The Ground Fault Neutralizer – Protection System Delivering Robust Results in Utility-Triggered Wildfire Risk Mitigation

Swedish Neutral has pioneered what is arguably one of the most effective technologies for mitigating the risk of wildfires caused by powerlines: the Ground Fault Neutralizer (GFN).
Some of the most devastating wildfires of the 21st century can be attributed to distribution powerlines.
A practical approach to mitigate the ignition risk would involve transforming exposed conductors into insulated cables and placing powerlines underground. However, the associated expense of approximately $3M per mile of conductor — an economic burden too substantial for electric utility providers to bear.
An alternative strategy involves substituting exposed overhead wires with covered conductors. Given the considerable cost of approximately $1-1.5M per mile, this solution does not offer a consistently reliable outcome.
Costing just a fraction of the expense incurred by approaches above, the Ground Fault Neutralizer (GFN) system delivers robust results. As affirmed in the Functional Performance Report and Cost-Benefit Analysis published in 2020 by Victoria's Energy Safety Regulator (ESV), the comprehensive evaluation confirms that the operational performance of the deployed GFN systems aligns with expectations concerning bushfire risk mitigation. In certain cases, these installed GFNs have even surpassed expectations by effectively addressing more intricate faults and thereby diminishing the risk of bushfires.
In addition to wildfire risk mitigation advantages, the GFN significantly increases reliability – obviates the necessity for Public Safety Power Shutoffs; and public safety (risk of electrocution) of energy distribution assets.
Speaker(s): Viacheslav Levashov, ,
Virtual: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/409260