The sun, space weather and GIC effects in Sweden

The solar activity drives the space weather on short-terms and the space climate on long-terms. Being close to the auroral oval has made Swedish electrical systems particularly vulnerable to space weather. Requirements for long-term planning of energy production has now also created an interest in space climate. A short description of the Swedish power system and pipeline system is given. A historical description of the effects that occurred at times of geomagnetically induced currents (GICs), up to the Halloween events in 2003 and event in November 2004, is presented. All these events have created great knowledge about the effects within the Swedish power industry and an interest to collaborate with scientists in order to understand the solar causes of GICs and herewith possibly forecast the effects of GICs. An ESA GIC Pilot Project is in progress together with the Swedish power organization ELFORSK and FMI. The goal is to implement real-time accurate forecasts of GICs in order to mitigate the effects.