NASA Working On Solar Storm Shield

Zothecula writes "The solar storms that cause the stunning aurora borealis and aurora australis (or northern and southern polar lights) also have the potential to knock out telecommunications equipment and navigational systems and cause blackouts of electrical grids. With the frequency of the sun's flares following an 11-year cycle of solar activity and the next solar maximum expected around 2013, scientists are bracing for an overdue, once-in-100 year event that could cause widespread power blackouts and cripple electricity grids around the world. It sounds like an insurmountable problem but a new NASA project called 'Solar Shield' is working to develop a forecasting system that can mitigate the impacts of such events and keep the electrons flowing."

The northern lights are on my "todo" list.

[caluml]

I really want to see the aurora borealis in my lifetime - and there are apparently occasions when it is visible as far south as 51 degrees north - the Southern UK. Failing that, I'll go to Norway and rent a special igloo [google.co.uk].
There was one of these solar storms in the 1850s, I think, and it set telegraph wires alight, causing fires. Imagine what it would do today.

Re:Mitigate it?

[dwywit]

So, I'm off-grid with 2.5KW of PV on the roof, and 1300ah of batteries, plus inverter and regulators, and backup generator. What sort of impact will it have on me, and if my power system stays up, will the value of my place skyrocket? Or will my on-grid neighbours start turning up with food to store in my freezer, clothes to wash in my machine, and DVDs to watch on my TV?