SVC PLUS® (STATCOM)

Whenever an innovative and universally applicable solution for grid enhancement is required, SVC PLUS®  provides the ideal solution. Our advanced STATCOM (static synchronous compensator) with modular multilevel converter (MMC) technology provides additional benefits compared to conventional solutions for reactive power compensation. While conventional SVC installations already provide a highly dynamic solution for voltage regulation in the power grid, the modular multilevel system SVC PLUS® is even faster and offers additional benefits. Siemens Energy also offers mobile SVC PLUS® solutions that support short-term grid changes and rapid restoration after severe incidents.

SVC PLUS® combines the benefits of static synchronous compensation (STATCOM) and modular multilevel converter technology with an optimized amount of components.

Despite its outstanding performance, SVC PLUS® requires relatively few system components, which simplifies the design, planning, and engineering of new projects. The components used for SVC PLUS® comprise proven and robust components such as industrial class insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT), reactors, capacitors, and in utility applications AC power transformers.

Thanks to modular multilevel converter (MMC) technology our SVC PLUS® offers great flexibility regarding design and layout of converters and substations. The modularity and the low number of system components also reduce commissioning time compared to complex conventional SVC systems.

Depending on your needs, Siemens Energy provides the right solutions for grid stabilization and load compensation of any scope. The portfolio comprises the conventional STATCOM and the advanced SVC PLUS® in manifold combinations, and the mobile SVC PLUS® systems that can be moved to any place in short time.

One of our projects – Kriftel, Germany: turnkey solution SVC PLUS®

• Improves grid stability thanks to voltage regulations, enabling integration of renewable energies
• SVC PLUS® with the operating range of ±300 Mvar at 380 kV, MSCDN with the operating range of 300 Mvar at 380 kV
• Complete enclosure of all components, including cable connections
• State-of-the-art active harmonic filtering function
• Plant availability of over 99%

Large electrical consumers in industrial processes often show a very dynamic behavior. Looking at the most extreme case of electrical loads worldwide, Electrical Arc Furnaces (EAFs) – where a single unit can have a consumption of up to around 300 MVA (the consumption of a city of 300.000 inhabitants) – their load characteristic is extremely dynamic and stochastic, creating a number of disturbances to the feeding grid, such as fast voltage fluctuations causing the phenomenon of flickering of light, bad power factor and asymmetric loading of the 3 phases of the supply system, as well generation of harmonics due to the non linear current of the electric arc. To counteract the disturbances of such industrial loads, an innovative and versatile compensation solution for enhancing power quality is required - SVC PLUS® provides the ideal solution. Our advanced STATCOM (static synchronous compensator) with modular multilevel converter (MMC) technology provides additional benefits compared to conventional solutions for load compensation. While conventional SVC installations already provide a highly dynamic solution for power quality improvement at the the grid connection point of an industrial power distribution system, the modular multilevel system SVC PLUS® is even faster and offers multiple additional benefits. Depending on the size and characteristics of the load and the utility regulations, Siemens Energy offers different SVC PLUS® concepts to mitigate the unwanted impact of the load to the grid.

With SVC PLUS®, Siemens Energy further enhanced the capabilities of a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) with modular multilevel converter (MMC) technology. Whenever your applications require a highly dynamic solution for voltage regulation, the modular multilevel system SVC PLUS® is the right choice.

SVC PLUS® for industrial applications - introduction

Despite its outstanding performance, SVC PLUS® requires relatively few system components, which simplifies the design, planning, and engineering of new projects. The components used for SVC PLUS® comprise proven and robust components such as industrial class insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT), reactors, filter circuits, typically connected directly to the medium voltage busbar that feeds the load to be compensated.

Thanks to modular multilevel converter (MMC) technology our SVC PLUS® offers great flexibility regarding design and layout of converters in the industrial substation. The modularity and the low number of system components also benefit commissioning time required.

Depending on your needs, Siemens Energy provides the right solutions for load compensation of any scope. The portfolio comprises the advanced SVC PLUS® in manifold combinations, such as the SVC PLUS® Compact for smaller load compensation, SVC PLUS® for medium size and SVC PLUS® 2+1 for high power applications.

Control & Protection (C&P) systems are key to managing power flows and protecting grid components in HVDC and FACTS plants. Both tasks have to be considered in light of increasingly complex grid architectures and fluctuating power infeed from renewable energy sources. For many Transmission System Operators (TSO) and Distribution System Operators (DSO), this leads to three major challenges: first, fast reaction to market needs and short lead time of the C&P system. Second, reliable and secure operations throughout the entire lifecycle while safeguarding low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). And last but not least, the C&P system should be easy to expand for new solutions and services. This is crucial in order to cope with the ongoing transformation of the energy system and to leverage the potential of future innovations. With our new modular C&P platform Grid Flow PLUS, we’re addressing all of these challenges.

C&P platform - Grid Flow PLUS