STATCOM Technology Enhances Reliability
Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative (MWEC) has recently energized a new static synchronous compensator, known as a STATCOM. in New Town. This technology continuously monitors and responds to system disturbances by maintaining good voltage regulation. What does this mean for our members? Simply put. this technology improves our ability to deliver reliable power.
Powering the Grid
The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) is a regional transmIssIon organization (RTO). its primary task is to operate the power market that balances supply and demand.
One key role of SPP is to collaborate with MWEC and other utilities to regularly assess the needs of the power grid to ensure reliability. When studies identify opportunities to improve reliability. SPP works with its members (including MWEC) to develop plans to address electric grid efficiency. The need for the STATCOM arose through the planning efforts with SPP several years ago. In 2021, as part of SPP's yearly integrated transmission plan, MWEC submitted its load forecast to SPP.
"We had a pretty aggressive forecast with projected growth of about 8% to 10% a year across our service area, which is pretty incredible," said Matthew Stoltz, MWEC senior transmission engineer. "Normally, utilities grow
1 %, maybe 2%, a year. One of the things we need to keep track of with that exponential growth is do we have the infrastructure to take care of it?"
As MWEC added its forecast to SPP's model, it showed locations in the system that needed some additional reinforcement.
"When you put too much power onto an electrical system, the voltage tends to decay," Stoltz said. "You would know this
happened if your lights started to dim for an extended time, which is referred to as a 'brownout' or the voltage getting_
too low." The STATCOM helps to address variances on the electrical grid, improving reliability and power quality.
The STATCOM solution
One way to fix the low voltage problem would have been to build more transmission lines. However, the geography of the New Town area being partially surrounded by Lake Sakakawea created challenges, as crossing the large body of water was not feasible. The other solution was to build a STATCOM.
"It's like an electrical shock absorber," Stoltz explained.
"What it's doing is rebuilding the voltage waveforms a bit out of phase to borrow energy from the real power and transform it into reactive power, which then can be used to support the voltage. During a disturbance, when the voltage would normally drop, it responds immediately. It's fast and can push back against that voltage dip, support it and eliminate it so you'd never see a change as a member."
SPP determined the best solution for the New Town area was a 150 MVAR STATCOM that would provide precise voltage control in an area separated from generation and transmission lines by a large lake. On Feb. 8, 2022, MWEC received a notice to construct for STATCOM from SPP, giving permission to start engineering, design and construction.
From Japan to New Town
MWEC partnered with Mitsubishi, a trusted company '.t had worked with in the past In the summer of 2022, the design of the project began, and it has been full speed for the last two and a half years. The STATCOM was fully constructed and running in February of this year.
The STATCOM is located just south of New Town, east of the MWEC office. Some of the equipment sets inside a 64x76-foot building - a relatively small footprint for the large amount of voltage it provides - on a yard roughly the size of two football fields.
The STATCOM. the only one in North Dakota, regulates voltage and eliminates dips and spikes, providing consistent and steady service to MWEC members. During. a disturbance, such as a lightning strike or downed pole, the STATCOM minimizes the voltage waver and compensates for the deviation.
"They will set (the voltage) and instead of constantly fluctuating, it will stay consistent." said Steve Peterson, MWEC division manager of substation, dispatch and security.
Monitoring and Maintenance
With Stoltz on the engineering and planning side, Peterson will head the monitoring, inspection and maintenance of the STATCOM by overseeing MWEC's substation and dispatch departments, which will monitor the technology in real time 24/7 once it is up and running. Cameras and alarms will _ keep the system in check, and equipment will be routinely tested and maintained. The Western Area Power Administration, MWEC's transmission operator, will oversee STATCOM's operation.
"Our goal is to provide reliable power to our members," Stoltz said. ''.And behind the scenes, the STATCOM
will regulate healthy voltage levels helping to keep the lights on."
To read this story and more visit: mwec.com/north-dakota-living