GoKawiilResearchers trace worldwide 60-second power grid frequency dips to a common cause
German researcher Dirk Witthaut and colleagues at Forschungszentrum Jülich, working with transmission operator Tennet Germany, investigated recurring frequency sags appearing simultaneously on grids from Europe to Australia, the U.S. and Malaysia. The team modeled hydropower plant control systems on the Scandinavian grid and found conditions that could produce a once-per-minute resonance, though initial tests couldn't explain why it persisted rather than fading over time.
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Unexplained, synchronized frequency anomalies across disconnected grids raised concern among operators because unmanaged oscillations can damage equipment, particularly hydropower turbines, and in extreme cases contribute to blackouts. Identifying a shared mechanical cause such as resonance in hydropower control systems could let operators worldwide adjust equipment or operating parameters to prevent damage, suggesting the findings may inform grid maintenance practices globally.
- Grid frequency dips occurring every 60 seconds have been observed simultaneously across multiple continents.
- Researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich, prompted by Tennet Germany, traced the pattern using hydropower system modeling.
- Resonance in hydropower turbine control systems is a likely contributor, though why the effect persists remains under investigation.
Source: techcrunch.com — Tim De Chant, 2026-11-08
Published there as: “Coordinated disturbances haunt grids worldwide. Here’s how researchers solved the mystery.”
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