Abstract: We proposed a novel algorithm for lightning location on oblate Earth surface. This grid-search based method is carried out overall coverage area of the network to find the most probable position of a flash. The solution of this method can rapidly approach ultimate location when multi-level gird search method is adopted. This meehod needs no initial solution, and in practice can be used to provide the initial solution for iterative algorithm. The validity and stability of the proposed method is confirmed by computer generated data and practical transmission-line lightning faults data of lightning location system for power industry.