Could Induced Atmospheric Vibration Be Behind Europe’s Blackouts? Insights from an Electrical Engineer

Recently, the lights flickered back on across Spain, Portugal, and southern France after a massive blackout caused turmoil for millions. This unexpected power outage disrupted traffic lights, halted public transport, and even trapped people in elevators and trains. As night fell, many found themselves dining by candlelight, unsure of what had gone wrong.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the cause of the blackout remains unclear. Initially, Portugal’s grid operator, REN, pointed to a mysterious event referred to as “induced atmospheric vibration” but later retracted that claim. So, what does this term mean, and how can our energy systems be made safer?

How Weather Impacts Power Supply

Weather plays a critical role in electricity supply disruptions. In the U.S., a staggering 83% of blackouts from 2000 to 2021 were weather-related. Various weather events can cause outages. For example, cyclones may take down transmission lines, while heatwaves can overload the grid.

Wind can also cause vibrations in power lines, stressing the infrastructure and potentially leading to outages. Operators often use wire stabilizers called “stock bridge dampers” to combat these vibrations.

Decoding ‘Induced Atmospheric Vibration’

Vibrations in power lines can arise from rapid changes in temperature or air pressure. The recent blackout might relate to this phenomenon. Initially, REN explained that extreme temperature variations in Spain led to oscillations in high-voltage lines, causing failures in the electrical systems. While “induced atmospheric vibration” isn’t commonly used in scientific terms, it suggests disturbances in the atmosphere due to pressure imbalances caused by heatwaves or other significant weather events.

Essentially, when temperatures rise quickly, warm air expands and creates pressure differences, leading to waves that can impact power lines. These waves are related to atmospheric terms like gravity waves and thermal oscillations. Understanding these pressure waves is essential, as they can disturb grid functionality, highlighting the delicate balance our power systems maintain.

The Vulnerability of Centralized Energy Systems

As our energy systems become more interconnected, they are also more vulnerable to disturbances—big or small. Centralized networks face immense pressure from the growing electrification of buildings and the surge in electric vehicles. These older systems weren’t designed to handle such complexity.

The risks are high. Without rethinking our approach to energy resilience, we expose entire regions to potential disasters. Hence, embracing innovative solutions like community microgrids can offer a path forward. These decentralized energy networks can operate independently, providing flexibility and reliability.

The European blackout serves as a wake-up call. As long as we ignore the underlying weaknesses in our electrical grids, we risk facing problems far worse than those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For deeper insights into weather-related outages, consider the research findings from Climate Central on how extreme weather events impact power supply. Addressing these issues isn’t optional; it’s critical for our future.