Performance Evaluation of 150 MVAR STATCOM Connected to 400kV Power Grid

In the Indian power grid, static voltage regulating devices are conventionally employed to tackle the unacceptable variations in the grid voltage. Typically, the response time of such devices is low. On the other hand, the share of electricity generation through solar and wind sources has exponentially increased to 31% in 2024, and it is expected to grow to 42% by 2028. It leads to the abrupt changes in the grid voltage, and consequently, quicker voltage support is expected to preserve the grid's reliability. The power electronics-based static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) devices are capable of providing quicker reactive power support to the grid to mitigate the unacceptable variations in the grid voltage. This paper examines the design challenges, benefits of 150 MVAr STATCOM connected to the 400 kV Indian power grid. The real field test results are examined to analyze the capability of the STATCOM unit during various voltage uncertainties.