What to do in case of a blackout?

In recent years, the increase in energy demand and the transition towards renewables have put many of the grid systems in the main European countries in check. So much so, that generalized concern began to spread to a possible situation of chaos that they named "The Great Blackout". And it is that the majority of energy that is generated in Europe comes from nuclear and thermal sources, which have diminished due to the great environmental impact they have.

On the one hand, social pressure managed to raise awareness among the main governments, who began with the so-called ecological transition. This transition was considered in the long term since it required many changes. And on the other hand, in parallel, energy consumption has not stopped growing. Families have a better purchasing power, which makes them purchase more goods and services closely linked to energy.

These two scenarios have given us a complex situation, especially during the harshest winter or summer months. Times in which more electronic and/or gas appliances are used to maintain an ideal climate at home. Over the years, some governments have expressed their concern about supplying all the energy needs of their population. Which would result in periods of blackout to prevent a collapse.

However, although it cannot be said that a power blackout will never occur, the truth is that governments and companies assure that they will always seek the appropriate solutions for each situation in order to avoid a large-scale blackout scale.

What are the most common causes of a major power outage?

We said before that a large-scale blackout is practically improbable, what can happen is a blackout at a local level and for a short period of time. In fact, it is very likely that you have experienced widespread power outages due to some of these circumstances:

ELECTRICAL GRID FAILURES: Electric grids are complex, interconnected systems that include a variety of components, such as power plants, substations, and transmission and distribution lines. All this network of systems allows energy to be transmitted from the places of generation, such as hydroelectric, thermal, nuclear, solar or wind power plants, to the places where it is needed, such as homes, businesses and industries. The process is so meticulous that it requires perfect coordination between each gear, so any failure in these components can cause a blackout in a wide area.

EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS: Storms, strong winds, floods and other extreme weather events can be the cause of the failures discussed above. And it is that, for example, some of the power transmission and distribution lines are exposed to the weather and can be easily damaged by the weather at the time, which can cause a blackout. In addition, it should be noted that in recent years there has been an increase in the frequency and intensity of some extreme weather conditions. This increase has been directly related to climate change.

GRID OVERLOAD: Power demand in a certain area may exceed the capacity of the power grid, which may cause a blackout. Said overload can have many causes, among which is the increase in demand from families in times of extreme cold or extreme heat, in which they need electrical devices to help them condition their homes. If the network in question does not anticipate these increases, it can collapse and lead to a blackout.

CYBER ATTACKS: Electricity grid control systems are increasingly digital, making them more vulnerable to cyber attacks. A successful attack on these systems can disable the power grid and cause a blackout.

IMPROPER MAINTENANCE : The lack of adequate maintenance in the infrastructure of the electrical network, including power plants, substations and transmission and distribution lines, can cause failures and blackouts.

What are the recommendations to be safe in blackouts

In the event of being involved in a dangerous situation due to a blackout, we should consider the recommendations that organizations such as the Red Cross provide us with with this pamphlet in which he summarizes the main measures that we should take into account to keep ourselves safe and that we summarize below:

Preparing before blackouts:

• Get portable refrigerators so you can keep the food in case the blackout lasts more than 2 hours and thus you can extend the consumption time to the maximum.
• Always keep prepared in your freezer some ice packs or ice cubes that you can place in the fridge and ensure optimal conditions so that your food does not get damaged.
• Always have the basic supplies that will give you peace of mind during a prolonged blackout such as: 3 liters of bottled water per person, packaged food, self-recharging flashlight or solar lantern, battery-powered radio, spare batteries, first aid kit , hygiene items, personal documents, chargers and cash.
• Try to always have one or two cans of gasoline at home.

What to do during a power outage

• Organize all the food you have at home by making a small inventory and start consuming those that are in the fridge and are at risk of spoilage.
• Unplug all electronic devices and household appliances since if the power suddenly comes back on, it could cause a power surge that could damage the devices.
• Leave a light on to let you know if the power comes back on.
• Don't leave the house.

The most common mistakes families make

• In the event of prolonged blackouts, many families decide to use generators, grills, stoves, or any other appliance that runs on gasoline, natural gas, or propane inside the home. This is tremendously dangerous since carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer, and it is odorless and colorless and can cause death in those people who are exposed to it. gases.
• Avoid using candles to light your home. Because it can cause a fire.

Power stations that could save you in the event of a blackout

We couldn't talk about this topic without mentioning the BLUETTI power stations that can make blackout totally bearable. In this case, you can choose between different alternatives according to your electrical needs and your economic possibility to face possible blackouts.

The two alternatives that we propose are, on the one hand, large and powerful power stations to which you can directly connect the entire electrical network of your home and , depending on how long the blackout lasts, you won't even notice a lack of electricity. On the other hand, you can also choose smaller power stations with which you can have backup power to charge appliances and appliances in a timely manner such as charging your mobile phones, turning on a kitchen electrical etc

Small power stations

In this case we can find small and portable power stations that are usually used in campsites or van routes. The most used are the AC200P and the EB3A.

The AC200P power station has an output power of 2000Wh, 13 output ports and can be charge through solar panels, domestic electrical network, car plug. It weighs about 27 kilograms so it is ideal to have a car or van. And if you have it at home, you can charge some devices such as mobiles, tablets, lights, electric grill, etc.

The EB3A power station has an output power of 268Wh, 8 output ports and is also You can charge with solar panels, car plug and domestic connector. Although the power capacity is less, the device is smaller and weighs about 4.5 kilograms. It can power mobile phones, drones, small refrigerators, or light bulbs.

The EP500Pro power station has a large capacity of 5100Wh. Enough to install in a home's electrical network and provide power. In addition, it has the UPS mode (Uninterruptible Power Supply) that serves to protect electronic devices from power outages or surges in the electrical network. An ideal option for the first hours of a blackout and to have time to save information, make backup copies, turn off electrical appliances, etc.

Finally the EP600 power station has a modular design that allows you to customize capacity from 9. 920Wh at 79. 360Wh depending on the expansion batteries you add to it. In any case, it is an ideal alternative to make a home more sustainable and use renewable energy since it can be charged with solar panels.