Preparing for Power Outages in the Face of Solar Storms

Imagine what would happen today, in a world reliant on the internet. The planet got a small taste in early August, when a large, disruptive solar flare interrupted high-frequency radio communication on the sunlit side of Earth.

While upcoming solar weather events are not likely to lead to an “internet apocalypse” (as one University of California professor suggested), it is good to be prepared for probable interruptions and ensure processes will continue to run, even with less power or a lack of connectivity.

Federal agencies should look to uninterruptible power supplies and surge protection devices to defend their systems from disruptions due to solar weather events or other potential disasters.

Uninterruptible Power Supplies Provide Energy During Outages

A UPS is a backup system that can protect workloads and hardware. When power is lost, the UPS kicks in and supplies adequate power until longer-term emergency power backup systems are available.

During an outage, the UPS detects that power is no longer coming from the grid and switches to battery power. Online double-conversion UPSs (such as the Schneider Electric Galaxy and Eaton Powerware devices) do this immediately.

Other types, such as line-interactive and offline/standby UPSs, may experience a slight delay. These convert energy stored in the battery into AC power and deliver it to the connected load unaffected by the outage. Once power is restored, the UPS transitions back to using utility power as its primary source.

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Make sure to test the devices on a quarterly or semi-annual basis to address issues before they become critical. Test the UPS’s functions, including its ability to switch to battery power seamlessly. Test batteries more frequently, about every three to six months. It’s also wise to conduct unannounced tests to simulate a real outage.

How to Protect Against Dangerous Power Surges

A sudden (even transient) power surge can be forceful enough to damage or destroy data servers, resulting in lost data, broken equipment and costly downtime. A surge protection device ensures that sensitive equipment is shielded from the damaging effects of transients, surges or spikes.

When the surge protection device detects a voltage surge, it responds rapidly — usually in nanoseconds — by diverting excess energy away from the connected equipment. Surge protectors also provide voltage clamping, which keeps the voltage at a certain threshold and ensures that it remains at safe levels across all protected equipment.

When choosing a surge protector, make sure it meets your specific requirements, has adequate response time, provides multistage protection and complies with relevant safety and performance standards. Schneider Electric, Leviton and Tripp Lite all sell industrial-grade surge protection devices.

A word of warning: Although an industrial UPS will provide secondary surge protection, it should not be considered a primary surge protection device.

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As with the UPS, regular testing of surge protectors is a must. Functional testing —introducing controlled surges and verifying the response — ensures proper operation. Be sure to schedule response time testing and surge current testing. If your surge protector comes with battery backup, also test the battery capacity and charging functionality.

Industrial strength UPS and surge protection devices can go a long way toward making sure your critical equipment continues to function normally during a power outage, surge or severe weather event.

When it comes to space weather, Jake Bleacher, chief exploration scientist for NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, reminded people in 2020, during the early days of the solar cycle, “there is no bad weather, just bad preparation. Space weather is what it is — our job is to prepare.”