An occurrence in the operation network of the National Interconnected System (SIN) interrupted 16 thousand megawatts (MW) of load and caused a blackout that affected all regions of Brazil this Tuesday morning (15).
According to the National Electric System Operator (ONS), the interruption occurred due to the opening of the North-Southeast interconnection. By 10:22 am, 27% of the load in the North region and 68% in the Northeast region had been recomposed.
In light of this, the CNN explains the definitions and differences between the concepts that gained social networks with the widespread lack of light: blackout, blackout and energy rationing.
What is Blackout?
Apagão, or blackout (brazilianized from the English term black out), is the total or partial interruption of the operation of the electrical system. Due to some failure in transmission, a certain region of the country is left without energy supply — or, as it is popularly said, without light. Hence the use of the term.
The National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) divides failures in the electrical system into two categories: occurrences and interruptions.
An occurrence, like the one registered on Tuesday (15), is an event or action that causes the SIN to operate outside normal conditions. When one of these occurs, Aneel investigates the origins of the problem, analyzes the difficulties verified in the system and defines corrective and preventive measures to prevent it from happening again.
Disturbances, according to the agency, are characterized by the forced shutdown of SIN components. The consequences of this problem can be load shedding, shutdown of other components, damage to equipment, or violations of operating limits.
What is rationing?
Rationing, in turn, is a measure imposed by the government that determines the reduction of electricity consumption by a portion or the entire population, depending on the problem registered in the system.
In general, it is adopted when the authorities understand that the energy supply will not be enough to meet the demand of people, companies and public bodies. It is, therefore, a tough measure, which aims to avoid blackouts due to overload.
The most famous case of energy rationing in Brazil occurred in July 2011, during the government of former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso. At the time, FHC determined a 20% reduction in consumption for nine months in 16 states and the Federal District.
The country was going through a drought and also had to deal with delays in works on the transmission and power generation system in Brazil.
Video — Ministry confirms blackout in at least four regions
Five blackouts in the last 24 years
Brazil has already had some of the biggest blackouts in the world, such as the interruption in supply to 90 million people in 2009, and traumatic episodes, such as the blackout that left almost all of Amapá for ten days without electricity.
- Amapá (2020)
On November 3, 2020, Amapá’s main substation caught fire, affecting power supplies in 13 of the state’s 16 municipalities. There was delay in the restoration and chaos in public services. Almost 800,000 were without electricity for ten days.
- Brazil (2018)
On March 21, 2018, all regions of the country were affected by a blackout, which was more intense and longer in the North and Northeast. The states of Alagoas, Amapá, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Pará, Paraíba, Piauí, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Rondônia, Sergipe and Tocantins were the most affected.
The blackout occurred because of a failure in the transmission line connected to the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant, in Pará, which could not withstand an increase in load. In total, 70 million people were affected.
- Northeast (2011)
A failure in a substation located on the border of Pernambuco and Bahia left 47 million people without electricity throughout the Northeast, with the exception of Maranhão, on the night of February 3, 2011. There were several hours of interruption in supply.
- Brazil and Paraguay (2009)
On the night of November 10, 2009, three transmission lines from the Itaipu binational power plant failed. The sharp drop in energy demand caused the automatic shutdown of 20 hydroelectric turbines, leaving nearly 90 million people without power in Brazil and Paraguay. Four Brazilian states were fully affected. About 90% of the neighboring country also lost power.
- Brazil (1999)
One of the biggest blackouts in history was recorded on March 11, 1999. Ten states and the Federal District were left without supply at night. In all, 76 million people were affected.
At the time, the government blamed lightning that would have hit a distribution tower in Bauru (SP). Later, it was proved that this was not the cause. System overload was later pointed out as the reason. Two years later, there was energy rationing throughout the country, except in the southern region.
See also — Blackout hits several Brazilian states
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m James Harper, a highly experienced and accomplished news writer for World Stock Market. I have been writing in the Politics section of the website for over five years, providing readers with up-to-date and insightful information about current events in politics. My work is widely read and respected by many industry professionals as well as laymen.
