Blackout
Challenge:
The binding EU Network Code on Emergency and Restoration directives and regulations, focusing on critical energy infrastructure, grid stability, and the continuity of essential services during blackouts. To comply with this standardized operational framework for blackout avoidance, France’s main electricity distributor required a system capable of maintaining a permanent connectivity across all stations and sub-stations, to allow:
- Restoring grid operations.
- Suspending operations for specific areas.
- Prioritizing service for critical users, such as hospitals.
- Conducting regular simulations and testing of emergency actions.
Solution and Execution:
In 2021, BCom was contracted by a main French telecommunications operator to design a compliant solution for the electricity distributor.
- The Design Task: BCom was required to create two types of satcom systems using 1.2m antennas. These systems needed to sustain extreme winds (120 km/h and 200 km/h) alongside other challenging weather conditions, including high heat and snow accumulation.
- The Execution: Utilizing off-the-shelf products, BCom successfully designed, built the two customized systems and integrated a standard 1.2m antenna with all necessary heating and deicing equipment to strictly meet the customer’s environmental requirements.
Measurable Results
- Exceeded Wind Testing Targets: By the end of 2021, both customized systems successfully passed wind tunnel tests, achieving resilience against winds of 140 km/h and 240 km/h (surpassing the initial 120/200 km/h requirements).
- Mass Deployment: BCom deployed the satcom solution across more than 3,000 sites.
- Real-World Reliability: The deployed systems successfully allowed the grid to remain active and operational during major, real-world severe weather events—specifically surviving Storm Ciarán in 2023 and Storm Nils in 2026, which heavily impacted Europe and France.
