Futuristic power grid with glowing energy lines and a central STATCOM device, symbolizing stability and efficiency.

Power Up Your Grid: Finding the Sweet Spot for Smarter Energy Flow

Elliot Brynn in Tech & Innovation August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how strategically placed shunt FACTS devices can revolutionize long transmission lines, making our power grids more stable and efficient."

In today's world, the demand for electricity is ever-increasing, making the efficient and reliable operation of power systems more critical than ever. Power flow control in existing transmission lines is paramount to meeting this demand. Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices have emerged as game-changing solutions in modern power grids. These devices offer the ability to dynamically control and optimize power flow, leading to enhanced grid stability and increased transmission capacity.

Among the FACTS devices, Shunt Attached Compensation (STATCOM) stands out as a versatile tool for voltage regulation and power flow management. By injecting or absorbing reactive power, STATCOMs can effectively manipulate the voltage profile along a transmission line, ensuring it stays within acceptable limits. This capability is particularly valuable in long transmission lines, where voltage drops and power losses can be significant challenges.

This article explores the strategic placement of STATCOM devices along long transmission lines to maximize their impact on power flow control. We will delve into how simulations and comparative analyses reveal the optimal locations for these devices, leading to improved voltage stability, increased transmission capacity, and enhanced overall grid performance.

The Magic of Shunt FACTS Devices: STATCOM and SVC

Futuristic power grid with glowing energy lines and a central STATCOM device, symbolizing stability and efficiency.

Shunt FACTS devices come in two primary flavors: flexible impedance types and switching converter types. Both play a crucial role in reactive power management, but they achieve this in different ways. The SVC (Static VAR Compensator) uses conventional thyristors to rapidly switch shunt-connected capacitors and reactors. The STATCOM, on the other hand, employs a voltage-sourced converter (VSC) to generate or absorb reactive power independently of the AC system voltage.

While both SVCs and STATCOMs can enhance power flow, STATCOMs offer distinct advantages, particularly in their ability to respond quickly to voltage fluctuations and provide continuous reactive power support. This makes them ideal for stabilizing voltage in a power system and increasing the capacity of transmission lines.

Improved Voltage Stability: STATCOMs maintain voltage levels, preventing sags and swells.
Enhanced Power Transfer: They increase the amount of power that can be transmitted through a line.
Faster Response: STATCOMs react quickly to grid disturbances.
Greater Reactive Power Capability: They can handle more capacitive power compared to SVCs.

Simulations using software like MATLAB SIMULINK are essential to determine the most effective location for STATCOM deployment. Analyzing various placement scenarios—sending end, middle, and receiving end of the transmission line—helps identify the optimal site for maximizing voltage stability and power flow control. These simulations consider real-world conditions, including load variations and fault scenarios, to ensure robust performance.

Powering the Future: The Impact of Optimized STATCOM Placement

Strategic placement of shunt FACTS devices, particularly STATCOMs, holds immense potential for revolutionizing power grids. By optimizing their location, we can significantly enhance voltage stability, increase transmission capacity, and improve the overall efficiency of power flow. This translates to a more reliable and resilient energy supply, capable of meeting the growing demands of our modern world. As power grids evolve, the intelligent deployment of STATCOMs will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping a smarter, more sustainable energy future.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.19026/rjaset.9.2634, Alternate LINK

Title: Ideal Site Of Shunt Facts Devices For Power Flow Control In Long Transmission Line

Subject: General Engineering

Journal: Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Publisher: Maxwell Scientific Publication Corp.

Authors: G. Sundar, M. Thirunavukkarasu, C. Dhinesh Kumar

Published: 2015-04-05

Everything You Need To Know

What are Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices and how do they improve power flow in existing transmission lines?

Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices, like the Shunt Attached Compensation (STATCOM), are used in power grids to dynamically control and optimize power flow. They enhance grid stability and increase transmission capacity by injecting or absorbing reactive power, effectively managing the voltage profile along transmission lines. This is especially useful on long transmission lines to avoid voltage drops and power losses.

What are the different types of shunt Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices and what are the advantages of using a Shunt Attached Compensation (STATCOM) versus a Static VAR Compensator (SVC)?

Shunt FACTS devices come in two primary types: flexible impedance types and switching converter types. An example of flexible impedance type is the Static VAR Compensator (SVC) that uses thyristors to switch shunt-connected capacitors and reactors. The Shunt Attached Compensation (STATCOM) is a switching converter type which uses a voltage-sourced converter (VSC) to generate or absorb reactive power independent of the AC system voltage. The STATCOM is superior due to its ability to respond quickly to voltage fluctuations and provide continuous reactive power support.

Why are simulations, such as those done with MATLAB SIMULINK, important when determining the optimal placement of Shunt Attached Compensation (STATCOM) devices on long transmission lines?

Simulations using software like MATLAB SIMULINK are vital for finding the best place to put Shunt Attached Compensation (STATCOM) devices. By testing different spots, like the start, middle, and end of a transmission line, the ideal place can be found to boost voltage stability and control power flow. These simulations take into account real-world things such as changes in load and possible faults, to make sure the system works well under any situation. This strategic placement maximizes the benefits of the STATCOM.

What specific benefits does the strategic placement of Shunt Attached Compensation (STATCOM) devices provide for voltage stability and power flow control?

The strategic placement of Shunt Attached Compensation (STATCOM) devices enhances voltage stability by maintaining voltage levels and preventing voltage sags and swells. It enhances power transfer by increasing the amount of power that can be transmitted through a line. It offers a faster response to grid disturbances due to quick reaction times and can handle more capacitive power compared to Static VAR Compensators (SVCs).

What are the broader implications of optimized Shunt Attached Compensation (STATCOM) placement for the future of power grids and renewable energy integration?

The optimized placement of Shunt Attached Compensation (STATCOM) devices in power grids has several implications. It allows for a more reliable and resilient energy supply, capable of meeting the growing demands. Intelligent deployment of STATCOMs contributes to a smarter, more sustainable energy future, reducing the need for new transmission infrastructure and improving the utilization of existing resources. It also increases renewable energy integration and improve overall grid efficiency.