In every town, city and country in the world, there are certain systems that are considered absolutely essential. They’re usually part of a highly integrated network, without which lives could be put at risk and everyday life as we know it could grind to a halt. These systems are often referred to as critical infrastructure.
This kind of infrastructure, from emergency healthcare services to transportation networks usually relies on access to a consistent source of power. If there’s a sudden outage, the consequences could be catastrophic.
This is why in almost every case, critical infrastructure is supported by emergency backup power.
What Is Critical Infrastructure And Why Does It Need Backup Power?
At its core, critical infrastructure means the facilities, services and networks that modern societies depend on. They’re the things that are fundamental to our health, safety and stability as well as the everyday functioning of our towns and cities.
These systems are so vital that even a brief interruption to normal services can cause major problems, whether it’s risks to public safety or significant financial losses.
Electricity is the backbone of most of these operations. It powers everything, from your area’s water treatment facilities right through to the ventilators in the ICU at your local hospital.
Without a reliable source of backup power, critical systems are left highly vulnerable to storms, natural disasters and other causes of power outage. If there’s a blackout, essential services could be disrupted or stopped altogether. Safety could be compromised and financial losses would start to mount – especially in cases of extended downtime.
All of this can be avoided by designing, installing and maintaining backup power solutions which can automatically kick in the moment an outage is detected.
What Forms Critical Infrastructure?
Critical infrastructure can be used to describe a wide range of industries and services. They all share one common factor though – they are all a top priority and must be kept running at all costs.
Some of the most essential kinds of critical infrastructure includes the following:
- Front-line emergency services – such as police, fire brigade and ambulance services, which rely on electricity for dispatch systems and response coordination
- Healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics and care homes – in these environments, continuous power is particularly important for life support equipment and emergency services. Without it, there’s a risk to life for vulnerable, seriously injured and ill people.
- Major transportation networks – such as airports, railways and road networks
- Water and wastewater systems – including water treatment plants and pumping stations, ensuring that a clean, safe water supply is maintained
- Telecommunications – such as mobile networks, internet services and data centres
- Energy supply services and the National Grid – including substations and distribution facilities
- Financial services – while they may not seem essential, keeping banks and payment systems running is essential for a functional society.
When you start to look into it, you’ll see just how interconnected our society and its systems are. If one fails, there’s a ripple effect which could end up affecting millions of people.
Risks Of Power Failures In Infrastructure Systems
Severe weather, equipment failures, local and national faults, cyber attacks, natural disasters and even simple human error can all cause power failures in infrastructure systems.
A 2015 House of Lords Science and Technology Committee report also found that the UK’s electricity system is often sailing dangerously close to the wind when it comes to avoiding disaster. It urged the UK government to invest in long-term planning to avoid “squeezing the capacity margin”, but such major projects will inevitably take time to execute.
Even just a few seconds downtime can cause major risks, including:
- Safety hazards
- Operational downtime
- Data loss and cybersecurity threats
- Public health risks
- Significant financial and economic impact
How Do Backup Generators Protect Infrastructure Operations?
Understanding how backup generators support infrastructure is crucial for proactive long-term planning, whether for government departments or private companies such as rail operators, water companies and telecommunications providers.
In a nutshell, they act as a safety net, just in case the worst should happen. If an outage is detected, a backup generator is automatically triggered into operation, often in conjunction with uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to ensure a seamless switchover.
But backup generators do more than simply keeping the lights on. They ensure seamless power continuity, support emergency systems and maintain safety and security. Another crucial role is to prevent downtime and the often eye-watering costs associated with it. The more disruption can be minimised, the higher the savings.
To work when needed, emergency generators must be scaled and sized to fit specific infrastructure needs. They must also be properly maintained and tested, which includes regular servicing, fuel management and load testing. This ensures they will be ready to perform in real-world conditions and can handle the load when it really, really matters.
