Problems with highly compensated power systems

TECH Notes

Major load areas with high levels of shunt capacitors can present special challenges to system planners and operators. Such highly compensated systems are difficult to operate and are subject to extremely rapid voltage collapse, which can occur with little warning, especially during contingencies. Even worse, a complete voltage collapse and total loss of customer load in the area could result. In addition, the urban load loss would likely cause uncontrolled outages in the adjacent system.

Read the article, "Problems with highly compensated power systems," in TECH Notes issue 8. This article is part 2 in the three-part TECH Notes series, Generation retirements and var planning. Part 3 will provide an overview of the solutions.

TECH Notes is a monthly publication from the Electricity Transmission and Distribution (T&D) experts of DNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability. This series offers insights and guidelines into emerging technical and business trends for planning, building, operating, and maintaining reliable, secure T&D systems.