COMMISSIONING AND OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH RECENT FACTS PROJECTS IN THE UPPER SOUTH ISLAND

摘要

Leading or lagging reactive power can be readily injected into a power system with a range of Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS), which can be shunt connected or series connected to high voltage networks. Recent practical applications of dynamic reactive support in the NZ transmission network includes a Static Var Compensator (SVC) at Islington and a Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) at Kikiwa, both supplied by Siemens. These projects were intentionally done in tandem to improve the voltage stability of the upper South Island. They allow us to transfer more power to load centres on the existing long radial 220 kV transmission circuits from sources of remote generation. Conventional SVC technology has been around for decades. STATCOM technology is relatively new and now emerging in New Zealand at the transmission level and also embedded in wind farms. The paper focuses on the new Islington SVC and Kikiwa STATCOM commissioning and operational experience, and in particular: ? Issues encountered during commissioning ? Reliability and availability ? Steady state and dynamic performance ? Response to September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes