Demand Rises for Synchronous Condensers

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Demand is rising for synchronous condensers, according to recent sales reports from major manufacturers, such as General Electric (NYSE:GE) (Fairfield, Connecticut), ABB Limited (NYSE:ABB) (Zurich, Switzerland) and Siemens AG (Paris, France) , in order to support electric grid transmission.

Fundamentally, a synchronous condenser is a generator functioning without a prime mover, such as a steam turbine with generation support, or consumption achieved by regulating the excitation current.

Industrial Info is tracking three active synchronous condenser projects in Hawaii valued at $13.2 million.

Voltage support, reactive power and frequency regulation are required for electric grid stability, as well to move power over long distances. This means that renewable wind and solar generation, which is mostly located in remote areas, must be assisted along the way to high population load areas. Adding synchronous condensers can help with reactive power needs and increase system inertia, thus helping grid stability, which in turn helps to avoid grid instability and catastrophic blackouts.

Coal-fired power plants are being closed or retired across North America, and owners of some of these generating units may look to convert them to synchronous condensers to maintain grid voltage at or near the plant interconnection point to ensure grid reliability.

There are considerable benefits to converting old generators to synchronous condensers, such as reuse of an existing generator, foundation and building, existing auxiliary systems and grid connection. Typically, 30-35% more reactive power can be produced by the converted unit in accordance with its capability curve that would not occur in power generation mode.

The conversion requires decoupling the turbine from the generator, installing a starting means for the condenser, designing and installing a new control system and making minor mechanical modifications to the generator. The resulting synchronous condenser will be able to produce or consume reactive power commensurate with the generator's capability curve for grid support.

Converting an existing synchronous generator to synchronous condenser is a viable alternative to retirement, if the economics and regional grid support can be justified by the owners as well as greatly extend the useful life of the equipment.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com/.