Solar storm Risk to the north American electric grid

[kristopher]

You can download this report here:
http://www.lloyds.com/the-market/tools-and-resources/research/exposure-management/emerging-risks/emerging-risk-reports/business/solar-storm

This report was written by Lloyd’s with research and analysis by scientists from Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. (AER) Nicole Homeier, PhD, Director of Product Innovation and Senior Staff Scientist at AER Lisa Wei, PhD, Staff Scientist at AER.
Lloyd’s would like to thank Professor Richard Horne (Fellow, AGU, British Antarctic Survey), Michael Maran (Chief Science Officer Catlin) and David Wade (Underwriter, Atrium Space Insurance Consortium) for their input in the report. We would also like to thank NASA for providing us with the picture for the front cover.
Disclaimer
This report has been produced by Lloyd's and the Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. for general information purposes only. The information contained herein has included inputs from Atmospheric and Environmental Research (AER), a Verisk Analytics company. While care has been taken in gathering the data and preparing the report, Lloyd's does not make any representations or warranties as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly excludes to the maximum extent permitted by law all those that might otherwise be implied.
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[phantom power]

1. Several years ago I read that the U.S. has no replacement high-capacity transformers

by high capacity, I mean capacities of >= 300 kilovolts. If we lost some, it would be months to replace them from overseas. In a widespread Carrington-like event, we would be effectively unable to repair the damage in the kind of timeframe our civilization is used to assuming is possible.

[NaturalHigh]

2. "It would be months to replace them from overseas..."

More like years in many cases. Settings and installation take a lot of time for these transformers. Transportation is also problematic.