ABB (new.abb.com) has received an order worth about $30 million from the Dutch-German transmission system operator TenneT (www.tennet.eu) to supply a ‘stabilisation solution’ designed to enhance the reliability and quality of power, as the grid accommodates higher levels of renewable energy.

Germany’s ‘Energiewende’ energy transition road-map aims for a renewable-energy target of at least 80% by 2050; the contribution of wind and solar to the energy mix is progressing rapidly and now accounts for over 40% of Germany’s electricity supply.

However, as the country’s power supply changes from a reliance on steady centralised sources (like nuclear and thermal power) to more volatile and decentralised renewable power supplies (such as wind and solar), the country needs to address stability and fluctuation issues.

As part of the solution, ABB will deliver a hybrid Static Compensator (StatCom) to be installed at the Borken sub-station in Hessen, central Germany.

This will support the grid with “flexible reactive power compensation and dynamic voltage support”, to reduce the risk of voltage collapse and power outages. ABB’s StatCom stabilises voltage fluctuations caused by the intermittent nature of wind or solar and helps to smooth the transmission of electricity.

It is part of ABB’s family of Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) technologies to help enhance the capacity and flexibility of power links. To date, ABB has delivered more than 800 FACTS installations around the world.