Estimation of geomagnetically induced currents based on the measurement data of a transformer in a Japanese power network and geoelectric field observations

Shinichi Watari

doi:10.1186/s40623-015-0253-8

Abstract

Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) have the potential to cause electric power blackouts. Hence, it is important to study the effects of GICs produced by intense geomagnetic storms. The measurements of GICs were conducted at the Memanbetsu substation, Hokkaido, between December 2005 and March 2008. We obtain the complementary cumulative distribution function (CCDF) of the measured GICs and the empirical equation to estimate GICs using the GIC data and geoelectric field observation data. GICs associated with the past intense geomagnetic storms, e.g., the March 13–15 storm and the October 29–30, 2003 storm, are estimated.

Highlights

The effects of geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) on electric power grids have been observed since the 1940s (Boteler 2001)
We obtained the empirical equations of GICs using the GIC measurement data and geoelectric field data and estimated GICs associated with the past intense geomagnetic storms
We show two examples of observed GICs at the Memanbetsu substation associated with the geomagnetic storms with variations of geomagnetic fields at the Memanbetsu Observatory

Summary

Introduction

The effects of geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) on electric power grids have been observed since the 1940s (Boteler 2001). In southern Sweden, the GIC caused an electric power blackout on October 30, 2003 (Kappenman 2005). Japan is located at a geomagnetically lower latitude compared to its geographical latitude. It is believed that the possibility of power grid problems caused by GICs is lower because of the country’s location at geomagnetically low latitude. It was reported that long distance telegraph lines between Tokyo and the regions outside Tokyo (the Tokyo-Yokkaichi line, the Tokyo-Matsumoto line, the Tokyo-Ogasawara line, the Tokyo-Guam line, and so on) were affected by GICs caused by a geomagnetic storm on September 25, 1909 in Japan (Uchida 1909).

Methods

Results

Conclusion