Improving the resilience of electricity networks to adverse events

TECNALIA to work in collaboration with Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa, the UPV/EHU, Ikerlan, ZIV R&D and the Energy Cluster to improve the resilience of electricity grids to adverse events

TECNALIA is tackling the challenge of improving the resilience of electricity networks in response to increasing natural hazards, and the increased vulnerability brought about by integrating renewable energy sources. The innovative approach adopted by the RESINET initiative, led by Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa, is focused on researching and developing cutting-edge solutions, technologies and tools to improve the capacity of electricity networks, i.e. to enable them to recover quickly from adverse events, thereby ensuring that there is a safe, reliable electricity supply.

TECNALIA will focus on developing advanced mathematical methods for analysing the stability of future power systems dominated by power converters. It will also produce algorithms adapted to systems where there is a high integration of renewable generation for the protection relays.

Threats to electricity networks

Electricity networks are exposed to a wide range of threats, from weather factors such as storms, floods and high winds that can bring down power lines, to extreme natural events such as earthquakes and tsunamis that can damage critical infrastructure.

There are also risks caused by human actions such as attacks and operating errors, including peaks in electricity demand that can cause overloads on lines and lack of fuel to generate electricity. All of these factors lead to interruptions to the electricity supply.

Project partners

The consortium, which is led by Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa, is made up of the UPV/EHU, Ikerlan, TECNALIA, ZIV R&D and the Basque Energy Cluster, with the support of the Basque Government through the Elkartek programme.