According to the IEEE Spectrum report, laboratory or in-field measurements are often considered the gold standard for certain aspects of power system design, but they have limitations. One critical limitation is the difficulty in measuring electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cables. These cables are crucial for transmitting power across long distances under the sea. They link offshore wind farms to mainland grids, connect national power networks across bodies of water, and support intercontinental energy sharing. As renewable energy expands, so does the need for reliable undersea transmission—making the behavior of EMFs in these systems more important than ever.
Key Takeaways
- Measurement approaches have limitations, including difficulty in measuring EMFs in HVDC submarine cables.
- Simulation can help overcome some of these limitations and provide faster design processes and reduced design costs.
- The power system industry is increasingly relying on simulation to design and optimize its systems.
- Comsol software was used to simulate the EM fields in HVDC submarine cables.
- The results of the simulation showed that EM fields can be accurately modeled using Comsol.
Measuring EMFs in HVDC Submarine Cables
Measuring EMFs in HVDC submarine cables is challenging due to the complexity of the electromagnetic fields involved. Traditional measurement approaches have limited accuracy and are often time-consuming and expensive. The IEEE Spectrum report highlights the limitations of measurement approaches, including the difficulty in measuring EMFs in HVDC submarine cables.
The physical environment itself poses major obstacles. Submarine cables lie buried beneath seabeds or rest on ocean floors, sometimes at depths exceeding 1,000 meters. Accessing them for direct EMF readings requires specialized vessels, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and calibration equipment capable of functioning under extreme pressure and salinity. Even then, the data collected is often constrained to isolated points rather than continuous field mapping.
Another issue is interference. The marine environment contains natural electromagnetic noise from tidal movements, geomagnetic fluctuations, and biological sources. On top of that, man-made signals from ship navigation systems, underwater communication lines, and nearby power cables add layers of distortion. These factors make it hard to isolate the specific EM signature of a single HVDC cable.
Then there’s the problem of scale. HVDC systems can stretch thousands of kilometers—linking continents or spanning entire coastlines. Capturing EM behavior across such distances with physical sensors is impractical. You’d need hundreds, if not thousands, of synchronized measurement units, each requiring power, data storage, and retrieval mechanisms. The logistical burden makes comprehensive field measurement nearly impossible.
Even when measurements are taken, they’re snapshots in time. They don’t account for dynamic changes caused by varying load conditions, temperature shifts, or degradation of cable insulation over years of operation. That means a reading taken during commissioning might not reflect performance a decade later.
Simulation: A Viable Solution
Simulation can help overcome the limitations of measurement approaches by providing faster design processes and reduced design costs. Comsol software was used to simulate the EM fields in HVDC submarine cables. The results of the simulation showed that EM fields can be accurately modeled using Comsol.
Unlike physical measurements, simulation allows engineers to visualize EM distribution along the entire cable length, under different load scenarios, and in various installation configurations—without ever setting foot on a boat. It enables parametric studies: testing how changes in cable spacing, burial depth, shielding materials, or conductor geometry affect EM output. These virtual experiments can be run repeatedly and rapidly, offering insights that would take months or years to gather through fieldwork.
Comsol’s multiphysics platform is particularly suited to this task. It integrates electromagnetic theory with thermal, structural, and fluid dynamics models, allowing for a comprehensive view of cable behavior. For example, it can simulate how heat generated by current flow affects the surrounding seabed soil, which in turn influences electrical conductivity and alters EM field dispersion. This level of coupling is essential for realistic modeling but is absent in most standalone measurement tools.
The software uses finite element analysis (FEA) to solve Maxwell’s equations in three dimensions, adapting mesh density around critical zones like cable joints or termination points where field distortions are most likely. This precision helps identify potential hotspots before they become real-world problems.
What’s more, simulations can model worst-case scenarios—like faults, short circuits, or extreme environmental loads—that would be unethical or dangerous to replicate in the field. By doing so, they contribute directly to system safety and regulatory compliance.
Benefits of Simulation
The benefits of simulation in the power system industry are numerous. Simulation can help designers and engineers optimize their systems, reduce design costs, and speed up the design process. The IEEE Spectrum report highlights the benefits of simulation, including the ability to assess situations that are often not feasible to measure directly.
Cost savings come from avoiding repeated site visits, minimizing prototype builds, and reducing reliance on custom sensor arrays. A single simulation setup can replace dozens of physical tests. In large infrastructure projects where delays cost millions per day, accelerating design cycles has a direct financial impact.
But the value isn’t just economic. Simulation supports innovation. Engineers can explore novel cable arrangements—such as twisted pair configurations or asymmetric grounding schemes—that might reduce EM emissions below regulatory thresholds. They can test new materials, like semiconductive polymers or nanocomposite coatings, for their shielding effectiveness long before manufacturing begins.
Regulatory bodies are also beginning to recognize simulation as a legitimate validation tool. In Europe, standards like EN 50392 already accept modeled EM exposure data for HVDC systems under certain conditions. This shift reduces the burden on developers while maintaining public safety expectations.
And as digital twins become more common in energy infrastructure, simulation models serve as the foundation. Once a cable system is deployed, its digital twin can be updated with real-world data, enabling predictive maintenance and performance forecasting over its 30- to 40-year lifespan.
Implications for Developers and Builders
The implications of this study for developers and builders in the power system industry are significant. As the power system industry continues to rely on simulation to design and optimize its systems, developers and builders will need to have the necessary skills and expertise to use simulation tools like Comsol effectively.
Comsol software is a powerful tool for simulating EM fields in HVDC submarine cables. Comsol’s ability to accurately model EM fields can help reduce design costs and speed up the design process.
For engineering firms, this means investing in training and retaining staff who understand both power systems and computational modeling. It’s no longer enough to have experts only in high-voltage engineering or only in software modeling—the future lies at the intersection.
Contractors bidding on HVDC projects will increasingly be expected to submit not just mechanical layouts and cost estimates, but also EM simulation reports showing predicted field levels. This adds a new layer of technical rigor to procurement processes and could become a differentiator in competitive tenders.
Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are already adapting. Some are embedding simulation-ready digital models into their product catalogs, allowing clients to import cable specifications directly into Comsol or similar platforms. This plug-and-play approach reduces setup errors and speeds up early-stage design.
What This Means For You
This study highlights the importance of simulation in the power system industry. As the industry continues to rely on simulation to design and optimize its systems, developers and builders will need to have the necessary skills and expertise to use simulation tools like Comsol effectively.
If you’re designing offshore wind interconnections, you’ll need to show environmental regulators that your cables won’t interfere with marine life. Simulation lets you model EM exposure levels around sensitive habitats, proving compliance without invasive monitoring.
If you’re working on grid interconnectors between countries, you’ll face strict EM emission limits near populated coastal zones. Simulation allows you to test different cable routings and shielding strategies virtually, choosing the optimal configuration before breaking ground.
And if you’re part of a startup building next-gen submarine cable tech—say, dynamic charging lines for underwater drones or sensors—simulation gives you a low-cost way to validate your concept. You can iterate quickly, test edge cases, and attract investors with data-driven confidence.
This study also highlights the limitations of measurement approaches and the need for more accurate and reliable measurement methods. The power system industry will need to invest in more advanced measurement technologies and techniques to overcome these limitations. While simulation is powerful, it still depends on accurate input parameters—like soil resistivity, conductor properties, and boundary conditions—which must be grounded in real-world data. Without good measurements, even the best models can produce misleading results.
Historical Context
The move toward simulation in power systems didn’t happen overnight. For decades, engineers relied almost entirely on physical testing. In the 1970s and 80s, HVDC projects like the Pacific Intertie in the U.S. or the Cross-Channel Link between England and France were validated using extensive field measurements and scaled-down lab prototypes.
But as projects grew larger and environments more complex, the shortcomings of pure measurement became evident. The 2015 NordLink project, connecting Norway and Germany via a 623-km undersea cable, faced intense scrutiny over EMF impacts on fisheries. Regulators demanded detailed EM exposure assessments—something impossible to deliver solely through spot measurements.
Around the same time, computing power advanced enough to make high-fidelity simulations practical. Software like Comsol, Ansys, and EMTP-RV began appearing in engineering workflows. By the early 2020s, major grid operators like TenneT and National Grid routinely included simulation reports in their project submissions.
The IEEE Spectrum report reflects this evolution: a growing consensus that simulation isn’t just a supplement to measurement—it’s becoming a core engineering methodology.
Conclusion
The study highlights the limitations of measurement approaches in the power system industry and the benefits of simulation. The results of the study demonstrate the ability of Comsol software to accurately model EM fields in HVDC submarine cables. This has significant implications for developers and builders in the power system industry.
Forward-Looking Question
As the power system industry continues to rely on simulation to design and optimize its systems, what new challenges and opportunities will arise for developers and builders in the industry?
Sources: IEEE Spectrum, original report
