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Natural disasters often result in large-scale power outages. Real-time tracking of the extent, distribution, and timelines of electrical service loss and recovery can play an important role in minimizing disaster impacts. Using NASA's Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band (DNB), the extent and duration of disrupted electric utility infrastructure in the Florida Panhandle following Hurricane Michael were estimated. The percent loss of electrical service was downscaled to a neighborhood level using the 2013-2017 American Community Survey (ACS) data at the block group level. Two ordinary least square models were estimated to examine the association between socioeconomic characteristics and the extent and duration of the power outages as well as recovery rates. The study found that block groups with higher percent minorities, multi-family housing units, rural areas, and a higher percentage of households receiving public assistance were experiencing slower power restoration rates than urban and more affluent neighborhoods. The findings have implications for disaster preparedness and recovery planning. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (MURP)--Florida Atlantic University, 2021. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This dissertation studies two important models in the field of the distributed generation technologies to provide resiliency to the electric power distribution system. In the first part of the dissertation, we study the impact of assessing a Combined Cooling Heating Power system (CCHP) on the optimization and management of an on-site energy system under stochastic settings. These mathematical models propose a scalable stochastic decision model for large-scale microgrid operation formulated as a two-stage stochastic linear programming model. The model is solved enhanced algorithm strategies for Benders decomposition are introduced to find an optimal solution for larger instances efficiently. Some observations are made with different capacities of the power grid, dynamic pricing mechanisms with various levels of uncertainty, and sizes of power generation units. In the second part of the dissertation, we study a mathematical model that designs a Microgrid (MG) that integrates conventional fuel based generating (FBG) units, renewable sources of energy, distributed energy storage (DES) units, and electricity demand response. Curtailment of renewable resources generation during the MG operation affects the long-term revenues expected and increases the greenhouses emission. Considering the variability of renewable resources, researchers should pay more attention to scalable stochastic models for MG for multiple nodes. This study bridges the research gap by developing a scalable chance-constrained two-stage stochastic program to ensure that a significant portion of the renewable resource power output at each operating hour will be utilized. Finally, some managerial insights are drawn into the operation performance of the Combined Cooling Heating Power and a Microgrid.

Natural disasters have become more severe and frequent than previous assessments with global warming. The increasing risk of natural disasters presents different groups of populations with diverse vulnerabilities, particularly those underrepresented social groups which need specific support before, during, and after extreme disasters. Hence, it is highly desired to examine vulnerability quantitatively and qualitatively across different social groups in risk to natural disasters. This dissertation study aims to investigate the measure of social vulnerability to two types of climate change-related natural disasters: sea-level-rise floodings and wildfires. In the study of sea-level-rise floodings, high-risk flooding areas are first identified for a coastal city. Then, we measure social vulnerability index (SVI) using a new SVI metric to identify vulnerable social groups which should be paid more attention for coastal flooding disaster mitigation. Compared to existing SVI methods, the new SVI leverages principal component analysis and analytic hierarchy process to achieve a better social vulnerability analysis. In the study of wildfires, we focus on the understanding of minority vulnerabilities and their disparities to wildfires over time and space. Minority vulnerabilities are analyzed with spatial clustering methods including Local Moran’s I and Getis-Ord Gi*. The vulnerability disparity is measured based on a reference point from which the quantity separates a minority group on a particular place. Both location quotient and location amplitude index are used to quantitively measure the vulnerability disparity among different minorities. Lastly, in addition to the “direct” impact of disasters on vulnerable population, this dissertation study also conducts vulnerability analysis to failed infrastructure (e.g., power systems) due to disasters, i.e., the “indirect” impact of disasters on different social groups. Recently, scheduled power outages known as Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) are becoming increasingly common to mitigate threats of wildfires to power systems. However, current PSPS decision making processes do not consider the unequal distribution of various social groups, particularly those who are more vulnerable to the power outage. This study investigates the measure of social vulnerability in high-risk fire areas to PSPS, which will help decision makers to better determine the efficiency of a PSPS event for wildfire mitigation.

Amidst the backdrop of a for years lasting electricity crisis in South Africa, the study aims to examine the impact of prolonged urban energy infrastructure disruptions on residents on the household level. This investigation will aid a deeper understanding of the interdependencies between infrastructural services, households, and their socio-economic situations in urban landscapes. The study contributes to the literature of urban infrastructural disruptions and explores individual coping mechanisms and resilience strategies of the affected people.  For that, the research poses the following research question: How do urban dwellers react to, are limited by and cope with long-lasting and frequent urban electricity outages in the domestic realm in Cape Town. Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks of assemblage thinking, social practice theory and the concept of resilience, the thesis takes up a relational approach that emphasizes the complexity of the correlation between electricity networks and the life of urban residents. The researcher conducted seven qualitative in-depth interviews with residents of Cape Town regarding their individual experience with load shedding. The findings have shown that residents actively counteract power outages by assembling alternative energy appliances and the adjustment of routines. It was also visible that the respective socio-economic living situations affected the resilience of residents. Specifically, participants from less affluent backgrounds showed lower resilience in maintaining their usual daily social practices. The paper advocates for the importance of including especially the most vulnerable groups in counter initiatives in a way that would reduce the impact of power outages.

This research has developed an assessment model and framework to measure cascading economic impacts in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) loss due to severe weather-induced power outages. The major objectives of this research were to (1) identify physical correlations between different industries within an economic system, (2) define deterministic relationships through the values of interconnectedness and interdependency between 71 industries, (3) complete probabilistic estimation of economic impacts using historical economic data spanning from 1997 to 2016, and (4) develop an assessment model that can be used in the future to measure economic loss in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) across 71 industries.

The importance of electrical energy for a contemporary society is increasing. However, most of people don´t realise possible consequences of power outage for agriculture. This thesis aims at presenting an analysis of power outage effects on agricultural breeding in MEC Soběslav area. Considering the aim of the thesis, there is a problem whether the selected breeding farms are ready enough for power outages. The theoretical part of the thesis characterises crisis management, integrated rescue system (IRS), critical infrastructure and electrical grid. The following part of the chapter deals with livestock, poultry and pig breeding, mainly from the point of view of their technological as well as technical equipment. The research part is based on pen and paper interviews with representatives and owners of breeding farms. The research was focused on a degree of dependency on electrical energy in MEC Soběslav area. Two breeding farms in Germany were selected for a comparison with the situation abroad. The results revealed that most of the breeding farms are strongly dependent on electrical energy. Thanks to the last modernisation, automatic feeding or water supplying became a common standard. Unfortunately, most of the modern breeding farms are not able to guarantee these procedures in case of power outage. Great amount of breeding farms don´t have any emergency sources of energy and those that own some, have only limited supplies of fuel. There are no contracts guaranteeing the fuel for the breeding farms. The most problematic situation concerns poultry breeding, where the breeding procedures are wholly controlled by information systems and even the minute failures cause massive losses. Therefore the research problem was confirmed because the breeding farms are not equipped for powers outages. This diploma thesis is supposed to be used for educational purposes or as the means of orientation in the problem for individual breeders. The purpose is the education of presented subjects.

The goal of the thesis is to describe the approaches used for the regulation of the continuous supply of electric power in the selected countries of European Union and to determine the power outages costs in the specific distribution network, resulting from non-observance of the customer standards used in Great Britain, Sweden and Finland. The costs have been calculated for the entire network, as well as for the individual outputs. The thesis carries out the sensitivity analysis of the power outages costs, resulting from the breaching the supply restoration standards and the multiple interruptions standard used in the Great Britain. The costs of the individual limits are shown in the tables and the graphs. The comparison of the individual outputs according to the height of the penalty costs have been carried out on the selected set of limits. The comparison of the order of the individual outputs is then carried out for the customer standards used in Great Britain, Sweden and Finland.