An analysis of previous blackouts in the world: Lessons for China׳s power industry

Large-scale blackouts have occurred frequently throughout the world. The blackouts that have occurred in recent years not only seriously affect the lives of local residents, but they also cause substantial economic losses. In particular, as modern society increasingly depends on electricity, power outages occurring at any time may result in devastating consequences. Accordingly, identifying the reasons for blackouts and implementing proper restoration measures are of particular importance. This paper analyses the sphere of influence, the scale of the effects, the restoration measures and the causes of previous worldwide blackouts. Based on the findings, suggestions for the development of China׳s power industry are then offered.