ITB expert identifies power system challenges posed by weather variability

In modern power systems, weather conditions are a critical parameter considered in transmission network operations. Recent widespread blackouts in parts of Sumatra have highlighted significant challenges for modern interconnected power systems amid increasing weather volatility due to climate change. Kevin Marojahan Banjar Nahor, an electricity system expert from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), explained that high-voltage transmission systems are heavily influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature, wind speed, rainfall, and humidity. These factors affect both the mechanical and electrical characteristics of conductors during operation. “In modern power systems, weather conditions are a critical parameter considered in transmission network operations,” he said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday. He noted that climate change is contributing to more dynamic weather patterns, requiring power system operators to account for a greater number of dynamic operating conditions to maintain stability in large interconnected grids like Sumatra’s. “Climate change does not always mean a single extreme event directly causes system failures. However, increased weather variability adds challenges to transmission network operations,” he said. He explained that in large-scale transmission networks, outages rarely stem from a single factor but rather a combination of contributing factors occurring simultaneously. He added that disturbances in large interconnected systems are probabilistic; under certain operational conditions, local faults can escalate into cascading failures if they affect power flow and system stability. Kevin stated that automatic protection systems in interconnected networks are designed to safeguard generation and transmission equipment during system disturbances. “When power system stability is compromised, protection systems automatically activate to prevent further damage to the grid and generators while avoiding a total blackout across the entire interconnected system,” he said. He noted that while larger interconnected systems improve energy efficiency and flexibility, they also increase the complexity of managing system stability. Therefore, he added, real-time monitoring technology, data-driven system analysis, and drone-based grid inspections are becoming increasingly vital in modern power system operations. However, these efforts must be accompanied by strengthening transmission and generation infrastructure to minimise vulnerabilities that could trigger power system instability. “Advances in monitoring and protection technology now enable operators to assess system conditions more quickly, allowing for earlier responses to disturbances,” he said. Kevin added that weather variability challenges are not unique to Indonesia but are a concern for countries operating large interconnected power systems. “In many countries, power system resilience against changing weather patterns is a key focus in the development of modern electricity systems,” he said. Previously, preliminary investigations by Bareskrim, Puslabfor, and PLN suggested that the outage may have been caused by a transmission cable break at a mid-span jointing point, influenced by a combination of weather factors and mechanical stress.