Geomagnetically induced currents in the Uruguayan high-voltage power grid

Abstract

We estimate the influence of the geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) on the Uruguayan electrical distribution grid. The GIC are related to time variations in the geomagnetic field caused by the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetosphere. These currents may cause several problems in power grids, pipelines, among others. South America is close to the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly (SAA). Particle precipitation in the anomaly region could lead to pulsations in the horizontal component of the geomagnetic field, that may contribute to the GIC production. Scarce research has been done to assess the space weather impact on this area. Due to the lack of magnetic field data at the Uruguayan territory, spherical elementary currents system (SECS) was used to interpolate field values with data available from three magnetic observatories located at Vassouras, Trelew and São Martinho da Serra. The simple topology of the Uruguayan power grid provides some advantages in the calculation of GIC. To calculate these currents, a plane wave method combined with a ground conductivity model was used. Estimated GIC suggest peak currents ca. 15 A, at the earthing points of some substations in a 770 km power line during the Halloween Magnetic Storm on 2003 October 29.