Electric industry advised to prepare for high-altitude EMP attack

A recent report from the Electric Power Research Institute has determined a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (EMP) blast could disrupt regional and local delivery of power, spurring the industry to cooperate with federal agencies on grid protection.

In that report, the EPRI conducted 11 simulations of electromagnetic pulse incidents in conjunction with the Department of Energy and the national labs. While not even the detonation of a 1.4-megaton bomb detonated 250 miles above earth could lead to nationwide grid failure, five of the tested strikes were capable of hitting multiple states through a regional power failure.The nation’s electric cooperatives are joining up with the North American Electric Reliability Corp, the Department of Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Department of Homeland Security to create responses to such incidents.

“For years, the electric sector has been preparing for the possibility of events that could impact grid operations,” Jim Spiers, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s senior vice president for Business and Technology Strategies, said. “Simulations and analyses like this help the electric industry enhance preparedness, safety, grid resiliency, and reliability. America’s electric cooperatives work closely with EPRI. Their research will help the industry continue exploring safe, reliable and cost-effective EMP mitigation strategies.”

Response efforts have the added benefit that there are measures of limiting such attacks. The EPRI report found that certain technologies could reduce or block the flow of the currents or controls that automatically disconnect power system overloads during such strikes. Research is ongoing, though, and further tests in 2018 will revolve around the combined impacts of three varying pulse events on the grid.