On June 21, 2024, a significant blackout affected several countries in the Balkans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro, and parts of Croatia. The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) has identified overgrown vegetation as the primary cause of this cascading power failure, which left millions without electricity for approximately three hours.
Key Takeaways
- Overgrown vegetation caused the blackout on June 21, 2024.
- Affected regions included Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro, and parts of Croatia.
- The blackout lasted for about three hours.
- ENTSO-E is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.
- A final report is expected by early 2025.
Incident Overview
The blackout began at 12:09 PM with the failure of the Podgorica 2 – Ribarevine overhead line in Montenegro. This initial outage was triggered by a short circuit caused by vegetation growing beneath the transmission line. The subsequent voltage drop was quickly stabilized, but the situation escalated when the Zemblak-Kardia overhead tie line between Albania and Greece tripped at 12:21 PM, also due to vegetation interference.
Cascading Effects
Following the initial outages, several 220 kV lines disconnected, leading to a broader power failure. The Monita high-voltage direct current (HVDC) undersea interconnection between Montenegro and Italy was also affected, as the undervoltage protection system was activated on the Montenegrin side at 12:24 PM. This series of events highlights the vulnerability of the power grid to environmental factors.
Response and Investigation
In the aftermath of the blackout, ENTSO-E, along with the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and regional transmission system operators, convened a joint expert panel to investigate the incident. The panel’s interim report outlines the conditions leading up to the blackout and the immediate responses taken.
- Key Findings from the Interim Report:
- The first two outages were directly caused by overgrown vegetation.
- Automatic voltage regulation was successfully applied during the incident.
- All transformers responded appropriately to the regulated voltage set points.
Future Recommendations
The expert panel is tasked with preparing a final report that will include a comprehensive analysis of the incident and recommendations to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This report is anticipated to be published by the beginning of 2025, providing insights into improving the resilience of the power grid against environmental challenges.
Conclusion
The June 21 blackout serves as a critical reminder of the importance of regular maintenance and monitoring of power infrastructure. As the investigation continues, stakeholders in the energy sector are urged to prioritize vegetation management to safeguard against future disruptions. The findings from the upcoming final report will be crucial in shaping policies and practices aimed at enhancing the reliability of the electricity supply in the Balkans.
Sources
- Overgrown vegetation caused Balkans blackout on June 21, Balkan Green Energy News.
