Strengthening system stability with Europe’s first grid-forming transmission STATCOM
Customer Story | 1 min read
Germany’s power system is transitioning toward very high levels of renewable penetration, while conventional power plants are being closed. One key function of conventional plants is supplying reactive power to counter voltage dips and spikes; as those plants retire, that voltage‑support capability must be replaced at selected points in the transmission grid.
At its Opladen substation, Amprion, Germany's transmission system operator, deployed Europe’s first high‑power grid‑forming SVC Light® STATCOM for transmission applications, demonstrating how advanced power electronics can actively secure grid stability even when short‑circuit strength is extremely low.
Project Details
Solution
The solution consists of an SVC Light® STATCOM installation with a Voltage Source Converter (VSC) branch rated ± 300 Mvar, providing a total dynamic reactive power range from 300 Mvar capacity to 300 Mvar inductive power, connected to a 400 kV/50 Hz system.
Grid‑forming control that behaves as a controlled voltage source to form and stabilize the grid voltage
Stable performance during grid faults, with controlled fault‑current support
Redundant MACH™ control platform ensuring high availability and reliability
Supplementary grid‑support functions, including damping of low‑frequency power oscillations (0.1–1.5 Hz)
Validated through EMT simulations and virtual MACH™ software-in-the-loop testing, ensuring stability from 4000 MVA down to 300 MVA short‑circuit levels
Impact
Increased power transfer capability by enhancing voltage stability and maintaining a smooth voltage profile under different network conditions
Demonstrated stable voltage support at a 400 kV transmission node even when short‑circuit strength dropped to ~25% of nominal levels
Provided ±300 Mvar of dynamic reactive power as a permanently available grid resource, independent of synchronous generation availability
Converted grid‑forming compensation from a planning requirement into an operational transmission‑level reference
Established a first‑of‑kind benchmark for future grid‑forming STATCOM deployments in the German transmission network
Reduced operational risk for Amprion under extreme and rapidly changing system conditions, supporting secure grid operation during the energy transition
UN Sustainability Goals
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