CMCE technology neutralises atmospheric charge effects

Lightning strikes on power transmission lines, substations, and power generation facilities can cause extensive equipment damage, leading to costly repairs and prolonged downtime.

- Timir Doshi

Lightning strikes, a natural yet destructive phenomenon, pose significant risks to industries and infrastructure in India. Their impacts range from operational disruptions and economic losses to environmental degradation. Advanced lightning protection technologies like CMCE are vital for mitigating these risks and ensuring safety, operational continuity, and environmental sustainability in vulnerable regions. Timir Doshi, CMDOM Technical Solutions LLP, India, shares more insights into the sector.

What causes lightning, and which areas in India are more prone to lightning strikes?

Lightning is a discharge of atmospheric electricity that occurs when the electric fields in a thunderstorm become large enough to cause ionisation of the air, leading to a rapid release of energy in the form of a flash of light. Certain areas in India that are more prone to lightning strikes include the Gangetic plains (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal), central India (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand), the Deccan Plateau (Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh), and the Himalayan foothills (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh). These regions experience frequent thunderstorm activity during specific seasons due to geographic and climatic factors conducive to lightning formation. These areas experience frequent thunderstorms due to climatic conditions that support the formation of cumulonimbus clouds capable of generating lightning.

How does lightning affect industries and critical infrastructures in India?