A major blackout left 500,000 Victorians without power – but it shows our energy system is resilient
Monash Energy Institute Director Associate Professor Roger Dargaville and Grid Innovation Hub Director Associate Professor Behrooz Bahrani commented on the aftermath of wild weather in Victoria this week and its impact on the State’s energy systems.
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Their commentary was featured on The Guardian, ABC Radio National’s Drive, ABC Radio Newcastle ( part 1 and part 2), Renew Economy, and more than 150 additional media outlets.
Read an insightful piece on The Conversation by Associate Professor Roger Dargaville, highlighting the recent tumultuous weather in Victoria and the subsequent blackout that affected 500,000 residents. Despite the challenges, it underscores the resilience of our energy system.
In addition, Associate Professor Roger Dargaville, shared insights with ABC PM concerning Victoria's significant power outage triggered by the severe weather. He highlighted the potential need for extra system security measures, like surplus energy generation, in light of the increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change. His expertise garnered coverage in an impressive 156 other media outlets.
On Tuesday 13th February, Victoria experienced a severe storm characterized by strong winds and lightning, resulting in significant damage to the region. The storm caused the collapse of two transmission lines near Geelong, leading several generators to disconnect from the grid and resulting in power outages across various areas.
Additionally, to stabilize the network and prevent further damage, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) implemented "load shedding," temporarily cutting off electricity supply to certain customers.
The impact of the storm was extensive, with hundreds of powerlines and power poles sustaining damage. AEMO's statement suggests that restoring electricity to all affected customers could take days, if not weeks, highlighting the severity of the situation and the challenges ahead in restoring normalcy to the region's power infrastructure.