Abstract
Damages caused by wildfires in California due to transmission line failures have increased significantly in recent years. Curtailment of electric service in areas under fire threat has been implemented to avoid these wildfires. Results from this research indicated that 24% of California’s cities are at risk of wildfire, while 52% are at risk of blackout. These blackouts have resulted in significant financial losses and risk to life and health. Undergrounding current transmission lines has been proposed as a long-term solution. However, undergrounding lines would take decades to complete and increase average monthly electric bills from $80 to $260. This research investigated shortening the length of the electricity supply chain, supplying affected communities with onshore and offshore wind energy. Results showed good wind energy potential in locations near affected cities. Distance analyses revealed that more than two hundred cities (population 5.5 million) can be served by existing wind farms located at less than 50 km. Future offshore wind turbines could generate high power output (capacity factor >50% for significant periods). An analysis of diverse locations along California’s coast indicated that just one offshore wind farm could serve more than a hundred cities with cumulative population larger than one million.
Highlights
Wildfires caused by power line failures in the presence of strong winds are more damaging than other wildfires because the incidents are normally caused by dry branches from forest trees
The Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis indicated that almost 10 million people reside in Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) areas and a little over 80% of this population is closer than 100 kilometers from wind farms
When the distance is reduced to 50 km, the results indicate that 12 PSPS cities, with a cumulative population of almost uunndderesrtsatannddininggoonnhhoowwththeesseeccoommmmuunniittiieessmmaayy bbeenneeffiitt ffrroomm tthhee wwiinndd rreessoouurrccee..TTwwooccaasseessttuuddiieessffoorr exeixsitsitninggwwininddfafarmrmsswweerreeeevvaaluluaatteedd,eexxppaannddiinnggtthhee GGIISS mmeetthhooddoollooggyy ddeevveellooppeeddiinntthhiissrreesseeaarrcchh..FFoorr ththeefifrisrtstcacasesestsutuddyy,228800VVeessttaassVV9900--33 wwiinndd ttuurrbbiinneess, iinnssttaalllleedd iinn AAllttaa WWiinndd FFaarrmm ((KKeerrnnccoouunnttyy))inin SoSouuththerenrnCCaalilfiofornrniaia,wweerreeeevvaalluuaatteedd, aass pprreesseenntteedd iinn FFiigguurree 88aa
Summary
A large number of the most damaging wildfires in California have been attributed to power lines damaAgeladrgbeynsutrmonbgerwoifntdhse [m1,o2s]t. Eight of the 20 most destructive wildfires in California were caused by power line failures [4]. Local electric companies have been held liable for wildfires caused by their power lines, which can place them under financial strain [6]. Wildfires caused by power line failures in the presence of strong winds are more damaging than other wildfires because the incidents are normally caused by dry branches from forest trees. Wildfires caused by power lines are normally in proximity to cities or suburbs, creating an increased financial risk and potential loss of life [9]. To reduce risks from power line wildfires electric companies have explored different alternatives.
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