Recent Experience at PG&E with FACTS Technology Application

In this paper, Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E, San Francisco) summarizes recent experience with successful application of power electronics based FACTS (flexible alternating current transmission systems) technology equipped with sophisticated control systems to address transmission grid reliability-related issues arising from aging infrastructure and maintain system performance in the Greater Bay Area. PG&E found that SVCs offer an economic alternative to maintain and enhance bulk system dynamic reactive reserve margin and address voltage stability-related challenges. The primary reason for installing FACTS devices is to facilitate shutdown of old synchronous condensers at PG&E-owned substations in Greater Bay Area, which were reaching the end of their original design life and reduce reliance on third-party owned expensive generation dispatch. These aging assets incur high maintenance and operating costs and face the challenge to meet increasingly stricter emission requirements under environmental regulations