India, Gujarat: Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO), under the Energy and Petrochemicals Department of the Government of Gujarat, has installed a Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) at the 220 kV Timbdi substation in Gir Somnath district.
The ±120 MVAR STATCOM, commissioned on 5 March 2019, is designed to provide dynamic reactive power compensation, helping maintain voltage stability and smoother power flow across the electricity grid.
With this project, GETCO became the first State Transmission Utility in India to introduce STATCOM technology.
Gujarat’s power network, which carries a large agricultural load, regularly faces challenges related to voltage stability and power quality. Conventional capacitor banks and reactors offer fixed reactive power support, but they struggle to manage constantly changing demand.
The Timbdi substation previously dealt with major voltage fluctuations due to single-circuit connections and the absence of nearby generation sources. Voltage levels often dropped to 190–200 kV during periods of heavy agricultural demand and increased to 235–245 kV during lower demand in the monsoon season.
The VSC-based STATCOM continuously monitors grid conditions and injects or absorbs reactive power when required. This helps improve voltage control, reduce over-voltage risks, prevent voltage collapse, and strengthen overall system stability.
The installation has lowered stress on transmission infrastructure, reduced losses, and improved reliability and equipment protection. Areas including Gir Somnath, Junagadh, Amreli, and nearby regions are expected to benefit from more stable electricity supply.
Following the success of the Timbdi project, Gujarat plans to expand STATCOM deployment at several key substations.
Source: The News Mill
