Extreme weather events: measuring and enhancing resilience in operational and electric grid infrastructure

The increasing frequency of extreme weather events poses significant challenges to power grid resilience worldwide. This paper explores methodologies to assess grid infrastructure resilience and enhance operational measures to mitigate outages. A particular focus is given to Brazil, where high-impact low-probability (HILP) events frequently cause power disconnections due to vegetation interference. A novel methodology integrates historical outage data and georeferenced vegetation inventories, enabling precise pruning cycle scheduling based on species growth rates and reducing tree-related outages. To evaluate grid resilience, the paper proposes a deterministic methodology that defines resilience indicators and identifies vulnerable network sections under severe weather conditions. By incorporating georeferenced analyses of grid components and additional layers— such as vegetation, urban infrastructure, terrain, and weather data—this approach enables detailed vulnerability assessments. Utility companies in Brazil already maintain georeferenced databases, ensuring the feasibility and reliability of this framework. Asset-specific data, including conductor types, pole characteristics, and switchgear, are used to construct a merit index that quantifies resilience and identifies critical sections geographically. This comprehensive methodology enhances decision-making by pinpointing areas with high vegetation density, poor infrastructure, or frequent extreme weather, supporting proactive grid management strategies.