The next fifty years of series capacitors — And the last eighty-six

Series capacitors are and will continue to be an important element in power transmission systems around the world. Series capacitors in a transmission line allow higher levels of current to flow and therefore more power than could otherwise be delivered through a given transmission line. This paper examines the eighty-six year history of one manufacturer's experience with series capacitors, especially with regard to protection, and also looks ahead at possible developments the field may see in the next fifty years. The next fifty years will likely see widespread application of more series compensated transmission lines as resistance to building new lines combined with remote, renewable generation become the norm, requiring the maximum throughput from the existing transmission infrastructure.