Resurgent Technology Can Maintain Grid Stability in the Renewable Era
Renewables are taking over, but they are shaking up grid stability. As fossil fuel plants shut down, we are also losing the vital inertia they provide. The result? A hidden engineering challenge that undermines the reliability of clean power.
By Kristina Carlquist, Head of Synchronous Condenser Product Line, ABB Large Motors and Generators, Sweden
That is why a technology from the last century is making a comeback. Synchronous condensers (SCs) may not seem exciting, but they deliver exactly what today’s renewable-heavy grids need – spinning inertia to keep frequency stable, voltage steady, and the lights on, no matter the wind or sun conditions.
