Recent Power Electronics/FACTS Installations to
Improve Power System Dynamic Performance
J. Paserba, Fellow IEEE
Abstract-- In todays utility environment, financial and market
forces are, and will continue to, demand a more optimal and
profitable operation of the power system. Now, more than ever,
advanced technologies are needed for the reliable and secure
operation of power systems. To achieve both operational
reliability and financial profitability, it has become clear that
more efficient utilization and control of the existing transmission
system infrastructure is required.
Power electronics based equipment has been termed Flexible
AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) and can provide proven
technical solutions to address these new operating challenges
being presented today. FACTS technologies allow for improved
transmission system operation with minimal infrastructure
investment, environmental impact, and implementation time
compared to the construction of new transmission lines.
This paper summarizes several recent successful applications
of power electronic equipment/FACTS to improve power system
dynamic performance that were presented at two recent panel
sessions in 2006 (Power Systems Conference and Exposition,
Atlanta, GA, USA, October 29-November 1, 2006 and the
Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition,
Dallas, TX, USA, May, 21-24, 2006) by a variety of utilities and
manufacturers.
While there were other papers presented at each of the two
panel sessions in 2006, this summary is limited to those that were
actual utility installations of the technology, including two power
flow controller applications (one HVDC and one variable
frequency transformer/VFT).
The presentation that will accompany this paper will focus on
recent trends and experiences in the overall North American
marketplace with the installation of FACTS controllers.
Index Terms Flexible AC Transmission Systems, FACTS, Power
Electronic Equipment, Static Var Compensators, SVC, Static
Compensator, STATCOM, Dynamic Compensation, Voltage Support
I. PANEL SESSION AT THE IEEE PES POWER SYSTEMS
CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION, ATLANTA, GA, USA,
OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 1, 2006 [1]
A. Operational Experiences with SVCs for Local
and Remote Disturbances
Authors: Pouyan Pourbeik, Anders Bostrom, Eric John,
ABB, Inc; Mrinmoy Basu, Pacific, Gas & Electric Company
Abstract: This paper presents the operational experiences
with SVCs in the San Francisco Bay Area transmission
system, operated by Pacific Gas & Electric Company.
_____________________________
J. Paserba is with Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. (MEPPI),
Warrendale, PA, USA, (e-mail: j.paserba@ieee.org) and the Chair of the IEEE
PES Power System Dynamic Performance Committee, the sponsoring committee
of the two recent Panel Sessions summarized in this paper.
1-4244-1298-6/07/$25.00 2007 IEEE.
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The two SVCs, at the Newark substation in the East San
Francisco Bay, and the Potrero Switching station located in
the City of San Francisco, were installed in 2002 and 2004,
respectively. The intent of this paper is to show actual SVC
operation during local and remote disturbances and make a
comparison to expected behavior based on previous
simulation and study work. The events recorded and discussed
in this paper were recorded by the ABB MACH2 Control &
Protection System Transient Fault Recorder.
B. Application of Static VAR Compensation on the
Southern California Edison System to Improve
Transmission System Capacity and Address Voltage
Stability Issues Part 1. Planning, Design and Performance
Criteria Considerations
Authors: Janet Kowalski, Southern California Edison; Ivars
Vancers, Mark Reynolds, Siemens Power Transmission &
Distribution, Inc.; Heinz Tyll, PTD Siemens AG
Abstract: This paper describes the planning, specification
and design of the 500 kV Static Var System (SVS) installed
on the Southern California Edison network at Devers
Substation. The Devers SVS includes a static var compensator
(SVC) a form of flexible alternating current transmission
system (FACTS) technology and a controlled mechanically-
switched shunt capacitor bank. The Devers SVS project is one
of several planned projects to increase power imports into the
Los Angeles basin from generation sources east of the
Colorado River (EOR). A follow-up paper is planned which
will present the construction and final commissioning of the
Devers SVS at project completion expected in September
2006.
C. Voltage Control in Southwest Utah with the St.
George Static Var System
Authors: Daniel Sullivan, John Paserba, Gregory Reed, Terry
Croasdaile, Robert Westover, Ron Pape, Mitsubishi Electric
Power Products, Inc.; Masatoshi Takeda, Satoshi Yasuda,
Hitoshi Teramoto, Yoshiyuki Kono, Kenichi Kuroda, Koji
Temma, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; William Hall,
Duane Mahoney, Dean Miller, Paul Henry, PacifiCorp
Abstract: PacifiCorp commissioned the St. George Static Var
System (SVS) with a continuous rating of -35 to +100 Mvar
(transient rating -70 to +278 Mvar) in June of 2006. This
paper presents the Southwest Utah area transmission system,
the requirements for voltage support, the planning and
dynamic performance studies used in rating and verifying
performance of the SVS, and provides an overview of the
design and coordinated control strategy. An overview of the
SVS stability model with integrated smooth and stepped
susceptance control is also discussed. The St. George SVS is
connected to the 138 kV bus of the St. George substation to
enhance voltage control and dynamic Var support for major
disturbances in the Southwest Utah 138 kV and 345 kV
transmission systems. The SVS coordinated control strategy
employs local and remote shunt reactive devices to reduce
SVS reactive steady-state output and to regulate the voltage at
the local St. George 138 kV bus and at the remote Red Butte
138/345 kV substation.
D. Dynamic VAR Compensator (DVC) Application in
Landsnet Grid, Iceland
Authors: rur Gumundsson, Landsnet; Gunnlaugur
Nielsen, Landsvirkjun; Narend Reddy, American
Superconductor Inc.
Abstract: FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission System)
devices such as Static Compensators (STATCOMs) have long
been used to solve utility voltage problems. Generally these
have been on large-scale installations on interconnected
systems providing economies of scale benefits for the utilities.
STATCOMs, similar to Static VAR Compensators (SVCs),
have proved to be just as useful for utilities in addressing a
wider array of problems - from voltage regulation of weak
transmission systems to multiple just-in-time installations to
prevent voltage collapse and improve system stability and
reliability. Landsnet, an independent transmission owner in
Iceland is in the process of installing a +40/-40 MVAR DVC
dynamic VAR compensator, which is a hybrid between a
STATCOM and SVC at Hryggstekkur 132kV substation in
eastern Iceland. This paper outlines the system requirements,
analysis, procurement and installation of the DVC system at
Hryggstekkur which is planned for installation in fall of 2006.
E. Dynamic Reactive Compensation System for Wind
Generation Hub
Authors: Paul Hassink, Dave Matthews, Rob OKeefe,
American Electric Power; Fred Howell, Saeed Arabi,
Powertech Labs, Inc.; Charles Edwards, Ernst Camm, S&C
Electric Company
Abstract: Very high penetration levels of wind generation in
the McCamey area of west Texas have introduced a number
of engineering and operational challenges for AEP Texas
Transmission. To ensure reliable reactive compensation
support to the wind power generation under steady-state
conditions and during transient disturbances on the network,
three dynamic reactive compensation systems (DRCS) were
designed and installed in the area in 2005/2006. This paper
provides a background to the need for the compensation
system and describes the details of the system control
methodology, and the simulation and analysis performed to
verify the proper operation of the controls.
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F. The Rapid City DC Tie
Authors: Matthew Stoltz, Basin Electric Power Cooperation;
Michael Bahrman, ABB Power Systems; Donald Dickinson,
ABB Power T&D Company; Bernt Abrahamsson, ABB
Power Technologies
Abstract: Capacitor Commutated Converter (CCC)
technology has been selected for several recent projects due
to its suitability for application in relatively weak network
locations. The modular design of CCC converters permits
shorter project execution time. This paper describes the CCC
technology used for the Rapid City HVDC Back-to-Back Tie.
II. PANEL SESSION AT THE IEEE PES TRANSMISSION AND
DISTRIBUTION CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION,
DALLAS, TX, USA, MAY 21-24, 2006 [2]
A. The Value of Dynamic Vars to Allow a Wind Farm
to Meet a Utilitys Interconnection Requirements
Authors: John A. Diaz de Leon, Bud Kehrli, American
Superconductor
Abstract: Throughout the world, renewable energy in the
form of wind farms is being installed in ever increasing
numbers. Up to this point, keeping these wind farms on-line
for faults on the utility transmission systems has been quite
difficult. While wind turbine manufactures are continuing to
make their machines more fault tolerant, there is also another
method to help these machines ride through faults. Analysis
has shown that dynamic VARs from a centralized FACTS
device are very effective in providing the wind farms with
fault ride thru capability. This paper presents the methods of
designing and sizing an installation of a Dynamic VAR
Compensator (DVC) on a utility system to meet the utilitys
interconnection requirements.
B. Holly STATCOM FACTS to Replace Critical
Generation, Operational Experience
Authors: Arastou Oskoui, Biju Mathew, Austin Energy; Jean-
Philippe Hasler, Marcio Oliveira, Tomas Larsson, ke
Petersson, Eric John, ABB
Abstract: Austin Energy plans to decommission an old oil
and gas-fired plant near downtown Austin, Texas, USA. In
addition to providing the generation capacity, an important
reason the four-unit Holly plant has been kept in operation is
to stabilize the voltage on the transmission system. Retirement
of the power plant without a reliable dynamic reactive source
would have a negative impact on the transmission system
voltage stability. A special requirement in Austin Energys
case is recovery from voltage sags where a fast response is
necessary at low voltages, i.e., transient voltage recovery.
Furthermore, physical limitations related to aesthetics,
electromagnetic field emissions, and audible noise had impact
on the solution to be implemented. Transmission planning
studies determined that the voltage requirements could be met
using a STATCOM. This paper provides details on the E. Recent Experience at PG&E with FACTS Technology
background, an overview of the STATCOM technology, and Application
shows results from the first period of operation of the Holly
Author: Bhaskar Ray, Pacific Gas & Electric Company
STATCOM, delivered by ABB.
Abstract: In this paper, Pacific Gas & Electric Company
C. Design and Application of a Static Var (PG&E, San Francisco) summarizes recent experience with
Compensator for Voltage Support in the Dublin, Georgia successful application of power electronics based FACTS
Area (Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems)
technology equipped with sophisticated control systems to
Authors: Daniel Sullivan, John Paserba, Gregory Reed Terry
address transmission grid reliability related issues arising
Croasdaile, Ron Pape, Donald Shoup, Mitsubishi Electric
from aging infrastructure and maintain system performance in
Power Products, Inc.; Masatoshi Takeda, Yuuji Tamura,
the Greater Bay Area. PG&E found that SVCs offer an
Junichi Arai, TMT&D Corporation; Robert Beck, Borka
economic alternative to maintain and enhance bulk system
Miloevi, Shih-Min Hsu, Southern Company Services; Flavio
dynamic reactive reserve margin and address voltage stability-
Graciaa, Georgia Power Company
related challenges. The primary reason for installing FACTS
devices is to facilitate shutdown of old synchronous
Abstract: The Georgia Power Company (GPC), an affiliate
condensers at PG&E-owned substations in Greater Bay Area,
of Southern Company, will commission the 0 to +87 Mvar
which were reaching the end of their original design life and
Laurens County Static VAR Compensator (SVC) in May of
reduce reliance on third-party owned expensive generation
2005. This paper presents the Dublin, Georgia area
dispatch. These aging assets incur high maintenance and
transmission network, the requirements for voltage support,
operating costs and face the challenge to meet increasingly
the planning and engineering studies used in rating the SVC
stricter emission requirements under environmental
and verifying its performance, and provides an overview of
regulations.
the SVC design and control strategy. The Laurens County
SVC will be connected to the 115 kV bus of the North Dublin
230/115 kV substation to provide steady-state voltage F. Feasibility Studies for Dynamic Var and
regulation and dynamic VAR support following major STATCOM Applications to Prevent a Fast Voltage
disturbances in the Dublin area. The SVC control strategy Collapse
employs steady-state voltage regulation of the 115 kV North
Authors: Hector Sarmiento, Gabriela Pampin, Instituto de
Dublin bus by coordinating control of local and remote
Investigaciones Electricas; John Diaz de Leon, American
mechanically switched capacitor (MSC) banks with the
Superconductor
objective of ensuring sufficient dynamic VARs remain
available for major local system disturbances.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to assess the
performance of FACTS shunt controllers for dynamic voltage
D. Application of Static Var Compensator in Entergy support: Dynamic VAR (D-VAR system) and Advanced
System to Address Voltage Stability Issues Planning Static Compensator (STATCOM), as a corrective measure to
and Design Considerations reduce the risk of voltage collapse in the Mexico City
Metropolitan Area. To determine the best location for these
Authors: Venkat Kolluri, Sujit Mandal, Samrat Datta,
controllers, modal analysis and time-domain simulations are
Raymon Powell, Douglas Mader, Entergy Services, Inc.;
both applied.
Matthias Klaus, Horst Spachtolz, Siemens Power
Transmission & Distribution, Inc.
G. Variable Frequency Transformer - FACTS
Abstract: Entergy is in the process of installing SVCs at two Technology for Asynchronous Power Transfer
of its major load centers. Extensive voltage stability
Authors: Richard Piwko, Einar Larsen, GE-Energy
assessment was performed to understand any operational
problems and to determine the most efficient size and location
Abstract: A new power transmission technology has been
of the SVCs. This paper presents planning and design aspects
developed. The variable frequency transformer (VFT) is a
of one of the installations. As part of the planning
controllable, bi-directional transmission device that can
consideration - problem, alternative solutions evaluated,
transfer power between asynchronous networks. Functionally,
selection of the most preferred option and other reactive
the VFT is similar to a back-to-back HVDC converter. The
power issues are covered. Additionally, as part of the design
core technology of the VFT is a rotary transformer with three-
considerations - SVC Configuration, Control Strategy and
phase windings on both rotor and stator. A motor and drive
some of the design issues, such as coordinated capacitor
system are used to adjust the rotational position of the rotor
control, are discussed.
relative to the stator, thereby controlling the magnitude and
direction of the power flowing through the VFT. The worlds
first VFT was recently installed in Hydro-Quebecs Langlois

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substation, where it will be used to exchange up to 100 MW
of power between the asynchronous power grids of Quebec
(Canada) and New York (USA). This paper describes the VFT
technology and provides an overview of the VFT equipment
installed at Langlois substation. Results of commissioning
tests are also included.
III. CONCLUSIONS
This paper summarizes several recent successful
applications of power electronic equipment/FACTS to
improve power system dynamic performance that were
presented at two recent panel sessions in 2006 (Power
Systems Conference and Exposition, Atlanta, GA, USA,
October 29-November 1, 2006 and the Transmission and
Distribution Conference and Exposition, Dallas, TX, USA,
May, 21-24, 2006).
While there were other papers presented at each session,
this summary is limited to those that were actual utility
installations of the technology, including two power flow
controller applications (one HVDC and one variable
frequency transformer/VFT).
Other panel sessions on power electronic equipment /
FACTS sponsored by various Committees / Subcommittees /
Working Groups / Task Forces within IEEE PES include, but
not limited to, the following:
Panel Session on FACTS Controllers: Applications and
Operational Experience, Proceedings of the IEEE PES
Summer Power Meeting, Edmonton, Alberta, July 1999.
Sponsored by the T&D and Substations Committees.
Panel Session on Modeling, Simulation, and Applications of
FACTS Controllers in Angle and Voltage Stability Studies,
Proceedings of the IEEE Power Engineering Society 2000
Winter Meeting, Singapore, January 2000. Sponsored by the
Power System Dynamic Performance Committee.
Panel Session on Simulation of FACTS and Custom-Power
Controllers, Proceedings of the IEEE Power Engineering
Society 2001 Winter Meeting, Columbus, Ohio, January 2001.
Sponsored by the T&D Committee.
Panel Session on FACTS Applications to Improve Power
System Dynamic Performance, Proceedings of the 2001 T&D
Conference and Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia, September 2001.
Sponsored by the Power System Dynamic Performance
Committee.
Panel Session on Digital Simulation of FACTS and Custom-
Power Controllers, Proceedings of the IEEE Power
Engineering Society 2002 Winter Meeting, New York, New
York, January 2002. Sponsored by the T&D Committee.
Special Technical Session/Panel Session on Basics of Var
Technology, Proceedings of the IEEE Power Engineering
Society 2002 Winter Meeting, New York, New York, January
2002. Sponsored by the T&D Committee (DC and FACTS
Education WG).
Panel Session on Power System Stability Controls Using
Power Electronic Devices, Proceedings of the IEEE PES
Summer Power Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, July 2002.
Sponsored by the Power System Dynamic Performance
Committee.
Panel Session on FACTS Technologies: Experiences of the
Past Decade and Developments for the 21st Century in Asia and
the World, Proceedings of the IEEE PES T&D-Asia
Conference and Exposition, Yokahama, Japan, October 2002.
Sponsored by the Local Organizing Committee.
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Panel Session on FACTS VSC Applications For Improving
Power System Performance, Proceedings of the IEEE PES
General Meeting, Toronto, Canada, July 2003. Sponsored by
the T&D and Substations Committees.
Panel Session on SVC Refurbishment & Life Extension,
Proceedings of the IEEE PES General Meeting, Toronto,
Canada, July 2003. Sponsored by the Substations Committee.
Panel Session on FACTS Applications to Improve Power
System Dynamic Performance, Proceedings of the 2003 T&D
Conference and Exposition Meeting, Dallas, Texas, September
2003. Sponsored by the Power System Dynamic Performance
Committee.
Special Technical Session on FACTS Fundamentals,
Proceedings of the IEEE PES T&D Conference and Exposition,
Dallas, Texas, September 2003. Sponsored by the T&D
Committee (DC and FACTS Education WG).
Special Technical Session on FACTS Fundamentals,
Proceedings of the IEEE PES General Meeting, Denver,
Colorado, June 2004. Sponsored by the T&D Committee (DC
and FACTS Education WG), (update of the same session
presented in Dallas 2003).
Panel Session on FACTS/Power Electronic Applications to
Improve Power System Dynamic Performance, Proceedings of
the 2005/2006 T&D Conference and Exposition Meeting,
Dallas, Texas, April 2006. Sponsored by the Power System
Dynamic Performance Committee.
Special Technical Session on Reactive Power, Proceedings of
the 2005/2006 T&D Conference and Exposition Meeting,
Dallas, Texas, April 2006. Sponsored by the T&D Committee
(DC and FACTS Education WG).
Panel Session on FACTS/Power Electronic Applications to
Improve Power System Dynamic Performance, Proceedings of
the 2006 Power Systems Conference and Exposition (PSCE),
Atlanta, Georgia, October/November 2006. Sponsored by the
Power System Dynamic Performance Committee.
IV. REFERENCES
[1] The papers in Section I are from the Panel Session at the IEEE PES Power
Systems Conference and Exposition, Atlanta, GA, USA, October 29-
November 1, 2006, and can be found on the Conference Proceedings CD
under Panel 18.
[2] The papers in Section II are from the Panel Session at the IEEE PES
Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition, Dallas, TX,
USA, May 21-24, 2006, and can be found on the Conference Proceedings
CD under Panel 19.
V. BIOGRAPHY
John J. Paserba (Fellow 03) earned his B.E.E. (87) from Gannon
University, Erie, PA., and his M.E. (88) from Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute, Troy, NY. Mr. Paserba joined Mitsubishi Electric Power
Products Inc. in 1998 after 10 years with GEs Power Systems Energy
Consulting Department. He is presently the Chair of the IEEE PES
Power System Dynamic Performance Committee and was the Chair of
the IEEE PES Power System Stability Subcommittee and the
Convenor of CIGRE Task Force 38.01.07 on Control of Power
System Oscillations. He is a member of the PES Governing Board as
VP-Meetings Activities and was the General Chair for both the 2004
(New York) and 2006 (Atlanta) Power Systems Conference and
Exposition. John is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Power
& Energy Magazine and was a member of the Editorial Board for the
Transactions on Power Systems. In addition to IEEE PES activities,
John is active in the IEEE Regional Activities Board (RAB) Student
Activities Committee (SAC) as an Industrial Representative and was
the Chair of the IEEE-USA Student Professional Awareness
Committee (SPAC) for 2005-06.