Data centers weather solar storms

The US Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) issued multiple geomagnetic storm watches throughout August and September 2022. Geomagnetic storms occur when solar storms interact with the Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field, risking disruption to satellites, radio communications and the power grid. The strongest predicted storm earned the agency’s rating of G3 (“strong”) on a five-level classification system of geomagnetic activity — intense enough to require voltage corrections on the grid in some regions. In comparison, an “extreme” G5 geomagnetic storm could overheat or destroy high-voltage transformers, leading to widespread and lasting power outages.

A geomagnetic storm represents one type of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) — a rapid discharge of electromagnetic energy. A geomagnetic storm, also known as a geomagnetic disturbance or geomagnetic EMP, has secondary effects on power consumers that expose data centers to risk of equipment disruption and damage. The three types of EMP (geomagnetic, nuclear, or intentional) vary in their physical characteristics, but each can endanger data centers (see the Uptime Institute report Electromagnetic pulse and its threat to data centers). However, many operators do not include any type of EMP in their risk assessments, and have not implemented protective measures.