Siemens Energy’s supplies reactive power compensation technology
Siemens Energy will supply a reactive power compensation plant to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
Source: Siemens Energy
USA, California, Los Angeles: Siemens Energy will supply a reactive power compensation plant to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).
The plant will enhance operations at Barren Ridge Switching Station, LADWP’s renewable energy transmission facility in Kern County, California. The plant will be based on Siemens Energy’s SVC PLUS technology that combines the benefits of static synchronous compensation (STATCOM) and modular multilevel converter (MMC) technology. The fast response of the STATCOM stabilizes the transmission system when the amount of power generated by solar, wind or hydro generation changes. The MMC technology allows the implementation of this complex technology in a very small footprint compared to traditional solutions. The new ±200 MVAr SVC PLUS will provide the necessary voltage support needed in the area, where LADWP has significantly increased renewable energy generation.
“The great advantage of our SVC PLUS technology is that it is even faster than conventional solutions,” said Beatrix Natter, Executive Vice President Transmission at Siemens Energy. “In addition, it offers high flexibility regarding design and layout of converters and substations. Its modularity and low number of system components also reduce commissioning time compared to complex conventional SVC systems. This enables a short execution time of only 16 months for the Barren Ridge project so that the reactive power compensation is ready in time to prevent voltage collapses or even blackouts.”
The heart of the SVC PLUS will be two three-phase step-down transformers with 230 kV and 200 MVA capacity and an industrial-class insulated gate bipolar transistors-based converter. This important installation supports LADWP’s ongoing network enhancement by the application of robust technology that continues to prove its value in more than 120 installations worldwide. Commissioning of the plant is planned for summer 2022 after an execution time of only 16 months.
Source: Siemens Energy