BORKEN, GERMANY - ABB's Power Grids business has completed the installation of the world's first hybrid static compensator for transmission system operator TenneT at a substation in Borken in Germany.

Statcom technology provides grid stability as the volume of renewable energy increases. It strengthens and stabilizes the German power grid by providing reactive power compensation and dynamic voltage support to keep the grid stable at the required voltage, the manufacturer said.

ABB Power Grids designed the solution to meet the specific requirements of TenneT.

A huge amount of reactive power is needed to balance and stabilize the national grid with the increased use of clean power, the company said.

Much of Germany's renewable power is generated in the north and east of the country from where it is transmitted in bulk to the south, where there is a deficit. As such, there is the need to balance reactive power demand.

Statcom can provide 400 MVAr of reactive power from a compact system that is easily integrated into an existing substation, thus enhancing the capacity and flexibility of power networks, according to the manufacturer.

Source: ABB