Geomagnetically Induced Currents in electric power transmission networks at different latitudes

“Space Weather” refers to electromagnetic and particle conditions in the near-Earth space that may disturb and damage ground-based and space-borne technological systems. At the Earth´s surface, space weather processes lead to “Geomagnetically Induced Currents” (GIC) in conductor networks, such as electric power transmission grids, oil and gas pipelines, telecommunication cables and railway equipment. GIC are a potential source of problems to the systems. In power networks, on which this paper is focused, GIC can cause saturation of transformers with different harmful consequences. GIC phenomena occur particularly at high latitudes, where geomagnetic disturbances are the largest and most frequent, but GIC magnitudes also depend on the network configuration and resistances. Thus systems at lower latitudes may also experience large and harmful GIC sometimes. GIC in power grids at both high and mid-to-low latitudes are, for the first time, discussed in this paper by particularly considering Scandinavian and Chinese high-voltage systems.