[RFEngineer]

“No way of telling what a CME induced power spike would, in reality, do.”

It’s not really a “spike” - it may be 30V/km in induced voltage. It is “quasi-dc” and it will build slowly.

The danger is these DC currents running through transformers - causing half-cycle saturation.

An unloaded grid would be impacted very little. Better yet, shut down the grid.

[The Cajun]

It’s not really a “spike” - it may be 30V/km in induced voltage. It is “quasi-dc” and it will build slowly.

Wouldn't there be some *bleed off* to ground if it is a slow building quasi-DC pulse, thus minimizing the build up?
Duration of such a DC pulse and the amount of current available from it would determine if the transformers would saturate, in my way of thinking.
If there was no load (ground path) on the power line (big a$$ inductor), wouldn't the pulse continue to rise?

Disconnecting and shutting down would be the best solution however.

[PA Engineer]

An unloaded grid would be impacted very little. Better yet, shut down the grid.

Agreed, however pipelines are going to be a huge headache. There is going to be one headache of a huge ground loop.