First transmission STATCOM in New Zealand

First transmission STATCOM in New Zealand commissioned at Kikiwa

Transpower said today that New Zealand’s first large-scale STATCOM at Kikiwa substation (northeast of Murchison) will be in full operation later this month and is part of a suite of projects that will increase security of electricity supply to Nelson- Marlborough and the West Coast.

The other projects in the $70 million Upper South Island Reactive Support programme include a new Static Var Compensator (SVC), capacitor banks (now commissioned) and a Reactive Power Controller (RPC) at Islington (currently underway).

General Manager Grid Development John Clarke said that STATCOMs are an emerging technology used in a number of transmission networks overseas to help support voltage.

“A STATCOM is similar to a conventional Static Var Compensator (SVC) in that it can either absorb (when transmission voltage is too high) or provide reactive support on a transmission network (when transmission voltage is too low). “With our ‘long’ grid in New Zealand, its key advantage is the ability to continue providing consistent reactive support even when the voltage drops significantly. This is important in supplying some of our significant load centres that are distant from where electricity is generated.

“Nelson-Marlborough and the West Coast are particularly distant from where the majority of their power comes from, that is, the Waitaki Valley, and their supply has traditionally been limited by being able to maintain voltage quality. A deteriorating voltage reduces the capacity of the transmission lines supplying power.

“The STATCOM provides significant support at a key point in our network – Kikiwa - to improve voltage performance in the region. The technology allows us to increase the amount of power that we can transfer across the grid. As the technology becomes more advanced in the future, the use of STATCOMs could delay new transmission lines being built. This reduces our overall footprint and cost and allows us to maximise use of our existing assets,” he said.

The Kikiwa STATCOM (designed and built by Siemens) is presently being commissioned and is scheduled for commercial operation by the end of February.

ENDS

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