State Grid of China Deploys 300 Mvar Synchronous Condensers at Key UHVDC Converter Substation Hubs
State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) has commissioned a fleet of utility-scale 300 Mvar synchronous condensers coupled with dedicated step-up transformers ...
State Grid of China Deploys 300 Mvar Synchronous Condensers at Key UHVDC Converter Substation Hubs
State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) has commissioned a fleet of utility-scale 300 Mvar synchronous condensers coupled with dedicated step-up transformers across multi-infeed ±800 kV UHVDC converter substations to enhance system inertia and prevent voltage collapse in renewable-dominated corridors.
- Publish date: 2026-09-26
- Category: Transformers & Grid
- Original source: [State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC)](http://www.sgcc.com.cn/html/sgcc_main/col202609/2026-09-26-synchronous-condensers-uhvdc.shtml)
- Reading time: 5 min
Addressing System Strength in Multi-Infeed HVDC Grids
As massive gigawatt-scale wind and solar desert bases in western China feed into high-density central and eastern industrial load centers via ±800 kV UHVDC lines, transmission grids face diminishing rotational inertia and declining short-circuit ratios (SCR).
To mitigate commutation failure risks at converter stations and stabilize system frequency during instantaneous DC bipolar blocks, SGCC has deployed newly manufactured 300 Mvar synchronous condensers at receiving converter hubs in Hubei, Henan, and Zhejiang provinces.
Dedicated Step-Up Transformers and Flywheel Coupling
Each synchronous condenser unit is tied to the 500 kV AC transmission busbar via a dedicated 360 MVA 500/20 kV step-up transformer. Engineered specifically to withstand severe dynamic mechanical torque shocks during fault-ride-through (FRT) operations, these transformers feature reinforced radial bracing and vacuum-cast resin dry or low-loss oil designs.
Equipped with forced water-hydrogen cooling and high-inertia rotors, the machines provide instantaneous sub-transient reactive power support of up to 2.5 times nominal rating within 20 milliseconds of a grid disturbance, buying crucial response time for static compensation systems.
Blueprint for Zero-Carbon Inverter-Dominated Grids
The coordinated dispatch scheme integrates synchronous condenser excitation systems with UHVDC converter controls via ultra-low-latency optical communication channels, ensuring seamless voltage recovery and reactive balance across regional grid interties.
This deployment confirms synchronous condensers as an indispensable complement to battery energy storage and static var compensators (SVC/STATCOM) in global decarbonization roadmaps.
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