How does space weather impact Great Britain’s electricity network?

To ensure Great Britain has a secure and resilient supply of electricity, our engineering experts are always thinking about how we protect our system from a wide range of threats. It’s not unheard of to see storms and high winds bring down an electricity line but our control room must also prepare for the impact of weather from much further than you might expect… from space.

Why is space weather important?

Space weather refers to the environmental conditions in space. These conditions can have a significant effect on the functionality of our power grids because the rapid fluctuations in the Earth's magnetic field induce an electric field in the Earth's surface. This electric field then drives electrical currents to flow through conductive structures; this is known as Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs).

This can potentially lead to damage to some assets across the electricity system, depending on the design, location and geology. The Sun experiences 11-year cycles of solar activity; the peak of this is called Solar Maximum. The Solar Maximum of the current cycle was reached in 2025. During Solar Maximum and the following two to three years, solar storms that lead to GICs are statistically more likely.

Ensuring security of supply during space weather

To prepare for this Solar Maximum period, we’ve worked with industry to improve the resilience of our electricity network, including developing the Space Weather Industry Protocol (SWIP). This protocol aims to guide operational decisions during anticipated or actual severe space weather events to keep our electricity system secure.

A key part of this involves obligating Generators and Interconnector Owners to submit a Space Weather Outage Declaration. This declaration will inform our control room of their anticipated availability to provide electricity to our network, aiding real-time system management and preventing supply shortfalls or system instability during space weather events.

Exercise Solar Surge

Recently, an industry-wide exercise named Solar Surge was conducted to enhance understanding and readiness for space weather events. Participants included the Met Office, energy industry representatives, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

This exercise allowed us to share our individual perspectives, identify areas for improvement and validate current response protocols. The insights gained have strengthened information-sharing practices and reinforced the resilience and reliability of the energy sector's operational capabilities.

As preparations continue, these collaborative efforts underscore the importance of cross-organisational cooperation in safeguarding electricity supply against space weather disruptions.