ELECTRICAL RESILIENCE: ADAPTATION TO THE VOLCANIC ERUPTION IN LA PALMA

Following the volcanic eruption on the island of La Palma, continuous gaseous emissions have significantly altered the environmental conditions, increasing atmospheric corrosivity and deteriorating metal elements, ceramic insulators, and power transmission cables. This study reproduces ash deposition in a laboratory setting and conducts electrical and corrosion resistance tests on affected materials. Characterization of volcanic ash confirmed heightened environmental corrosivity due to sulphur emissions, monitored through corrosion control coupons placed near the volcano. To evaluate flashover phenomena in insulators, it has been simulated volcano ash deposition on it and performed electrical behaviour tests. The findings provide a comprehensive view of the corrosion challenges faced by electrical substations in volcanic environments. The study also presents innovative mitigation strategies to enhance the reliability and resilience of electrical systems under adverse conditions.