The threat of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a matter that isn’t top of mind for most, but is critical in long-term protection and survival of modern electrical grid. So, what is an EMP? An EMP is “an intense burst of electromagnetic energy caused by an abrupt, rapid acceleration of charged particles, usually electrons.”[1] The causes of an EMP can be natural (i.e. a solar superstorm) or an act of warfare (i.e. a nuclear event or hydrogen bomb). In either case, the potential for an EMP to take out the electrical grid over a large geography is huge—and potentially catastrophic.

The threat to the electrical grid is real. Solar superstorms happen every 100-150 years and it’s only a matter of time before one hits earth again. On the other hand, the threat of a nuclear EMP is in line with our fragile society where we rely on electricity for absolutely everything. Rogue nations could use an EMP attack to collapse domestic infrastructure. Such an attack would result in critical infrastructure being negatively affected (i.e. communications, banking, transportation, food, water, etc.); our 100+ reactors would not be kept cool; water would stop immediately; and the food supply is inadequate. In essence, an EMP event, either natural or as an act of warfare, would cause the north American electric grid to black-out for a year—during which time 90% of the population could die from starvation and disease.

Protecting North American’s electrical grid against the most devastating consequences of an EMP disruption or attack is simple and would require, at its most basic, a minimal amount of resources. According to Anthony Furey, “As little as 8 cents per month (less than $1 per year) charged to each residential electricity consumer over the course of five years could be enough to provide the basic national safeguards for our electric grid.”[2] Those protections include switching copper cables to fiber optic[3] and installing items like faraday cages, surge arrestors, blocking devices and space-based interceptors.

Of course, the decision to harden the entire electrical grid against the threat of an EMP is a complicated one involving many levels of support. So, in the meantime, we are considering the appropriate measures to ensure the Delta Smart Grid Network™ is as prepared as it can be for any EMP events.

The phrase “big data” has been around for some time, however the concept continues to evolve. Big data first meant collecting and analyzing large data sets that are too complex to be dealt with by traditional data-processing software, with a focus on the volume, variety and velocity of the data. Now, we include the veracity and value of the data—and the emphasis has shifted to prioritize value. In today’s landscape where big data refers to predictive analytics, user behavior analytics or other advanced analytical methods, the size of the data set is no longer the defining characteristic, rather it’s the value that is most important. After all, what good is having all of this data if you can’t actually do anything with the findings?

From a smart city perspective, the data afforded by advanced metering infrastructure set up by the electrical utility can increase operational efficiency, advance monitoring and management of the grid, and improve customer experience. If the smart grid solution offers a full communications backbone as well, like our Delta Smart Grid Network™ (DSGN™), more data can be captured by Internet of Things devices connected to the network (check out April’s blog post for more on IoT).

Furthermore, to extract more value, advances in big data are being incorporated into artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. While similar, the two are different:

• AI is the creation of machines that learn from their environment and can problem-solve based on that, and
• machine learning is a sub-set of AI where the machine can use the lessons to improve itself without being explicitly programmed to do so.

Through robust data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning the value of big data is exponential. And although volume, variety, velocity, and veracity are still key components of big data—value is the most crucial characteristic.

Load shedding has been top of mind for many of us here in South Africa, but many around the world may not realize the impact it can have on daily life. So here is some insight into what life is like with load shedding.

First, it’s important to understand what load shedding is. It’s an action to reduce the load on something, in this case I’m referring specifically to reducing the demand on an electrical supply in order to avoid excessive load on the generating plant. Usually reserved for a last resort solution, the act of load shedding can help prevent a system-wide blackout and allows for users affected in the shed to plan accordingly instead of being surprised by a blackout at an unknown time for an unknown duration. The “action” here is when the electrical utility purposely turns off part of the electrical grid in order to allow the other parts to remain stable.

Here’s how it works in my life:

• When load shedding is required, I typically receive a schedule about a week in advance. That schedule will provide information similar to the following:
  • Monday: from 08:00 to 10:00 and again from 23:00 to 01:00 (Tues.)
  • Tuesday: from 12:00 to 14:00 and again from 19:00 to 21:00
  • Wednesday: none
  • Thursday: from 02:00 to 06:00
  • Friday: none
  • Saturday: from 09:00 to 11:00 and again from 16:00 to 18:00
  • Sunday: from 19:00 to 23:00
• This means that I need to plan my days to accommodate the times when I won’t have electricity at home. Some of the tactics I use to achieve this include the following:
  • Ensure that my cell phone and laptop computer are fully charged prior to a scheduled shed.
  • Minimizing the number of times I open my refrigerator and freezer to ensure no loss of food supply.
  • Making arrangements to be at a friend or family member’s house outside of the load shedding zone.
  • Scheduling work appointments and phone calls outside of the shedding window.
  • Having candles, a flashlight and/or a lantern (and sufficient supply of batteries if necessary) on hand for when load shedding happens at night.

While many see load shedding as an enormous inconvenience, I have to admit I prefer it to the alternative of a country-wide blackout if the national electrical grid goes down. Until such a time that the necessary improvements can be made to the generating capacity, this is the best solution to keep everyone safe and spread the impact over a wide group of users rather than have one area get sent back to the 1700s.

The global trend toward smart cities continues to rise. The benefits of incorporating the Internet of Things (IoT) into city-wide infrastructure are widely agreed. The best path to converting a city into a smart city though, is more variable. Solution providers presenting different strategies, approaches and techniques vie for the attention of city decision-makers. One thing they all have in common, is the importance of city-wide network to support the IoT devices that make a city smarter.

Only with a singular, scalable network that is not bandwidth limited to form the backbone, will a smart city execution truly yield its highest potential. Being able to use different types of electronic data collection sensors to supply information then used to manage assets and resources efficiently is critical. With a singular network, like the Delta Smart Grid Network, it’s possible.

Delta’s solution taps the same strategy as today’s smart phones which innovatively joined multiple purposeful products into one exceptionally capable device—it converges smart grid infrastructure, Wi-Fi mesh networking and consumer-facing digital devices into a singular, standardized and centralized smart city network solution. This resulting network becomes the communications infrastructure by which all IoT smart city devices can connect. Thus, opening the door for an efficient and effective smart city solution.

The next generation Wi-Fi standard, IEEE 802.11ax—branded by the Wi-Fi Alliance as “Wi-Fi 6”—promises faster connections and better performance.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is the world’s largest association of technical professionals focused on the educational and technical advancement of electrical and electronic engineering, telecommunications, computer engineering and allied disciplines. Within IEEE, the Standards Association (IEEE-SA) develops global standards in a broad range of industries, including: power and energy, information technology, telecommunications, and many more. These standards are developed in an open and fair manner that taps the consensus of technical experts from all over the world. One standard in particular, 802.11, is for wireless networking—also known as “Wi-Fi.”

To date, there have been several iterations of the Wi-Fi standards used across various industries, the most recent standard being developed is Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). Wi-Fi 6 networks will provide the capacity, coverage and performance required by users, even when networks are congested with many connected devices. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, the main benefits of this next generation technology will include: higher data rates, increased capacity, improved performance in environments with many connected devices, and improved power efficiency.

It’s important to note that these standards are not yet complete. While pieces have been shared as drafts, IEEE has not published the final versions. Consequently, any device claiming to be based on 802.11ax or to support Wi-Fi 6 in the market now, is based on draft standards which may still change.

Also important, not everyone will see the change in network capability. As always, both the device sending the Wi-Fi signal and the device receiving the Wi-Fi signal need to support the standard in order to actually experience the advantages. For example, if both your wireless router and your device, let’s say a tablet, support Wi-Fi 6, you’ll be able to capitalize on the more advanced network. If, however, your router supports Wi-Fi 6 but your device doesn’t, like a laptop you own today, then you’ll be limited to the Wi-Fi experience supported by the device. This being true, backwards capability will surely be built into networking products supporting Wi-Fi 6, ensuring that legacy devices will continue to function within the execution of this new protocol.

While the technology may not be fully available on the market today, the promises of what it will bring are certainly exciting!