GE Grid Solutions Continues to Implement Leading Tech Solutions to Continuous Hurdles Facing Grid Operators

(All below information comes from the GE Grid Solutions article.)

With innovative Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS), GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business [NYSE: GE] proceeds to meet the increasing power demands of transmission systems globally. GE Grid Solutions article further describes their grid improvement progress stating,

“With its unique and innovative Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS), GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business [NYSE: GE] continues to meet the growing power needs of transmission systems worldwide.  Recent grid customer contracts totaling nearly USD $70 million reflect customers’ growing reliance on GE’s Fixed Series Compensation (FSC) technology. With over 50,000 Mvars (megavolt ampere of reactive power) of series compensation systems since 2012 and nearly 380 systems installed globally, GE leads the industry in delivery.

FSC systems make transmission lines behave as if they are physically shorter, thus allowing additional electrical power (throughput) to flow down long transmission lines.  For applications like renewable wind energy, this means that more of the green energy produced by the wind turbines gets delivered to where it’s needed.

“GE has more than a century of experience designing transmission networks, including the first series compensation project in 1928,” said Fabrice Jullien, Global FACTS Business Leader for Grid Integration Solutions, a GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business. “Available for both new and existing substations, the industry-leading FACTS Fixed Series Compensation (FSC) technology allows utilities to cost-effectively increase transmission lines’ power transfer capabilities with reduced transmission line losses and overall improved power grid stability.”’

Here are some of FDC’s recent projects for new substations:

Arizona and California, US 

GE was commissioned to provide all-new control systems at two 500 kV FSC banks, updating systems that GE formerly commissioned in the 1980s. Contracted by Southern California Edison (SCE), the project involves engineering, procurement, construction, testing, and commissioning at the California Capacitor No. 1 between the Devers and Red Bluff substations, and Arizona Capacitor between the Colorado River and Palo Verde substations.

The California bank was completed in February 2021 and the Arizona bank is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.

Albuquerque, NM, US 

GE will provide new capacitor devices and source new reactors following the Public Service Company of New Mexico’s reconfiguration of its line length with the extension of a solar plant and regression of existing generation sources. The project will encompass engineering, procurement, construction, testing, and commissioning of equipment to adjust the capacitance of one 345 kV FSC bank.

Commissioning is projected for March 2022.

Clearwater, US 

The buildout of wind generation throughout North America frequently entails the provision of Fixed Series Compensation. Recently, GE was commissioned to develop a new FSC bank in the upper Midwest which involves GE providing engineering, procurement, construction, testing, and commissioning a 345 kV bank. GE’s FSC tech will help compensate for transmission line fluctuations, allotting our customers to move wind energy to load centers on the grid.

Commissioning is scheduled for August 2022.

New Mexico, US  

Pattern Energy is a long-standing GE wind turbine customer, and now for the first time is utilizing GE’s FSC technology. For this 580 MVAR, 345 kV bank GE is providing engineering, procurement, construction, testing, and commissioning.

This bank will be located on a new transmission line being built and the FSC will allow wind energy to be efficiently moved to load centers. The bank will also implement electrical stability to the surrounding grid by compensating for transmission line fluctuations. 

Vietnam 

The Central Power Projects Management Board has agreed with GE to supply, deliver, supervise install, test, and commission four 500 kV FSC banks at the Doc Soi Substation in the South-Central Coast region and two 500 kV FSC banks at the Quang Trach Substation in Central Vietnam.

The project is designed to enhance transmission capabilities, improve system stability, and reduce system losses. Currently, 2 FSC banks have been energized at the Doc Soi substation to Pleiku; 2 FSC banks at the Doc Soi substation to Quang Trach have been installed and are being examined, expected to be energized at the end of August 2021.

2 FSC banks in Quang Trach are planned to be energized in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Below are some of the Current Life Extention GE Projects:

Oregon, US 

Another 30-year-old system that will get upgraded is the FSC in the Pacific Northwest. The GE team is upgrading two existing banks that include engineering, procurement, installation, commissioning, and testing of the new GE controls. With commissioning expected in November 2021, the upgrade will compensate for transmission line fluctuations and integrate seamlessly with current equipment.

Hope, British Columbia 

At BC Hydro’s American Creek Capacitor (AMC) Station, GE is performing the design, supply, installation, testing, and removal of the 30-year-old protection and control systems for the two banks at the station, as well as upgrading the existing fast bypass equipment currently in service on the bank.

The updated FSC technology strives to decrease transmission line fluctuations, integrating seamlessly with the current equipment and rendering NERC/CIP compliance.

Commissioning is projected to complete in July 2022.

Melbourne, Australia 

Another upgrade project panned for AusNet Services Ltd has contracted with GE to improve two FSC capacitor banks at South Morang Terminal Station. The GE team will implement engineering, procurement, technical direction, testing, and commissioning.

The FSC banks will provide 50% reactive compensation on each of two lines and will replace the current FSC banks, which were provided and commissioned by GE in 1999 while reusing some key existing elements. The new FSC design aims to increase the thermal current capacity of the transmission lines routed through the South Morang Terminal Station.

Completion is projected for November 2022.

Ancoa, Chile 

GE will upgrade the protection and control system of two FSCs operated by Transelec. GE has was contracted to implement engineering, procurement, installation, testing, and commissioning at the site to prolong the operational life of the current Fixed Series Capacitor Banks.

Commissioning is proposed for the second half of 2022.

Learn More at GE Grid Solutions Linked HERE

GE Grid Solutions. (n.d.). Customers increasingly turn to GE’s industry-leading fixed series compensation technology to meet grid challenges. Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.gegridsolutions.com/press/gepress/customers-increasingly-turn-to-ge-industry-leading-fsc-technology-to-meet-grid-challenges.htm. (all information/images retrieved from GE Grid Solutions article)