The power flow in the network consists of both active and reactive power from. The difference between these types of benefits is that the fundamental frequency of the alternating current always leading (capacitive load) or lagging (inductive load) compared to the voltage wave. Reactive power (measured in VAr) is the product of voltage and the shifted alternating current.
Utilities and industrial consumers are very conscious of the quadrature power, because this is determined by how the voltage on the grid (drops or fluctuations behave). To obtain a stable voltage conditions the produced reactive power must be compensated. For the consumer of electric power, the optimization of an existing power system can increase productivity, reduce energy costs and increase the reliability of the system.
The most advanced solution to compensate the reactive power is to use a voltage controlled power converter with fast semiconductor switches, which can provide fast and variable reactive power to the grid. The STATCOM converter (based on the PCS converter family) is monitoring the line current and voltage in order to promptly provide the lagging or leading current. The STATCOM converters can be considered an advanced static VAr compensator (SVC), another product of ABB's net stabilization solution.