Newfoundland's Nalcor Energy Considers Converting Older Generators to VAR Support

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Nalcor Energy (Saint John's, Newfoundland) is studying the feasibility of converting two 175-megawatt (MW) General Electric (NYSE:GE) (Fairfield, Connecticut) generators at its Holyrood Power Station to be used as synchronous condenser units. According to Nalcor Energy, by 2020 the power plant will no longer be used as a generation source due to its age, and instead will be used only for voltage support of the 824-MW Muskrat Falls hydroelectric station, which is scheduled to be completed in that year.

A synchronous condenser, in this case, uses the existing alternating current generator powered by a startup package consisting of a high-speed clutch and motor mechanism, but reverses the generator rotation, which converts the generator to a motor. When synchronized to the grid, this can assist in volt-ampere reactive (VAR) support and help to support grid reliability and avoid system outages.

VAR support is critical for electric grid reliability, as was the conclusion after months of investigation by state and federal agencies for the cause of the historic 2003 blackout that left 50 million electric customers in the dark, mainly in the northeast United States.

As Newfoundland is an island and not connected to the Labrador mainland--at least until the completion of the Newfoundland and Labrador high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line in 2016--grid support will continue to be a critical component of the province now and in the future.

B C Hydro and Power Authority (Burnaby, British Columbia) uses several synchronous condensers at its Burrard Power Station to boost the power factor on transmission lines running from Canada to the U.S. in order to increase voltage support.

Keys Energy Services (Key West, Florida) also uses a synchronous condenser, because the transmission line from mainland Florida that runs 185 miles to Key West is so long that power quality and voltage stability was suffering and the Keys Electric System could not keep up with the growing demand. The electric utility opted to use an idled 37-MW generator and convert it to assist with voltage support.

Utilities looking to repurpose older existing generators could look to retrofit them, then use them as synchronous condensers to assist independent system operators and regional transmission organizations. The regional electrical grid operators are required to have enough VAR support on their electrical grid or purchase additional VAR support from entities that can provide it; this becomes an additional revenue stream.

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