in technologies such as neutral blocking devices (NBDs) at extra-high-voltage (EHV) substations, which can provide an additional layer of protection for critical infrastructure.

In addition to the financial costs, there are also technical challenges associated with grid hardening. For example, developing tools that can accurately measure the fast response times required to protect against EMPs is difficult. The voltage surges caused by EMPs are much faster than those caused by lightning strikes, so it is unclear if the current protections in place would be effective. However, there have been advancements in this area, such as the development of ultrafast gallium nitride diodes, which can react quickly enough to protect the grid from EMPs.

Overall, investing in grid-hardening technology, including grounding power and transmission lines, is crucial to protecting the electrical grid from EMPs. While there are financial and technical challenges, the potential consequences of an EMP attack on critical infrastructure make it a priority for governments and utility companies to address.

Utilise gallium nitride diodes to achieve the fast response needed to protect against EMP

Gallium nitride is a semiconductor with unique chemical properties that allow it to withstand higher voltages than silicon before breaking down. This makes it an ideal material for diodes designed to protect the electrical grid from electromagnetic pulses (EMPs).

EMPs can be caused by natural phenomena, such as solar flares, or human activity, such as a nuclear detonation in the atmosphere. They create massive voltage surges in a matter of a few billionths of a second, which can damage electronic devices and critical infrastructure over a wide area. The huge transformers that form the backbone of the electrical grid are particularly vulnerable to EMPs, and their damage could result in months-long power interruptions.

The Sandia Lab team, led by Mary Crawford, has developed a gallium nitride diode device that can react to voltage spikes within a few billionths of a second, making it a significant step towards protecting the electrical grid from EMPs. The device is created by "growing" gallium nitride semiconductor layers using a process called chemical vapor deposition. This involves heating a commercially available gallium nitride wafer to around 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit and then adding vapors containing gallium and nitrogen atoms. By adjusting the ingredients and the "baking" process, the team can produce layers with varying electrical characteristics.

The gallium nitride diode's rapid response time is critical for protecting the grid from EMPs, as the voltage surges caused by EMPs occur much faster than those caused by lightning. The device's ability to react within a few billionths of a second makes it a promising solution for safeguarding the electrical grid against the potentially catastrophic effects of EMPs.

Implement EMP fortifications at critical infrastructure, such as military bases

Military bases are increasingly reliant on technology, and with adversaries turning to new forms of warfare, EMP attacks are a critical vulnerability. Military bases have a range of equipment and vehicles that are vulnerable to EMP attacks, including drones, missile guidance systems, vehicles, and even laser sights on weapons.

To implement EMP fortifications at critical infrastructure, such as military bases, the following steps can be taken:

Firstly, a survey of the base should be conducted to identify any equipment that could be vulnerable to an EMP attack. This includes assessing both essential and non-essential electronic equipment, as well as vehicles and weapons. Once the vulnerable equipment has been identified, the next step is to develop strategies to protect them. This could include:

• Powering down and disconnecting non-essential electronic equipment and antennas in the event of an imminent EMP attack.
• Utilizing wearable EMP shields to protect personnel and weapons.
• Employing surge protectors to divert excess voltage into the earth.
• Using Faraday cages to shield sensitive equipment from electromagnetic radiation.
• Implementing grounding of power and transmission lines to protect against power surges.
• Ensuring that tactical vehicles are diesel-powered and hardened to withstand EMP attacks.
• Utilizing armored vehicles and modern tactical equipment, which are typically designed with EMP protection in mind.

It is important to note that the effectiveness of specific materials and objects in protecting against EMPs is still a subject of debate. However, by combining the above strategies and staying up to date with evolving technologies, military bases can improve their resilience against EMP attacks and protect their critical infrastructure.

Prioritise protection of large power transformers with Neutral Blocking Devices

The electric grid is vulnerable to electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) caused by natural phenomena, such as solar flares, or human activity, including a nuclear detonation in the atmosphere. An EMP can cause huge voltage surges in a few billionths of a second, potentially damaging electronic devices and large power transformers over a wide area. Given the critical role of power transformers in the electric grid, protecting them from EMPs is a priority.

One effective solution for protecting large power transformers from EMPs is the use of Neutral Blocking Devices (NBDs). NBDs, such as the SolidGroundTM device by ABB, are designed to block geomagnetically-induced quasi-DC currents (GIC) in the neutral conductors of power transformers. GICs are electromagnetic oscillations induced in kilometre-long overhead power transmission lines, which can result in quick saturation of a transformer's core and excessive heating, leading to potential damage or failure. By blocking GICs, NBDs help prevent the adverse effects of EMPs on large power transformers.

The SolidGroundTM device has been extensively tested and proven to protect against the E3 component of high-altitude electromagnetic pulses (HEMP), which lasts several minutes. It operates in Normally Blocking Mode, placing capacitors in the neutral continually during normal operation, automatically bypassing the capacitors only for very short periods during system events. This mode of operation ensures reliable and safe functioning of High Voltage Breakers during an EMP event, preventing transformer saturation and reducing the risk of grid collapse.

The effectiveness of SolidGroundTM in mitigating the impact of EMPs on large power transformers has been demonstrated through various studies and live grid experiments. For example, it was tested at Idaho National Labs as part of a US Department of Defense (DoD) and Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) live grid experiment. Additionally, the device's modular design allows for field upgrades to further increase its blocking capability if needed.

Investing in NBDs, such as SolidGroundTM, to protect large power transformers is a crucial step in hardening the electric grid against EMPs. While the devices may be expensive, they offer a proven and effective solution to mitigate the potential catastrophic effects of EMPs on the power grid and the critical infrastructure it supports.

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