Editorial Special Section on COVID-19 Impact on Electrical Grid Operation: Analysis and Mitigation

Abstract

COVID-19-related shutdowns have significantly impacted the electrical grid operation worldwide, as governments put strict measures in place to manage the global pandemic. The global electrical demand plummeted around the planet in March, April, and May 2020, with countries such as Spain and Italy experiencing more than 20% decrease in their usual electric consumption. On the other hand, countries like Canada experienced unusually high summer peaks due to the increase in demand for the residential HVAC systems. Electricity network operators are facing unprecedented challenges in scheduling energy resources; for example, energy forecasting systems struggle to provide an accurate demand prediction given massive changes in patterns of electricity consumption induced by COVID-19 restrictions.