Name
701: Emergency Response: Protecting a Critical High-Voltage Substation from Record Storm Surge
Date & Time
Wednesday, November 17, 2021, 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
Gary McAllister
Description

A substation flood-hardening program was put to the test during a record coastal flooding event in 2018, when four back-to-back nor'easters hit the New England coastline. Immediately following Superstorm Sandy, National Grid plc initiated a substation flood-hardening program to assess risks, identify solutions, and employ systems to increase the resiliency of the electric network against coastal and inland flooding.

In this session, hear how one high-risk 115-kV coastal substation near Boston, Massachusetts, was hardened in 2017 with Floodstop barriers and a pumping system. National Grid and GZA GeoEnvironmental Inc. were able to successfully mobilize crews to activate the barriers and pump system in advance of the multiple storm surges in 2018, including Nor’Easter Riley, which set a record water level for Boston Harbor. The substation remained energized throughout the storm, which also brought high winds and freezing temperatures.

Key Takeaways:

  • Importance of proper planning and execution in protecting vulnerable equipment and maintaining energization during storms
  • Why comprehensive stakeholder input is necessary to integrate barriers and pump system in a high-voltage substation
  • How design elements should accommodate environmental and abutter considerations specific to the facility
Submission Type
Webinar
Session Logo

Gary McAllister, Sr. Vice President
GZA