American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) will deliver its D-VAR system to meet dynamic reactive compensation requirements for the 220 kilovolt (kV) power transmission grid in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, China.

D-VAR reactive compensation systems are classified as Static Compensators, or “STATCOMs,” a member of the FACTS (Flexible AC-Transmission System) family of power electronic solutions for alternating current (AC) power grids. AMSC hopes to market the systems as part of a solution for the so-called Smart Grids of the future.

They are able to detect and instantaneously compensate for voltage disturbances by dynamically injecting leading or lagging reactive power into the power grid.

Beijing SNTA Electric Power Technique Company (SNTA), which has ordered the 16 MegaVAR D-VAR system, is AMSC’s first channel partner for the Chinese power grid market.

SNTA will install the D-VAR system in the 220 kV Xijiao substation, which is operated by North East Power Grid (NEPG). SNTA is one of China’s primary suppliers of low- and high-voltage reactive compensation products and turnkey power grid solutions.

The Xijiao substation is connected to seven wind farms that produce a combined 600 MW. AMSC expects to deliver the D-VAR system to SNTA by mid 2009.

According to the International Energy Agency, China’s power grid will require approximately US$1.5 trillion in investments by 2030.