Grid Forming – an Evolution in STATCOM

Technology for Today’s Power Grids

Mikael Halonen
Emil Eriksson Anders Boström
2024 IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM) | 979-8-3503-8183-2/24/$31.00 ©2024 IEEE | DOI: 10.1109/PESGM51994.2024.10688873

Leonardo Alvarez Urrutia Vasista Majji

Hitachi Energy AB Sverige Hitachi Energy USA Inc.
Västerås, Sweden Raleigh, NC, USA
[email protected], [email protected]
[email protected] [email protected]
[email protected]

Abstract—Grid Forming (GFM) technologies are essential tools in

enabling the transition to a more sustainable grid and integrating
renewables. Compared to conventional Grid Following (GFL)
technologies, GFM technologies offer significant improvements in
terms of fault current injection, system strength contribution, and
the ability to operate in weak grids. The GFM concept has been
implemented in grid-connected converters, one being the Static
Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM). This paper aims to
introduce the STATCOM with GFM capabilities, grid codes and
the need for GFM, and highlight the advancement of GFM
STATCOMs worldwide with two reference cases in the US.

Index Terms—STATCOM, Voltage Source Converter (VSC),

Figure 1: Planned added generating capacity in the US, generated
Grid Forming (GFM), Grid Code.
from [1].

I. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the progression

of the GFM STATCOM technology globally. A relevant base
In line with the ongoing efforts to reduce the carbon of installed GFM units is in operation, and its disclosure may
footprint of the electricity networks, global grids are changing. act as a catalyst for legislators, institutes, and utilities to enable
Based on the US Energy Information Administration’s report the inclusion of the GFM in the power grid.
[1] in August 2023, it is projected to have over 50 GW of
inverter-based generation concurrent with retirements of up to II. CHANGING GRID CODES
16 GW of conventional synchronous generation in the US
alone. The increase in utility-scale generating capacity is Today, most grid codes worldwide define the need for
presented in Figure 1. Driven by the National Climate Goals power generation plants to ride through faults and to provide
and the Clean Energy Transformation targets, this trend is reactive power as a percentage of the nominal power of the
projected to substantially increase penetration of Inverter- plant. However, the grid codes do not provide requirements on
Based Renewable Energy (IBRE) resources, resulting in the expected performance of the generation connected to the
immediate requirements for solutions to the weaker grid. One power system. Some Transmission System Operators (TSOs)
of the proposed solutions to support this shift in generation is are already working on the development of requirements for
the use of Grid Forming (GFM) technologies. GFM functionality, including operators across Europe through
European Network Transmission System Operators for
For more than a decade, GFM capabilities of grid-connected Electricity (ENTSO-E), Australia, and Hawaii.
power converters have been discussed as one of the essential
solutions to the power grid transformation [2]. Advancements Germany and Great Britain have taken a further step in
in GFM inverters in wind, solar, and Battery Energy Storage specifying how power generation plants shall behave when
Systems (BESS) have been significantly contributing factors in connected to the power system. Specific requirements apply to
enhancing grid stability. Similar advancement is necessary in IBR, High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC), and Flexible
transmission grid solutions that contribute to voltage stability Alternative Current Transmission Systems (FACTS). The key
and provide critical inertia support. message is the concept of instantaneous reaction to changes in

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the grid which at the same time contributes to the grid GFL STATCOMs control the system voltage by absorbing
stabilization [3] [4] [5]. Several transmission STATCOM and generating reactive power; however, they do not react
installations with GFM functionality are commissioned in instantaneously to changes in the power system. Rather, they
Germany, with dozens more under execution. The Australian rely on supplementary controls, such as voltage control, to
Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has developed a grid- change their output. This means that the GFL STATCOMs
forming inverter specification to define necessary power maintain the current phasor constant by changing the internal
system support capabilities for GFM inverters to guide Original voltage in the instants following a grid disturbance. As a
Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and developers [6]. comparison, the Synchronous machine is controlled to
In many countries and regions, the large increase in IBRs maintain the internal voltage while the current changes,
has also started the discussion of the use of GFM converters ensuring system voltage stability.
and their impact on securing the operation of protection relays. Today, many power systems are dominated by IBRs, and
This as the large integration of renewable energy sources will in the absence of synchronous machine-based solutions, there
result in significant challenges to the reliable operation of relay will be a high need for GFM IBRs to maintain stable operation
protection: source impedance, fault current, zero sequence, [3] [4] [5] [6]. Such IBRs, including GFM STATCOMs, will
negative sequence, phase angle, fault duration, rate of change provide improved transient and dynamic performance. GFM
of frequency (ROCOF), and power swings. Challenges with STATCOMs have a behavior that provides an instantaneous
relay protection schemes will require TSOs to revisit grid response to any change in the power system and contributes to
codes and requirements for IBRs and converters to avoid limiting the change itself. This behavior is referred to in the
incorrect actions/operations of protection relays [7] [8]. literature as GFM behavior, and it is generally agreed that
emulating a voltage source behind an impedance fulfills the
III. STATCOM CAPABILITIES AND CONTROL CONCEPTS
objective. Figure 3 presents a simplified control block diagram
The STATCOM has since its introduction in the late 20th for the GFM STATCOM.
century been contributing to increasing the efficiency and
stability of electrical networks by providing dynamic reactive
power compensation and voltage regulation. In its early days, AC Voltage
Control
Grid Forming
Control PSU STATCOM
the STATCOM was mainly used for industrial applications. Voltage e jθ
Today, STATCOM technology is the dominating technology UPCC ∑ Source Virtual
Admittance
Current limiter
controller
for transmission applications due to fast-growing networks and
challenging network conditions. For many years, STATCOM DC Voltage
Control
installations made use of 2 and 3-level converter schemes [9]
[10]. For these types of installations, typically a low-order
harmonic filter was installed to prevent the harmonics Figure 3: Control Block Diagram (simplified), GFM STATCOM
generated by the transmission STATCOM from negatively
impacting power quality on the grid. Recent advances in the For GFM STATCOMs, the controls can be designed for
technology, namely the development and use of multilevel passivity to resist interactions with other grid facilities,
converter technology, have eliminated the need for low-order especially under sensitive voltage and frequency ranges at both
harmonic filters in most multilevel VSC-based STATCOM normal and extremely low short-circuit ratio (SCR) network
applications [3]. conditions. This will provide a STATCOM with highly stable
behavior and a strong contribution during the grid faults
The first generation of STATCOMs relied on a control (voltage drop, phase angle shift). Converter solutions with
principle, later classified as Grid Following (GFL), which GFM capability will prevent unbalance seen after system faults
primarily set the converter output current. A simplified block since GFM inherently reacts to inject negative sequence
diagram of STATCOM equipped with GFL is shown in Figure currents in the grid and mitigate unbalances. With this type of
2. A Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) synchronizes the control behavior, it is expected that there will be less interaction for
reference frame based on the point of common coupling (PCC) STATCOM installations with GFM compared to STATCOMs
voltage. Current control is used to control the converter output, with GFL.
and the outer loops control the power system voltage and the
converter DC voltage. IV. THE PERFORMANCE IMPACT OF GRID FORMING
The concept of GFM functionalities is particularly
interesting when considering the changing landscape of
AC Voltage
Control
Grid Following
Control PLL STATCOM
electric networks. The increasing integration of renewables
e jθ
and the increasing need for electricity are two aspects used to
∑ Current
Limiter
Current
Control
portray this changing landscape. At the same time, the
importance of grid stability and availability of electrical power
DC Voltage
Control
is higher than ever before. With the introduction of the GFM
functionality for STATCOM, several power quality
Figure 2: Control Block Diagram (simplified), STATCOM with GFL technologies can do the same job with different efficiency
Control factors.

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 STATCOM solutions come with several types of services contribution of the STATCOM varies with the design of the
and provide a larger dynamic range for reactive power converter and the current carrying capabilities of the
compared to the Synchronous Condenser. The STATCOM semiconductor.
with GFM possesses a higher capability of providing system
During asymmetric faults, the GFM STATCOM will react
strength to the power system. In addition, lower losses and
to boost the positive sequence voltage and reduce the negative
flexibility are achieved with converter solutions.
sequence voltage. On the contrary, the GFL STATCOM only
The Synchronous Condenser has an overload capacity of provides positive sequence current. During the event of a
several times its rated value during short-term overload and symmetrical fault, both STATCOM philosophies will behave
grid faults. Such high overload capability is not typical for a in a similar manner; however, the GFM STATCOM displays
power electronic converter (GFM converter), which emulates the benefit when considering the time of recovery [11].
the machine. The fault current capability of converters is
limited to the converter rating, and converters are designed to C. Reactive Power Compensation
have a robust overload and fault current limiter for protecting When considering the capability to provide reactive power
and ensuring reliable GFM operation during significant compensation to the network, their abilities are equally good.
transient events. Further, the capability of fault current The capacity of the STATCOM to provide reactive power
contribution from a Modular Multi-level Converter (MMC) is compensation to the network is limited to the physical
dependent on the converter configuration and the possibility of limitations of the VSC.
balancing DC capacitors during fault conditions. This must be
considered in the design of the converter system to achieve the D. Operating in Weak Grids
required performance for a power system. As a consequence of the grid expansions and the exploding
increase of offshore wind installations, STATCOMs are being
The following sections will briefly discuss and compare the
operated in locations with weak grids (low SCR). The
difference between GFL and GFM when considering four
STATCOM's ability to operate in weak grids is heavily
main attributes. Figure 4 depicts a comparison of technologies,
assuming identical ratings and topologies. As a reference, dependent on the way the generated voltage waveform is
Synchronous Condenser technology is also presented in the synchronized to the network voltage at the PCC. The GFL
STATCOM is widely acknowledged as a robust solution for
figure.
reactive power compensation when connected to a strong grid.
However, in weak grids, the PLL-based synchronization
method of the GFL STATCOM risks introducing instability
and limits the SCR range in which the GFL STATCOM can
operate [12].
The GFM STATCOM adopts a synchronization method
that makes use of the linearity between the exchanged active
power (contribution from the converter cell capacitors) and the
grid phase angle and allows the STATCOM to maintain
synchronization even in grids with low SCR. Its ability to
operate in various conditions has been demonstrated in studies
[13], as well as field experience from installations, two of
which are presented in the coming section.
Figure 4: Comparison of Technologies for power system services:
Fault Current Injection, Reactive Power Compensation, System V. INSTALLED BASE OF GRID FORMING STATCOMS
Strength Contribution Figure 5 shows the evolution and the installed base for
MMC STATCOMs with GFL and GFM technology for one
A. System Strength Contribution STATCOM vendor. The vendor’s first STATCOM with MMC
The GFM STATCOM will react to improve the system technology was commissioned in 2018, and today, there are
strength in the network to which it is connected by around 30 installations in service. The journey in the
counteracting changes in voltage variations of the network. development of GFM started in 2019, and today, the modern
This behavior results in a STATCOM with an enhanced STATCOM technology supports electrical networks globally,
offering dynamic reactive power compensation with increased
contribution to the network's overall stability. On the other
robustness. As early as 2025, the global footprint of GFM
hand, the GFL STATCOM will experience difficulties in STATCOMs is expected to surpass 10 000 Mvar, as seen in
maintaining the grid voltages in the event of a sudden change Figure 5, and it is expected that most STATCOMs to be
[10]. installed will have GFM behavior. The specific vendor
references are used as a base in this paper due to a lack of
B. Fault Current Injection STATCOM references in the IEEE PES Substation Committee.
The capability to inject fault current is inherent in the Trends for future projects (beyond 2026) are extrapolated from
STATCOM with GFM capabilities. The fault current known awarded projects up to 2026 [14] [15].

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 weak system conditions. A conventional GFL STATCOM
may find difficulties in achieving this capability while
maintaining stability, as its synchronization relies on a
relatively strong connection. The GFM STATCOM, on the
other hand, is synchronized by the active power angle.
The STATCOM is a 75 Mvar MMC-converter (single VSC
branch) and is connected to the main auto transformer tertiary,
where the primary winding connects to the 69 kV high voltage
bus and secondary to the wind farm. This topology is often
Figure 5:STATCOM evolution: MMC Installed Base – seen in wind farm applications to gain footprint and cost
Grid Following (GFL) vs Grid Forming (GFM) efficiencies.
The South Fork Wind STATCOM marks the first
The following sections will study two STATCOMs
transmission STATCOM with GFM capabilities for offshore
installed and commissioned in the US.
wind applications in the United States and was commissioned
E. South Fork Wind during 2023.
South Fork Wind is New York’s first offshore wind farm, F. Lookout
put in operation to support the supply of the surging power
demand in the Long Island area. The wind farm is rated at In Texas, the electricity network has experienced a
132 MW and is expected to yield the annual energy demand of decrease in grid strength, reduced inertia, and low resilience to
70 000 average households [16]. heavy disturbances. Substantial stability reinforcements have
been applied and continue to be deployed in response to load
growth and the rapid development of renewable power
1
generation from wind and solar. Substantial blackouts in the
4 last couple of years, causing high costs for the utilities and
3 industries, serve as a reminder of the necessity of continued
deployment of stability-improving measures. The Lookout
STATCOM represents a small part of this process. It provides
receiving and dynamic support with the purpose of improving
2 the post-contingency recovery and mitigating Fault-Induced
Delayed Voltage Recovery (FIDVR) related voltage variations
caused by high penetration of induction motor load in the area
Figure 6: Example of a STATCOM installation: 1. Control & [17]. The way to prevent motor stalling is to reduce voltage
Protection 2. Reactors. 3. Power transformer. 4. VSC [9].
drop during the fault and reaccelerate the motors by injecting
In the South Fork Wind project, a STATCOM has been reactive power [18].
installed in the wind farm on-shore substation to ensure that
the wind farm complies with the Long Island Power Authority
requirements for transmission-connected non-synchronous
resources. The minimum reactive power capability at the PCC
is equal to 33% capacitive and reactive Vars based on the wind
farm's nominal power rating. Additional requirements include
STATCOM operating modes to provide dynamic and steady-
state voltage control, constant power factor mode, and constant
reactive power mode. Given the weakness of the network
connection, an additional purpose of the STATCOM is to
provide full capacitive current during faults occurring
internally to the wind farm connection. During such
conditions, delayed current zero crossing occurs, leading to
delayed fault clearance, loss of system selectivity, and Figure 7: Lookout STATCOM
excessive wear or direct damage to circuit breakers. This
An interesting observation with regards to the GFM
drives the STATCOM rating and sets the requirement for GFM
discussion relating to the Lookout case is the improved
capabilities. In addition, the STATCOM supports the network
effectiveness in FIDVR performance compared to GFL. This
by providing its dynamic capabilities during cable energization
is explained by the dynamic negative sequence performance
and capacitor-bank switching.
that improves performance during unsymmetrical faults. The
The wind farm connection's low SCR imposes operational STATCOM is a ±120 Mvar unit connected to 138kV, designed
challenges as the STATCOM is expected to support the wind to emphasize the dynamic reactive negative sequence
farm connection during heavy voltage disturbances during performance of the single converter.

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 VI. CONCLUSIONS Protection (DPSP 2022), Hybrid Conference, Newcastle, UK,
This paper has elaborated on the functionality of the GFM 2022, pp. 285-290, doi: 10.1049/icp.2022.0954.
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[11] M. Halonen, A. Grondona, A. Mikwar, “High
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becoming necessary to comply with the requirements of Today’s Power Grids with Multilevel STATCOM and Grid
network operators. In some cases, conventional GFL Forming Control,” Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, GCC Cigre Power,
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the operator, most noticeable for the interconnection of
renewables. Transmission operators and legislators across the [12] H. Gong, X. Wang and L. Harnefors, "Rethinking
globe have realized the need for GFM technology and are Current Controller Design for PLL-Synchronized VSCs in
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