Answers for energy.

Special reprint from BWK Das Energie-Fachmagazin Volume 60 (2008), No. 11, pages 613
Authors: Matthias Claus, Karl Uecker, Dietmar Retzmann
Power Electronics for Enhancement
of Grid Efciency
Authors
Power Electronics for
Enhancement of Grid Efficiency
The security of power supply in terms of reliability and blackout prevention has the utmost priority when
planning and extending power grids. The availability of electric power is the crucial prerequisite for the
survivability of a modern society and power grids are virtually its lifelines. The aspect of sustainability is
gradually gaining in importance in view of such challenges as the global climate protection and economi-
cal use of power resources running short. It is, however, not a means to an end to do without electric
power in order to reduce CO
2
emissions. A more appropriate way is to integrate renewable energy resour-
ces to a greater extent in the future (energy mix) and, in addition to this, to increase the efficiency of con-
ventional power generation as well as power transmission and distribution without loss of system security.
future for both security and sustainabi-
lity of power supply [1 to 4]. With the
help of power electronics the power sys-
tem can be given dynamic support, but
not only; the efficiency of power trans-
mission at various voltage levels can al-
so be increased. Power electronics is ea-
sily controllable which makes the grid
more flexible and, due to this, it can rea-
dily include availability-dependent rege-
nerative and distributed energy sources.
R
egenerative power generation on
the basis of availability-depen-
dent energy resources particu-
larly wind power can hardly follow the
load profile which leads to significant
congestions in the grid. That is, the re-
quirements of wind power to flexibility
and loading capacity of the grids are ex-
tremely high. In view of these require-
ments, power electronics will play an in-
creasingly more important role in the
Matthias Claus, Graduate Engineer, born
in 1968; studied Electrical Engineering at
the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg,
since 1996 Consultant in the field of Power
System Planning (real-time simulation of
HVDC/FACTS and system protection); sin-
ce 2001 in the field of Basic Design for
FACTS/Reactive Power Compensation; sin-
ce 2005 Senior Sales and Marketing Mana-
ger at Siemens Energy, Power Transmission
Solutions, Erlangen.

Karl Uecker, born in 1962, since 1982
Specialist in the field of Commissioning of
Power Plants and High-Voltage Installati-

The figure gives a brief insight into the
transmission of electric power based
on hydro resources by means of HVDC.

ons at Siemens; since 1991 Sales Manager
for Power Quality in the region of Asia, lo-
cation Singapore and Kuala Lumpur; since
2000 Senior Sales Manager for HVDC and
FACTS; since 2006 Vice President HVDC/
FACTS Sales & Marketing, Siemens Energy,
Power Transmission Solutions, Erlangen.

Dietmar Retzmann, Prof. Dr.-Ing., born in
1947, studied Electrical Engineering at the
Technical University of Darmstadt, recei-
ved a Doctorate at the University of Erlan-
gen-Nuremberg; from 1974 till 1975
Commissioning Engineer at former Brown
Boveri & Cie AG, Mannheim; since 1976
Scientific Assistant at the chair of Electric
Power Supply at the University of Erlan-
gen-Nuremberg and since 1982 at Sie-
mens AG, Erlangen. 1998 he was ap-
pointed Visiting Professor at the Univer-
sity of Tsinghua, Beijing, China, and
2002 at the University of Zhejiang,
Hangzhou, China; since 2004 Lecturer
on HVDC and FACTS at the University of
Karlsruhe. Siemens Top Innovator, Tech-
nical Director Sales & Marketing and In-
novations HVDC/FACTS, Siemens Ener-
gy Sector, Power Transmission Solutions,
Erlangen.
i dietmar.retzmann@siemens.com

A flexible grid of this kind is also termed
Smart Grid [3].
Power electronics is used in high-vol-
tage systems for flexible AC transmis-
sion FACTS
1
) as well as for high-volta-
ge direct-current transmission systems
(HVDC). HVDC helps prevent bottlen-
ecks and overloads in power grids by
means of systematic power-flow control.
1
) FACTS: Flexible AC Transmission Systems
2

ITC: International Transmission Company PTDF: Power Transfer Distribution Factor
25 %
Max % PTDF
5 %
2 %
An Outlook National Transmission Grid Study, U.S. DOE, May 2002
Grid enhancement
is essential!
Problems in synchronously
interconnected systems only
t
The Blackout ITC, August 2003
Congestion, overloads and loop-flows
0
0
00
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
4.8 GW
3.7 GW
2.2 GW
0.2 GW
Generator Down
Transmission Line Down
Direction of Power Flow
0
X
The function of the HVDC which is deci-
sive for system security is that of an au-
tomatic firewall. This firewall function
can prevent the spread of a disturbance,
which occurs in the system, at all times;
as soon as the disturbance has been
cleared, power transmission can imme-
diately be resumed. Moreover, the HVDC
technology allows for grid access of ge-
neration facilities on the basis of availa-
bility-dependent regenerative energy
sources, including large offshore wind
farms, and, compared with the conven-
tional AC transmission, it boasts a sig-
nificantly lower level of transmission
losses on the way to the loads.
FACTS technology was originally crea-
ted to support weak AC grids and to sta-
bilize AC transmission over very long
distances. FACTS technology encompas-
ses systems for both parallel and series
compensation. It rests upon the princi-
ple of reactive power elements, control-
led by means of power electronics,
which can reduce the transmission an-
gle of long AC lines or stabilize the volta-
ge of selected grid nodes. Due to a high
utilization degree of AC power grids, the
application of FACTS technology will be-
come an increasingly more interesting
issue also in the case of meshed power
systems, e.g. in Europe. FACTS and
HVDC applications will consequently
play an important role in the future de-
velopment of power systems. This will
result in efficient, low-loss AC/DC hybrid
grids which will ensure better controlla-
bility of power flow and, in doing so, do
their part in preventing domino effects
in case of disturbances and blackouts.
More Security and Flexibility
due to Power Electronics
From the point of view of the design
concept, AC grids are seldom configured
as wide-area bulk power transmission
systems. By way of example, the Wes-
tern European Power Union (UCTE) at a
transmission voltage of 400 kV was ori-
ginally based on the concept of a system
which provides power generation near
the loads and has additional links to
support the adjacent grids in the case of
disturbances or planned outages of indi-
vidual generation units. In the course of
deregulation and privatization of Euro-
pean power markets the idea of an All-
European interconnected system came
up, and in view of climate change, the is-
sue of bulk power transmission of envi-
ronmentally compatible energy comple-
ted the picture [1 to 4]. However, prior to
implementing this vision to the full ex-
tent, the grid concept must be adapted
to these modified conditions. To describe
this, Fig. 1 shows a very clear picture
from the USA, where a large-scale study
on the transmission grid in the year
2002 detected a number of bottlenecks
related to local overloads and loop-
flows, which indeed lead to an enor-
mous blackout in that particular area
one year later [5]. The figure depicts se-
parate lines in load-dependent colours;
the red colour marks a significant over-
load, and the green one reflects a situa-
tion in which even more current can ea-
sily flow through. For the sake of a con-
sistent load flow, the ideal solution
would be to furnish the grid, which is
entirely open for power trading, with
yellow lines, which helps do away with
the less loaded grey ones. It is needless
to say that in the context of a complex,
largely meshed grid without any additio-
nal measures to boost its efficiency, an
optimal load-flow control such as this is
not possible. The rough idea is given in
Fig. 1: the fact is that in 2003, the grid
problems affected only the synchro-
nously interconnected eastern areas of
the US and Canada, whereas the Hydro-
Qubec grid in the East of Canada which
is connected by means of HVDC remai-
ned unaffected. The HVDC systems in-
stalled there prevented further spread of
the blackout fully automatically without
any human interference thanks to their
Firewall function. Moreover, Qubec was
in a position to help restore the affected
adjacent grids in a very effective man-
ner by means of power injection from its
HVDC systems [5].
This example proves that even large
AC grids can be enhanced by means of
power electronics. Electronically con-
trolled converter systems can namely
control active and reactive power and,
subsequently, the grid voltage at a requi-
red response time in a far more flexible
and effective way compared with power
plants or phase-shifting transformers
2
)
distributed in the grid.
Renewable Energy Sources:
Challenges to the Grids
Sustainability of power supply stands
for a number of measures for efficiency
enhancement with regard to power ge-
neration, it means the increase in effi-
ciency ratio during energy conversion at
a power plant, the reduction in trans-
mission losses in the grid and, last but
not least, efficiency enhancement at the
load. The decisive role in terms of sus-
tainability is played by the renewable
energy sources, particularly those capa-
ble of producing entirely CO
2
-free power,
such as hydro, solar and wind energy. As
far as Europe is concerned, wind power
constitutes a cornerstone of its future
energy supply; hydro power resources
are relatively small with the exception
of Nordel grid and solar energy is availa-
ble virtually only in the South of Europe.
In the course of the last years, Germany
could boast extremely high increase in
the amount of wind power plants. The
aggregated installed rated power of on-
shore installations increased from
around 12 GW in the year 2003 to over
22 GW in the year 2007. In terms of futu-
re use of offshore wind energy in the
German parts of the North and the Bal-
tic Sea, a long-term feasibility of 30 to
50 GW of installed capacity was deter-
mined in numerous studies. This is an
impressive value when compared with
today's national German installed gene-
ration capacity of around 120 GW.
Fig. 2 depicts power infeed from a
group of onshore power plants as well as
the load pattern of this control area. Ac-
cording to it, the balance between gene-
ration and consumption does not match
at all in this case; the unbalance requi-
res large amounts of reserve capacity
from the rest of the grid which must be
at hand. In the case of thermal power
plants, this kind of reserve capacity is
comparatively expensive (peak power).
Fig. 1
Extreme increase in
the load flow results
in a blackout.

2
) PST: Phase-Shifting Transformer
3

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o
a
d

i
n

G
W
P
o
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i
n
f
e
e
d

i
n

G
W
2
10
12
14
18
0
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Su
8
16
6
4
Time period between November, 17 and 30, 2003
0.5
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.5
0.0
2.0
4.0
1.5
1.0
Th Th
0.5
2.5
3.0
3.5
0.0
2.0
4.0
1.5
1.0
Source: E.ON Netz
Maximal load
Wind power plants
Problems with wind power generation in Germany and in most other countries:
Due to severe fluctuations, wind power can hardly follow load patterns.
Additional reserve capacity is required.
Fig. 3 depicts how this problem was
solved in Australia, namely by means of
energy mix. A combination of flexibly
applied hydro power plants and availa-
bility-dependent that is not permanent-
ly available (fuzzy) wind power plants
plus the HVDC technology as a highway
for power trade and back-up reserve in
both directions is a glorious example of
how feasible environmentally compati-
ble power supply can be. For the sake of
grid security, a thermal power plant both
in Tasmania and on the Australian con-
tinent would have had to be constructed
at higher cost alternatively to an HVDC
system.
Security and Sustainability
due to Power Electronics
Europe carries a high potential for im-
plementation of renewables as well. In
[4], an example from Denmark is given,
where a Static Var Compensator
3
) is
used to stabilize the voltage of offshore
wind farms in the weak grid of the Lol-
land island. Moreover, the combination
of wind and hydro power has already
been intensively used in different coun-
tries; the electric power provided by hy-
dro power plants situated in the Nordel
area is basically delivered to the UCTE
system through the sea by means of
HVDC systems. Item [2] gives an exam-
ple of how significantly the capacity and
stability of the Baltic Cable HVDC system
could be boosted by means of the Static
Var Compensator Siems on the side of
the weak 110 kV grid in the North of Ger-
many. The initial objective at the plan-
ning stage was to connect the HVDC sys-
tem directly to the stronger 400 kV grid
which, however, could not be implemen-
ted due to the right-of-way problems in
that region.
Now, the question is how renewable
energies, wind power in particular, influ-
ence the grid in the event of an outage.
The prime example here is the massive
outage experienced in the European grid
on November, 4, 2006. The events started
in the evening around 9:30 pm, and were
triggered by the deliberate disconnecti-
on of two 400 kV lines over the Ems river
in order to let a large vessel pass. Due to
this, a number of lines were overloaded
which resulted in a domino effect typi-
cal of massive outages of this kind and
ended up in the splitting of the UCTE
system into three areas at different fre-
quencies. It was the over-frequency area
which, in addition to the congestion pro-
voked by the failed lines, suffered from
an excessive electric power infeed from
wind farms, which was exactly what an
over-frequency area required the least at
that period of time. This scenario is de-
picted in Fig. 4.
Should even far higher input from off-
shore wind farms into the northern Ger-
man grid come into play in the future, as
the figure suggests, the HVDC technolo-
gy provides the best possibility to for-
ward the power surplus from the low-lo-
ad North directly to the southern load
centres of Germany or to the adjacent
countries with higher power demand.
This idea rests upon a well-known expe-
rience with hybrid grids in other coun-
tries, according to which the DC point-
to-point connection carries out an easy
power transfer over large distances and
the adjacent AC grid is additionally sup-
ported by means of FACTS [5]. The most
devoted user of this hybrid concept is
China. In the South of China, Siemens
together with its Chinese partners is cur-
rently implementing an 800 kV HVDC
project Yunnan-Guang at a transfer capa-
city of 5 GW (Fig. 5). Further 800 kV pro-
jects at a transmission capacity of up to
7.2 GW are being currently planned. A
total of 20 Bulk Power HVDC projects
are planned in China for the time period
between 2008 and 2019. The total rating
amounts to 104 GW or higher (as cur-
rently planned).
At a DC voltage of 800 kV the line los-
ses drop by approx. 60 % compared with
the present standard of 500 kV at the sa-
me power rating. A great number of the-
se projects in China is meant for power
transmission from hydro power plants
situated in the middle of the country to
the distant load centres.
The project Yunnan-Guang helps save
around 33 Mt CO
2
in comparison with
local power generation, which, in view of
the current energy mix in China, would
be connected with a relatively high car-
bon amount.
The 2
nd
800 kV HVDC project Xiangjia-
ba-Shanghai, which also involves Sie-
mens as well as ABB and Chinese part-
ners, boasts significantly higher yearly
CO
2
savings of over 40 Mt thanks to even
higher hydro power transmission capa-
city of 6.4 GW. When comparing trans-
mission losses of AC and DC, it becomes
apparent that the latter typically has 30
to 40 % less losses. For instance, in the
Fig. 2
Example of actual power generated
by an onshore wind farm during a
week of maximum load.

Benefits of HVDC
Clean power
CO
2
reduction
Cost reduction
Flexible
Fuzzy
Hydro power for base
load and energy storage
Plus wind power
For base load and peak-load demand 2005
Fig. 3
The Basslink HVDC project in Australia
enables the utilization of renewable
energy sources from Tasmania.

3
) SVC: Static Var Compensator
4

case of the 500 kV HVDC project Ballia-
Bhiwadi in India, the transmission rating
of 2.5 GW helps saving approximately
0.7 Mt CO
2
due to the transmission los-
ses which are 37 % lower than those of
the 400 kV AC double-circuit system, ty-
pical of this country. The converter los-
ses (i.e. those of both converter stations,
incl. transformers, valve cooling and ot-
her equipment) amount to 1.4 % of the
rated power only.
HVDC and FACTS an Insight
into Converter Technology and
Station Equipment
HVDC: Bulk Powerexample at 800 kV
The HVDC systems at 800 kV require
the most state-of-the-art converter
technology. The separate components of
this kind of installations boast impressi-
ve design and dimensions owing to the
required insulation clearance distances.
Fig. 6 depicts one of the all in all 48
transformers of the 5 GW HVDC system
Yunnan-Guang. All the type tests of this
world-wide first 800 kV HVDC were suc-
cessfully completed in September 2008,
which constitutes a milestone in the
field of the ultra-high voltage DC power
transmission. Additionally, the figure
shows huge DC-disconnectors, DC-vol-
tage dividers and one of the converter
valve towers. For reasons of transporta-
tion, the 800 kV DC voltage is generated
by two converter halls at 400 kV each
which allows for smaller dimensions of
the transformers, i.e. critical elements
from the point of view of transportation,
for, with the exception of wall bushings,
they cannot be taken apart.
China requires this HVDC technology
to construct a high-power DC system,
superimposed to the AC grid, in order to
transmit electric power from huge hydro
power plants in the centre of the coun-
try to the load centres located as far as
2,000 to 3,000 km away with as little los-
ses as possible. An HVDC system at a DC
voltage of 500 kV is depicted at the front
page of this issue.
FACTS: Precise use of reactive power in AC
grids
In the case of AC grids, the control of
reactive power by means of FACTS is the
same as a compressor for an engine
when applied to a correct degree and at
the correct point it makes the AC grid to
an energy highway similar to an HVDC
route, but without the Firewall protecti-
on function mentioned above. FACTS
parallel compensation provides voltage
support of weak grids and helps avoid
critical voltage collapse in case of large
system outages. When it comes to sub-
stantial line length, FACTS series com-
pensation can also reduce the inductive
component to such an extent that the li-
ne length becomes virtually much shor-
ter. This means that even long lines re-
main within the stable range, for they
are virtually cut by 50 to 70 per cent.
Due to this, the 1,000 kV AC lines, plan-
ned in China, can bridge the distances of
2,000 km and above in a stable way.
The n1 redundancy criterion, howe-
ver, requires a double-circuit system
that is, in the case of 1,000 kV, it is an ex-
tremely complex matter owing to the
substantial route width. When it comes
to a DC system, the n1 redundancy is
already fulfilled, for there are two lines
of one bipolar system.
As far as 800 kV AC systems are con-
cerned, the transmission length of ap-
proximately 1,500 km is feasible in com-
bination with series compensation, whe-
reas the 500 kV AC can manage appro-
ximately 1,000 km only. A project of this
kind with the line length of 1,000 km is,
e.g. the North-South Interconnector in
Brazil. In the case in this interconnecti-
on, in addition to fixed series compensa-
tion, a controlled series compensation
4
)
is installed at both the beginning and
the end of the line in order to stabilize
power oscillations. Further examples of
FACTS projects are depicted in Fig. 7:
> SVC Radsted, Denmark, a Static Var
Compensator installation with noise-ab-
sorbing indoor construction [4].
Area 1
Under-frequency
Area 2
Over-frequency
Area 3
Under-frequency
An idea for Europe: wind power transmission from the North to the South by means of HVDC
Area Area 1
Unde Under-frequency
Area 2
Over-frequen
The Problem
Relief Reli to ef Area 2 Area and
frequency support frequency su freq for
Area 1 Area and and Area 3
HVDC HVDC HVDC
Fig. 4
The European grid outage
on November, 4, 2008 and
an HVDC solution concept.

Fig. 5
Large HVDC projects in southern China
enable low-loss west-to-east transmission
of as much as 5 GW of hydropower-based
electrical energy produced in the countrys
interior to coastal load centers.

4
) TCSC: Thyristor Controlled Series Compensation
5

Bulk Power HVDC
800 kV DC
> SVC Bom Jesus da Lapa, Brazil, is a Static
Var Compensator installation with val-
ves and controls in a container; transfor-
mers, voltage-limiting reactors as well
as voltage-increasing capacitors are pro-
vided in form of an outdoor installation.
> SVC Pelham, UK, is a Static Var Com-
pensator installation with a classic buil-
ding solution for valves and controls;
the rest of the components are installed
outdoor as well.
> The thyristor of the TPSC installation
5
)
in the West of the USA provides only fast
overvoltage protection of the series ca-
pacitor in case of faults; these seven
projects require no closed-loop control
at all.
Power electronics what is it all about?
The core or the workhorse of HVDC
and FACTS installations are high-power
thyristors, triggered optically by means
of laser technology or electrically depen-
ding on application. Thyristors can only
switch on the current. The switching-off
is carried out by the next current zero
crossing itself. This is the reason why a
thyristor converter is referred to as a li-
ne-commutated system. Should no line
voltage be available on one side of an
HVDC system or in a FACTS application,
the system is no longer functioning. An
advantage of thyristor converters is their
high loading capacity both during nomi-
nal and overload operation as well as in
the event of contingency. Consequently,
bulk-power systems at high transmis-
sion capacities of 5 to 7 GW can be im-
plemented with thyristors only. A furt-
her benefit consists in comparatively
low station losses. The TPSC projects
described above use special-purpose
thyristors capable of withstanding tran-
sient overloading of up to approximately
110 kA.
The strength, i.e. short-circuit power
of the grid is an important design criteri-
on for the application of line-commuta-
ted HVDC systems. If the grid is too we-
ak, a thyristor-based HVDC system must
reduce its power or, under certain condi-
tions, shut down completely in order to
avoid system collapse resulting from re-
petitive commutation failures. In the ca-
se of weak grids, remedy is provided by
FACTS for grid support, i.e. a combinati-
on of the HVDC and FACTS as in the
example of the SVC Siems for the HVDC
project Baltic Cable. Additionally, the pro-
blem can be tackled by means of self-
commutated converters. Self-commu-
tated converters make use of elements
which can be switched off, mostly mo-
dular of press-pack high-power transis-
tors, all of which, in their turn, consist of
a number of separate elements, con-
nected in parallel. In this way, a conver-
ter turns into an electronic generator.
Self-commutated converters are nor-
mally furnished with a voltage source.
With its help a separate capacitor or a
number of them keep the voltage con-
stant
6
), whereas a conventional thyris-
tor-based HVDC system keeps the sour-
ce current constant
7
) by means of re-
actors.
A detailed description of different VSC
solutions is given in, e.g. [6]. A general
advantage of the VSC-based HVDC sys-
tems consists in the fact that one of the
power grids subject to coupling can be
completely voltage-free or passive, for,
with the help of the intact grid, the other
one can be started again similar to a
power plant. This black-start capability
is particularly interesting for connecting
large offshore wind farms off the coast
of Germany.
In item [6] an innovative development
with what is known as the MMC tech-
nology
8
) is described, which is applied
by Siemens as an HVDC PLUS for the
HVDC projects and as an SVC PLUS for
FACTS. This technology stands out due
to its compact modular design and a
new multilevel converter, which allows
to generate an AC system of a virtually
ideal sinus waveform from DC voltage in
the voltage source by means of a great
number of fine steps without any addi-
tional filters. The reactive power ele-
ments and filters of normally 50% of the
active power, required in HVDC Classic
applications, can be done completely
away with in this case, which helps re-
duce the footprint of an HVDC station
by approx. 40 %. An overview of the first
MMC project with a 200 kV XLPE DC ca-
ble is given in Fig. 8. The goal of this pro-
ject is to eliminate bottlenecks in the
overloaded Californian grid: new power
plants cannot be constructed in this
densely populated area and there is no
right-of-way for new lines or land ca-
bles. This is the reason why a DC cable
Fig. 6
HVDC components for
the energy highway.

SVC Radsted, Denmark SVC Bom Jesus da Lapa, Brazil
TPSC Installation, West of the USA SVC Pelham, UK
Fig. 7
Examples of FACTS projects.

6
) VSC: Voltage-Sourced Converter
7
) CSC: Current-Sourced Converter
8
) MMC: Modular Multilevel Converter
5
) TPSC: Thyristor Protected Series Compensation
6

Transmission constraints
before TBC project
Power exchange by means of sea cable
No increase in short-circuit power
400 MW
88 km
2010
P = 400 MW
Q = 170 to 300 MVAr
Dynamic voltage
support
Eliminiation of
bottlenecks
Transmission constraints
after TBC project
will be laid through the bay, and the
power will flow through it by means of
the HVDC technology in an environmen-
tally compatible way.
HVDC and FACTS: Comparison
of Stability and Transmission
Functions
In addition to the abovementioned Fi-
rewall function, the HVDC systems pri-
marily boast capability of directed
power control in terms of sign and mag-
nitude. When the operator of an HVDC
system gives a value of 1,000 MW, there
are exactly these 1,000 MW flowing
through the line or link.
In the case of FACTS installations, it is
quite different; they operate rather indi-
rectly with variable impedances for re-
active power control: while supporting
the grid, they, however, cannot force the
polarity of the load flow. The best way to
describe FACTS applications is to com-
pare them with traffic lights in a big-city
traffic: when the traffic lights are used
in the right place at the right time, the
traffic runs smoothly. If there are no
traffic lights, a traffic jam can develop
quickly, which can then be bridged only
by means of an HVDC power highway.
This is pictured in Fig. 9. In order to pro-
vide stable power flow from the left to
the right grid with the help of a FACTS
application, the voltage on the load side
is to be stabilized and, in addition to
this, the line must be made virtually
shorter by means of series compensati-
on both steady-state and dynamically
for the case if power oscillations occur.
In doing so, the volume of power trans-
mission can be changed, whereas the di-
rection of power flow is determined by
phasing of both grids to each other only.
That is, compared with HVDC systems,
FACTS installations as they are cannot
change the direction of the power flow.
In the case of an HVDC system, the
magnitude as well as the sign of the
power P can be changed, whereas the
grids can be quite different in phase and
frequency; the HVDC system forces the
power flow in any case. Along with the
active power control, the reactive power
control on both sides of the HVDC route
can be of advantage to the grids. In the
case of classic line-commutated HVDC
technology, the reactive power variable
range of the system can be extended
with additional elements. This, however,
requires corresponding space.
In a VSC-based HVDC system, an ad-
ditional reactive power control system
has already been integrated into the
converter design (see Fig. 8); in this case,
external reactive power elements are no
longer required. In the case of an MMC-
based HVDC system, even filters can be
dispensed with.
Conclusion
The future power grids will have to
withstand increasingly more stresses
caused by large-scale energy trading
and a growing share of fluctuating rege-
nerative energy sources, such as wind
and solar power. In order to keep genera-
tion, transmission and consumption in
balance, the grids must become more
flexible, i.e. they must be controlled in a
better way. State-of-the-art power elect-
ronics with HVDC and FACTS technolo-
gies provides a wide range of applicati-
ons with different solutions, which can
be adapted to the respective grid in the
best possible manner. DC current trans-
combination of FACTS and classic line-
commutated HVDC technology is feasi-
ble as well. In the case of state-of-the-
art VSC-based HVDC technologies, the
FACTS function of reactive power con-
trol is already integrated that is, additio-
nal FACTS can be done without. Howe-
ver, Bulk Power transmission up to the
GW range remains reserved to classic, li-
ne-commutated thyristor-based HVDC
systems.
Fig. 8
The Trans Bay Cable project
in the U.S., worlds first HVDC
VSC system with the MMC
technology.

Literature
[1] Luther, M.; Radtke, U.: Betrieb und Planung
von Netzen mit hoher Windenergieeinspeisung.
ETG-Congress, October 23-24, 2001, Nurem-
berg, Germany.
[2] Waldhauer, H.: Grid Reinforcement and SVC for
Full Power Operation of Baltic Cable HVDC Link.
38th Meeting and Colloqium of Cigr Study
Committee B4 on HVDC and Power Electronics,
Technisches Kolloqium, September 25, 2003,
Nuremberg, Germany.
[3] Retzmann, D.; Srangr, D.; Uecker, K.: Flexibler
und sicherer. Smart Grids fr den Strommarkt von
morgen. BWK 58 (2006) No. 11, pp. 1013.
[4] Andersen, N.; Megos, J.; Retzmann, D.: Stati-
scher Kompensator fr den Offshore-Einsatz. Dyna-
mische Spannungsregelung von Offshore-Windturbi-
nen. BWK 59 (2007) No. 9, pp. 4853.
[5] Beck, G.; Povh, D.; Retzmann, D.; Teltsch, E.:
Global Blackouts Lessons Learned. Power-Gen
Europe, June 28-30, 2005, Milan, Italy.
[6] Dorn, J.; Retzmann, D.; Uecker, K.: Vorteile von
Multilevel-VSC-Technik in Energiebertragungs-
anwendungen. VDE Congress 2008, November 3-5,
2008, Munich, Germany.
FACTS
HVDC
~
~
P
G ~
G ~
G ~
G ~
P
G ~
Loads
Loads
Loads
Loads
Fig. 9
Comparison of stability and transmission
functions of FACTS and HVDC systems.
mission constitutes the best solution
when it comes to loss reduction when
transmitting power over long distances.
The HVDC technology also helps control
the load flow in an optimal way. This is
the reason why, along with system inter-
connections, the HVDC systems become
part of synchronous grids increasingly
more often either in form of a B2B for
load flow control and
grid support, or as a
DC power highway to
relieve heavily-loaded
grids. FACTS technolo-
gy was originally de-
veloped to support
systems with long AC
transmission lines.
FACTS installations
are increasingly more
often used in meshed
grids to eliminate
congestion and bott-
lenecks. It goes wit-
hout saying that a
7



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