Space Weather and the Power Grid Space Weather Effects on the Power Grid Known Space Weather Impacts on the Power Grid
A space weather event can produce Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) that may be transmitted by effective conductors on the Earth’s surface such as the electric-power grid. When GICs enter the power grid, they act as direct current (DC) sources that flow alongside the normal alternating currents (AC) produced at power plants and transferred along power lines to electrical substations. Basic incompatibilities between DC and AC currents may interfere with the normal functioning and performance of Extra High Voltage (EHV) transformers. The interaction of GICs with these transformers can result in a number of physical effects that, if sufficiently large and not properly managed, may adversely impact the power system. For example, GIC-transformer interactions can increase reactive power consumption, contributing to voltage instabilities and potentially leading to power outages. They can also generate harmonics that can disconnect parts of the grid by causing the improper operation of protective relay equipment (e.g. static compensators) and/or the tripping offline of generators. It is important to note that this impact pathway is the only one that has to-date been known to trigger space weather-related blackouts.
The below impact matrix illustrates how the well-studied physical effects of space weather on electric power can cause different types of Social and Economic Impacts. Items in matrix reflect example impacts for moderate (normal text) and extreme (italic text) storms. Question marks denote instances where the physical effect may in theory be able to cause an impact, but empirical support is lacking.
Simplified impact matrix with the focus of quantitative analysis highlighted in yellow, wherein the presence (or absence) of a circle denotes the connection of a given physical effect to a particular impact category. Black circles denote that a physical effect is known, from direct past experience, to cause a particular category of societal impact. Open circles indicate that a given physical effect may cause a particular category of societal impact but lacks empirical support.
Static compensators
A. Affected
B. No discernible effect
C.
D.
E.
F.
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