A Review of Geomagnetically Induced Current Effects on Electrical Power System: Principles and Theory

Abstract

Geomagnetically induced current (GIC) has been a significant concern for the electrical power grid in high latitudes for decades. Its origin starts in the Sun; during extreme space weather, the magnetic field of the Earth varies rapidly. This variation induces electric fields at the Earth's surface and leads to GICs in manmade technologies. Power systems are the most affected by this induced current, which causes halfcycle saturation of power transformers and other issues. Understanding the behaviours and chain effects of this phenomenon is the key consideration in modelling the hazards to technological systems from space weather. In this paper, a comprehensive review of space weather, geomagnetic disturbances (GMDs) and GICs and their impacts on the power systems in both high and mid-low latitude regions is presented. Additionally, we highlight the most commonly used methods to model and calculate geoelectric fields at the Earth's surface and GIC in the power systems with respect to DC and AC analysis. In addition, we have classified the GIC effects on the different power system components. Moreover, the possible solutions and mitigation techniques to eliminate or reduce these effects based on different GIC blocking devices are reviewed in this work. This work provides researchers and power system operators a shortcut road path to understanding GIC phenomena, modelling and calculations, effects, and mitigation of these effects.

Mapping a Magnetic Superstorm: March 1989 Geoelectric Hazards and Impacts on United States Power Systems

“…At the surface, these geoelectric fields can drive GICs along power transmission lines and through grounded transformers, which can cause half‐cycle saturation. This distorts alternating‐current waveforms and can trip system relays, precipitating power‐system voltage collapse and heating, and, even, damage transformers (e.g., Abda et al., 2020; Kappenman, 2001; Molinski, 2002; Oyedokun and Cilliers, 2018; Samuelsson, 2013). Quantitative modeling of this convoluted chain of causes and effects, encompassing natural hazards and engineered systems, is an important objective of ongoing research and development (e.g., Gaunt, 2016; Pennington et al., 2021; Pilipenko, 2021; Pulkkinen et al., 2017; Thomson et al., 2010).…”

Impact Angle Control of Local Intense dB/dt Variations During Shock‐Induced Substorms

“…One well‐known and important space weather effect detected on the ground is manifested as the so‐called geomagnetically induced currents (GICs). Sharp variations of the surface geomagnetic field (d B /d t ) generate geoelectric fields, which in turn couple with artificial conductors giving rise to the flow of undesirable GICs (Abda et al., 2020; Belakhovsky et al., 2019; Oliveira & Ngwira, 2017; Viljanen, 1998). Although ground conductivity models are necessary to compute geoelectric fields that generate GICs (Liu et al., 2019; Love et al., 2016), d B /d t variations are an acceptable and widely used proxy for assessing GIC response to space weather because such geoelectric fields may exist independent of ground artificial conductors.…”

Solar Rotation Multiples in Space-Weather Effects

“…There are various methods for calculating the geoelectric field [E] (see details in, e.g., Abda et al, 2020, and the references therein). In the frame work of this article, we estimated E from one-minute geomagnetic field data [B] in the frequency domain using a 1D layered conductivity Earth model (Boteler, Pirjola, and Marti, 2019;.…”

“…This model considers the change of conductivity with depth. More precisely, the Earth is represented by N horizontal layers, which are assumed to be homogeneous and infinitely extended in the X (northward) and Y (eastward) directions (Abda et al, 2020). In the Z (downward) direction, each layer is specified by conductivity σ n and thickness l n (n = 1, .…”