Event Details

Modelling and measuring space weather impacts on the UK power grid

Space weather poses a hazard to grounded electrical infrastructure such as high voltage (HV) transformers, through the induction of geomagnetically induced currents (GIC). Modelling GIC requires knowledge of the source magnetic field and the Earth's electrical conductivity structure, in order to calculate the geoelectric fields generated during magnetic storms, as well as knowledge of the grid topology and resistance parameters of the HV network. Direct measurement of GIC at the ground neutral in substations is possible, for example using a Hall-effect probe, but this is not widely done. To validate our HV network model, we use the Differential Magnetometer Method (DMM), measuring GIC at several locations in the power grid of Great Britain. This talk gives an overview of the historic and present day space weather risk, its potential economic impacts and the work undertaken at the British Geological Survey to model and understand the geophysical aspects of the hazard.