2005 IEEE/PES Transmission and Distribution
Conference & Exhibition: Asia and Pacific
Dalian, China
Benefits of FACTS for Power System
Enhancement
L. Kirschner, D. Retzmann, G. Thumm
Siemens AG, Germany
Abstract— The performance of power systems decreases with
the size, the loading and the complexity of the networks. This is
related to problems with load flow, power oscillations and
voltage quality. Such problems are even deepened by the
changing situations resulting from deregulation of the electrical
power markets. The power systems have not been designed for
wide-area power trading with daily varying load patterns where
power flows do no more follow the initial planning criteria of the
existing network configuration. Large blackouts in America and
Europe confirmed clearly, that the favorable close electrical
coupling might also include risk of uncontrollable cascading
effects in large and heavily loaded interconnected systems.
FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission Systems), however,
provide the necessary features to avoid technical problems in the
power systems and they increase the transmission efficiency.
Index Terms—Blackout, FACTS, FSC, HVDC, Increase of
Transmission Capacity, Parallel Operation of FACTS and
HVDC, Short-Circuit Current Limitation, Stability
Improvement, SVC, System Interconnection, TCSC
I. FACTS TECHNOLOGIES - OVERVIEW
F ACTS, based on power electronics, have been developed
to improve the performance of long distance AC
transmission. Later, the technology has been extended to the
devices which can also control power flow. Excellent
operating experiences are available worldwide and the
technology became mature and reliable. FACTS is applicable
in parallel connection or in series or in a combination of both.
The rating of shunt connected FACTS controllers is up to 800
MVar, series FACTS devices are implemented on high
voltage levels up to 765 kV. They can increase the line
transmission capacity up to several GW.
Fig. 1 shows the principal configurations of FACTS devices
[1, 3]. Main shunt connected FACTS application is the Static
Var Compensator (SVC) with line-commutated thyristor
technology. A further development is STATCOM using
voltage sourced converters. Both devices provide fast voltage
control, reactive power control and power oscillation damping
features. As an option, SVC can control unbalanced system
voltages. There are hundreds of SVCs in operation world-
wide. Since decades, it is a well developed technology and the
demand on SVC is increasing further [1].
L. Kirschner, D. Retzmann, G. Thumm are with Siemens AG, PTD High
Voltage Division, Power Transmission Solutions, 91050 Erlangen, Germany
(e-mail: lutz.kirschner@siemens.com; dietmar.retzmann@siemens.com;
gerhard.thumm@siemens.com)
0-7803-9114-4/05/$20.00 ©2005 IEEE.
1
Fixed Series Compensation (FSC) is widely used to
improve the stability and to increase the transmission capacity
in long distance transmissions. A huge number of these
applications is in operation. If system conditions are more
complex, Thyristor Controlled Series Compensation (TCSC)
is used. TCSC has already been applied in different projects
for load-flow control, stability improvement and to damp
oscillations in interconnected systems. Special FACTS
devices are UPFC (Unified Power Flow Controller [3]) and
GPFC (Grid Power Flow Controller [8]). UPFC combines a
shunt connected STATCOM with a series connected
STATCOM (=S3C, Solid State Series Compensator) which
can exchange energy via a coupling capacitor. GPFC is a
special DC back-to-back link, which is designed for power
and fast voltage control at both terminals. In this way, GPFC
is a “FACTS Back-to-Back”, which is less complex than the
UPFC at lower costs.
For most applications in AC transmission systems and for
network interconnections, SVC, FSC, TCSC and GPFC/B2B
are fully sufficient to match the essential requirements of the
grid. STATCOM and UPFC are tailored solutions for special
needs.
FACTS devices consist of power electronic components
and conventional equipment which can be combined in
different configurations. It is therefore relatively easy to
develop new devices to meat extended system requirements.
Such recent developments are the TPSC (Thyristor Protected
Series Compensation, [5]) and the Short-Circuit Current
Limiter (SCCL, [4]), both innovative solutions using high
power thyristor technology [1].
z SVC - Static Var Compensator (Standard for Parallel Compensation)
z STATCOM - Static Synchronous Compensator
(Fast SVC, Flicker Compensation)
z FSC - Fixed Series Compensation
z TCSC - Thyristor Controlled Series Compensation
z GPFC - Grid Power Flow Controller (FACTS-B2B)
z UPFC - Unified Power Flow Controller
SVC/STATCOM FSC GPFC/UPFC
AC AC AC AC AC AC
TCSC/TPSC
Fig. 1. Basic Configurations of FACTS Devices
1
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In the following sections, solutions for system
enhancement, for Blackout prevention and for system
interconnection are presented and their advantages are
explained. Examples of large project applications in Asia,
America and Europe are depicted, including hybrid
configurations with parallel operation of FACTS and HVDC.
II. TRENDS IN POWER SYSTEMS
400 kV became the highest voltage level, in Far-East countries
mostly 550 kV, and in America 550 kV and 765 kV. The 1150
kV voltage level has been anticipated in the past in some
countries and also some test lines have already been built. In
China for example, AC voltages of 1000 kV are actually
under discussion with regard to very long transmission
distances between generation and load centers and for
supplying strong AC links between the different systems of

T HE development of electric power supply began more

than one hundred years ago. Residential areas and
neighboring establishments were supplied first by DC via
the country. However, it is not expected in the near future that
AC voltage levels above 800 kV will be utilized to a larger
extent.
short lines. At the end of the 19th century, however, AC
transmission has been introduced utilizing higher voltages to
transmit power from “remote” power stations to the Extensions of Interconnected Systems
consumers.
Increased Power Exchange among the
Globalisation/ Deregulation - Privatization: Opening of the
Privatisation
Liberalisation markets, Independent Transmission Companies Interconnected Systems
ITCs, Regional Transmission Organisations RTOs

Transmission of large Power Blocks over long

Problem of uncontrolled Loop Flows
Distances * (Hydro Resources, Solar Energy)
Bottlenecks in
Privatisation
Transmission Overloading & Excess of SCC Levels
System Instabilities & Outages
Renewable Energy Resources at favorable
Locations *
System Enhancement & Interconnections:
Investments in Š Higher Voltage Levels *
**by
byuse
useof
ofHVDC
HVDC/ /FACTS
FACTSfor
for“remote”
“remote” Infeed
Infeed
Privatisation
Power Systems Š New Transmission Technologies
Š Renewable Energies Fig. 3. Trends in Power System Development
*Example
*ExampleUCTE:
UCTE:400
400kV
kVisisactually
actuallytoo
toolow
low
4 x GIL, 4 x SVC, 2 x HVDC GIL in Tunnel
Fig. 2. Power Market Development – Problems and Solutions to avoid 40-50
Cables nearby
The growth and extension of AC systems and consequently the Coasts
the introduction of higher voltage levels have been driven by a
fast increase of power demand over decades. Power systems
have been extended by applying interconnections to the
neighboring systems to achieve technical and economical
advantages. Regional systems have been built-up towards
national grids and later to interconnected systems with the
neighboring countries. Large systems came into existence,
covering parts of or even whole continents, to gain the well
known advantages, e.g. an ability to use larger and more AC or DC
economical power plants, reduction of reserve capacity in the Cables
systems, utilization of the most efficient energy resources, and
to achieve an increase in system reliability. Global studies
show that power consumption in the world follows closely the Medium-term
increase of population. In the next 20 years, power Long-term: 30 - 50 GW Planning
consumption in developing and emerging countries is
expected to increase for 220%, in industrialized countries, Fig. 4. Embedding of large Off-Shore Wind-Farms in the North Sea – DENA
however, only for 37% [2]. Study 02-24-2005 (Germany)
In future, in the course of deregulation and privatization, Additional problems are expected when renewable
the loading of existing power systems will strongly increase,
energies, such as large wind farms, have to be integrated into
leading to bottlenecks and reliability problems. System
the system, especially when the connecting AC links are weak
enhancements will be essential, to balance the load flow and
in total to get more power out of the existing grid. In Fig. 2, and when there is no sufficient reserve capacity in the
the problems and solutions of the market developments are neighboring system available. Fig. 4 shows a solution, which
depicted and Fig. 3 summarizes the trends of power system is actually under discussion for embedding of very large
developments. amounts of wind energy in Germany (status 2003: in total 12
One of the possible solution for power system enhancement GW, in future 30-50 GW) to be delivered from planned off-
is to increase the transmission voltage level. In West Europe, shore wind farms in North and Baltic Sea regions, were the

2
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neighboring grids are too weak for such a large additional III. LARGE BLACKOUTS 2003
power infeed. By means of two HVDCs in combination with
four SVCs, the energy can be “bundled” and then transported A. Probability of Blackouts
point to point to the load centers in the middle of the country. Fig. 7 shows, that the probability of large Blackouts is
The off-shore connection to the main grid will be done by much higher than calculated with mathematical modeling,
high power GIL (Gas Insulated Lines), in order to avoid huge especially when the related amount of power outage is very
numbers of cables nearby the coasts, as it is indicated in the large [2].
figure. The benefits of this “remote infeed solution” are:
• load sharing and
• generation reserve sharing
Both are essential for the safe and reliable operation of the
power system.
If power should be transmitted through the interconnected
system over longer distances, transmission needs to be
supported. Actual
Expected
This is for example the case in the West-European UCTE Source:

system (Fig. 5), where the 400 kV voltage level is actually too
low for large cross-border and inter-area power exchange.
Bottlenecks are already identified (NTC - Net Transfer Fig. 7. Reasons for high Probability of Blackouts
Capacity, Fig. 6), and for an increase of power transfer,
advanced solutions need to be applied. The reasons for this result are indicated in the figure. This
means, that, when once the cascading sequence is started, it is
… Zone 1 & 2 “resynchronized” since 10.10. 2004 mostly difficult or even impossible to stop it, unless that the
direct causes are eliminated, ref. to the figure.
NORDEL
B. The Events in North-America
Options for Grid The Blackout sequence started on august 14, 2003, around
Interconnection noon [2]. Reactive power and voltage problems have been
IPS/UPS reported, but no major ones.
Giant Loop Flows
2.2 - 4.8 GW
UCTE - 1

UCTE - 2
Turkey

AL MAGHREB System Enhancement necessary:

Source: ITC 8/2003 – “Blackout”

Fig. 5. A View on the European Scenario - with further Options for Grid
Interconnection to UCTE
Source: National Transmission Grid Study;
Source: UCTE - 5 / 2003 U.S. DOE 5/2002 – “Preview”
Bottlenecks
in the UCTE Fig. 8. Comparison of Study Results 2002 with the real Blackout 2003
System Scenario

Fig. 8 shows the results of a study on the related

transmission systems, which was published in may, about one
year earlier. It can be seen, that the load flow in the system is
not well matching basic design and planning criteria, ref. to
the “hot lines”, shown in red color. On the upper right-hand
side of the figure, one of the later Blackout events with
“giant” loop flows is attached, which happened just in the
same area under investigation one year before.
NTC Values
for East- The Blackout sequence took about 4 hours, before it came
West Power to the final collapse. At 4:06, a wrong relay operation
Transfer
(Sammis-Star Line) initiated the final cascade, and shortly
after, at 4:14, there was the “point of no return” with huge
Fig. 6. Bottlenecks in UCTE: NTC – Net Transfer Capacity
loop flows across several states and the beginning of voltage

3

collapse. This led to further disconnections of lines and large
amounts of generation capacity, with significant voltage and
frequency fluctuations, up and down. A full voltage collapse
and the final Blackout was the consequence. The affected area
out of supply is shown in Fig. 9.
Source: Blackout Summary, U.S./Canada
Power Outage Task Force 9-12-2003
Fig. 9. The Area of the Blackout [2]
Approximately 50 million people in 7 states were out of
supply for hours or days. A total amount of 62 GW customer
loads was lost (this corresponds to half of the installed
generation capacity in Germany) of which 49 GW have been
reconnected within 16 hours.
C. The Events in Europe
These events can be summarized as follows:
Great Britain (August 28):
„ 1 Transformer out of service due to Buchholz Alarm and
a wrong Protection Relay Setting. However, only a
limited Area (South London) was affected
Denmark-Sweden (September 23):
„ A large Collapse in the Synchronous Area due to
Power Station Outages in Combination with a double
Busbar Fault (storms and wrong “construction”)
Italy (September 28):
„ Outage of 2 major Transmission Lines; Overload on the __
remaining Lines – Full Blackout – very similar to the US-
Canada Event
The Italian Blackout was initiated by a line trip in
Switzerland. Reconnection of the line after the fault was not
possible, due to a too large phase angle difference (about 60
degrees, leading to blocking of the Synchro-Check device). 20
min later a second line tripped, followed by a fast trip-
sequence of all interconnecting lines to Italy due to overload.
It is one of the key-consequences of deregulation, that the
power transfer across the systems is nowadays much more
wide-spread and fluctuating than initially designed by the
system planners. The system elements are going to be loaded
up to their limits, with risk for loosing the n-1 safety criteria.
System enhancement will be essential in the future, in Europe
too.
4
4
IV. ELIMINATION OF BOTTLENECKS IN TRANSMISSION –
LESSONS LEARNED
A. Use of Power Electronics for System Enhancement
Fig. 10 gives an “Application Guide” for transmission
enhancement by means of Power Electronics (ref. to the
system in Fig. 8).
Short-Circuit Current Limitation for Connection of new Power Plants
SVC & HVDC for Prevention of Voltage Collapse
Load Management by HVDC
The FACTS & HVDC “Application Guide”
Load Displacement by Series Compensation
Fig. 10. Use of Power Electronics for System Enhancement
Depending on the grid structure, there are four basic cases:
• load displacement in case of parallel lines by
impedance variation (FACTS for series compensation)
• fast load-flow control in meshed structures with
B2B/GPFC or UPFC (or very slow with phase shifting
transformer)
• voltage collapse: reactive/active power injection by
means of FACTS/HVDC
• excess of allowed short-circuit level: short-circuit
current limitation (FACTS/HVDC)
P
V1 , δ 1 V2 , δ 2
G~ G~
X
V1 V2
P= ( 1 - δ 2)
sin (δ
X
Power-Flow Control
Parallel Compensation
Series Compensation
Fig. 11. Power Transmission – The basic Equation
The basic equation for power transmission (Fig. 11)
explains the solutions for system enhancement in a clear way.
The power transmitted between two subsystems depends on
voltages at both ends of the connecting line, the line
impedance and the phase angle difference between the
connecting points. Power electronics can actively influence
one ore more of these parameters and control or direct the
power flow through the interconnection.
 5

As mentioned before, also Phase Shifting Transformers are
suitable for load-flow variation, however with major
constraints regarding the controllability in case of transient
and emergency conditions:
Phase Shifting Transformer
 Designed for Steady-State Conditions:
The principle is Voltage Source Injection
 However, Tap-Changing is very slow:
5 - 10 s per Tap, in total 1 min or more for a Full-
Range Operation
 Remedial Action in Emergency Situations:
Reaction Time must be ≤ 100 ms (e.g. for Voltage Collapse)
 This requires FACTS or HVDC
V. USE OF FACTS FOR SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT
1000 km 500 kV AC interconnection between North and
South systems has been realized. In the interconnection two
TCSC devices have been installed at both ends of the line
which damp the inherent oscillations that occur between the
systems. Additionally, 5 FSCs have been necessary to reduce
the transmission angle. The recordings from on-site staged
fault tests during commissioning show that the interconnection
is unstable without the damping function of TCSC. If only one
TCSC is in operation, the interconnection becomes already
stable, and with both devices acting the inter-area oscillations
are quite well damped, and redundancy is provided. From site
experience, it has been reported, that under increased load
conditions, the TCSC damping function is activated up to
several hundred times per day, thus saving power transmission
and keeping the return on investments constantly “running”.
2 TCSCs - Redundant
1000 km Line Job sharing
0 MW

In Great Britain, in the course of deregulation, new power PLINE

-880 MW
stations where installed in the north of the country, remote
from the southern load centers and some of the existing power 50 Ω

TCSC 5 FSCs TCSC ZTCSC

stations in the south were shut down due to environmental 0Ω
5s/Div
constraints and for economic reasons, see Fig. 12, left side. To
No TCSC - System instable -
strengthen the transmission system, a total number of 27 Line Trip after 70 s 1 TCSC - System stable
SVCs have been installed, because there was no right of way
for new lines or higher transmission voltage levels [2]. Fig. 12 0 MW
PLINE
0 MW
PLINE

c) shows the very effective power oscillation damping (main -880 MW -880 MW

control function) with two of these SVCs, installed in Harker 50 Ω 50 Ω

Substation in a parallel configuration. ZTCSC ZTCSC

0Ω 0Ω
5s/Div 5s/Div

Results of Dynamic
System Tests:
Fig. 13. 500 kV TCSC Furnas/Brazil – Essential for Transmission
a) No SVC Connected
b) Both SVC in
Voltage Control Mode Significant Increase DE CZ

c) Both SVC in Power of Power Transfer b)

Oscillation Damping
Mode

Uncontrolled Load Flow

Power-Flow Controller
CZ
DE
Benefits:
a)
Directing of Load Flow
Basis for Power
Purchase Contracts

Source: PTD
SE PT 1998

Fig. 14. UCTE: Load-Flow Improvement with Power-Flow Controller

Fig. 14 a) shows an example of the West-European system:

Fig. 12. Europe: UK goes ahead with FACTS - 27 SVCs in the Grid
Example Harker Substation - 2 parallel SVCs
In Fig. 13 it is shown, how problems with large inter-area
oscillations have been solved in the Brazilian System. In the
Brazilian grid, the situation is critical because of a very long
transmission distance between the interconnected systems: a
500 MW should be transported from Hungary to Slovenia. It
can be seen, that this power flow is spread widely through the
neighboring systems. Only a limited amount of power is
flowing directly to the target location. Using a power
electronic device for power-flow control, e.g. GPFC/B2B or
UPFC, the power exchange between the two countries can be
improved significantly, as shown in the figure.

5
 6

1500
360 km
Loads
3~ 1200
400 MW
900

Power flow in one line

Huishui -Hechi (MVA)
A B
200 MW
600
Loads 3~
300 b
200 MW 0
Power- Flow
b Power
a Flow in one Line
Controller … quite Easy -300
Huishui-Hechi (MW)
Restoration of the initial Power Flow – from A to B -600
c a
-900
Fig. 15. Elimination of Loop Flows by means of Power-Flow Controller 0 5 10 15 20
Time (s) Time / s
In a similar way, as shown in Fig. 15, critical power loop a – without Power Modulation
flows (ref. to Fig. 8) across the interconnections between two b – with Power Modulation Dynamic Results
systems, caused by the installation of a new power station of HVDC Control
(shown in red color) in grid B, can be eliminated by means of c – further Improvements with
a Power-Flow Controller. Pingguo TCSC/FSC
Fig. 16 gives an example of a power system simulation of
the Chinese grid [6], in which FACTS and HVDC has been POD Output Signal (pu) TCSC 1 (= TCSC 2)

integrated for grid interconnection and point to point long

1a)
distance transmission. Because of the long distances, the
More Action of TCSC required HVDC not active
system experiences severe power oscillations after faults,
close to the stability limits. In the recordings in Fig. 17, upper
POD Output Signal (pu) TCSC 1 (= TCSC 2)
part, oscillations are depicted, first for the case that HVDC is
transmitting power in constant power mode (curve a). It can 2a)
be seen, that strong power oscillations occur. If, however,
Less Action of TCSC required HVDC active
damping control of HVDC GuiGang is activated (curve b), the
oscillations are damped very effectively. Using series POD Output Signal HVDC (%)
compensation with two TCSCs and two FSCs at Pingguo
substation, the stability of the overall system can be increased 2b) Fast and strong Action of HVDC with POD
further (curve c). In the lower part of Fig. 17 it is shown, that
without HVDC, the TCSCs Pingguo need more actions for
damping. Without series compensation and without HVDC Fig. 17. Coordinated Operation of FACTS and HVDC for Power Oscillation
Damping in the Chinese Grid
damping, such a large power system would be unstable in case
of fault contingencies [6], thus leading to severe outages In Fig. 18, a view of one phase element of the two Pingguo
(Blackout). TCSCs is given.
Nayong
Anshun
Guiyang Guizhou
Conv. Stat.
Huishui Guangxi

Anshun
Anshun HVDC GuiGuang
FSC
Hechi
Guangdong

TSQ-I Liudong Hezhou Guangzhou

Luoping TSQ-II Yantan Beijiao
Liuzhou Conv. Stat.
TSQ Beijiao
Lubuge Conv. Stat. TCSC & FSC
Pingguo Laibin Wuzhou
Zhengcheng

Baise Luodong
Pingguo

Zhaoqing
Yunnan HVDC TSQ Gaomin

Yulin Zhaoqing
Guangxi Conv. Stat.

Nanning
Fig. 18. Pingguo TSC, commissioned in June 2003

HVDC Converter Hydro Power Station

In Fig. 19, a new FACTS application with SVC in
Station
Thermal Power Station combination with HVDC in Germany is shown [7]. It is
TCSC FSC actually the first high voltage FACTS controller in the
German network. Reason for the SVC installation at Siems
Fig. 16. Use of FACS and HVDC in a Hybrid System in China
substation nearby the landing point of the Baltic Cable HVDC

6

were unforeseen right of way restrictions in the neighboring
area, where an initially planned new tie-line to the strong 400
kV network for connection of the HVDC was denied. Hence,
with the existing reduced network voltage of 110 kV (see the
dotted blacks lines in Fig. 19), only a limited amount power
transfer of the DC link was possible since its commissioning
in 1994, in order to avoid repetitive commutation failures and
voltage problems in the grid. In an initial first step for power
increase, an additional transformer for connecting the 400 kV
HVDC AC bus with the 110 kV bus (see the figure) was
installed [7].
Finally, 10 years later with the new SVC, equipped with a
fast coordinated control, the HVDC could fully increase its
transmission capacity up to the design rating of 600 MW. In
addition to this measure, a new cable to the 220 kV grid was
installed, to increase the system strength with regard to
performance improvement of the HVDC controls.
Initially planned Connection
Grid Access
denied
2 of Baltic Cable HVDC Link”, The 38th Meeting and Colloqium of Cigré
1 [8]
Now, the HVDC
2 can operate at
full Power
Rating
Final Solution: new
2 SVC with TCR & TSC 1 Initial Step for Grid Access
100 MVar ind. Enhancement
2 and a new 220 kV Cable
200 MVar cap.
Fig. 19. The Problem – no Right of Way for 400 kV AC Grid Access of Baltic
Cable HVDC Link – and the Solutions [7]
In Fig. 20, a photo of the Siems SVC in Germany is given.
Fig. 20. A view on the Siems SVC
VI. CONCLUSIONS
Deregulation and privatization is posing new challenges on
the high voltage transmission systems. System elements are
going to be loaded up to their limits, wide-area power trading
with fast varying load patterns will cause congestion, because
the systems are not designed for such conditions. System
enhancement will be essential to keep the supply reliable and
safe.
7
As a consequence of “Lessons learned” from the large
Blackouts in 2003, high voltage power electronics will play an
important role for the system developments, leading to hybrid
AC/DC systems with better controllability of the power flows
and to assist in prevention of cascading disturbances.
VII. REFERENCES
[1] D. Povh, D. Retzmann, “Development of FACTS for Transmission
Systems”, The IERE Central America Forum, Nov. 23-28, 2003, San
José, Costa Rica.
[2] G. Beck, D. Povh, D. Retzmann, E. Teltsch, “Global Blackouts –
Lessons Learned”, POWER-GEN Europe 2005, June 28-30, 2005,
Milan, Italy.
[3] FACTS Overview, IEEE and Cigré, Catalog Nr. 95 TP 108.
[4] V. Gor, D. Povh, Y. Lu, E. Lerch, D. Retzmann, K. Sadek, G. Thumm,
“SCCL – A new Type of FACTS based Short-Circuit Limiter for
Application in High Voltage Systems”, CIGRE Report B4-209, Session
2004.
[5] Kirschner, L., Bohn, J., Sadek, K. “Thyristor protected series capacitor -
Part 1 Design Aspects”, IEEE-T&D Conference 2002, Sao Paulo,
Brazil.
[6] Y. Jing, X. Wu, Z. Du, X. Jin, Y.Wang, D. H. Zhang, J. Rittiger, “Digital
Simulation of AC/DC Hybrid Transmission System”, PowerCon, Oct.
2002, Kunming, China.
[7] H. Waldhauer, “Grid Reinforcement and SVC for full Power Operation
Study Committee B4 ”HVDC and Power Electronics”, Technical
Colloqium Sept. 25, 2003, Nuremberg, Germany.
M. Mohaddes, D.P. Brandt, M.M. Rashwan, K. Sadek, “Application of
the Grid Power Flow Controller in a Back-to-Back Configuration”,
CIGRE Report B4-307, Session 2004.
VIII. BIOGRAPHIES
Lutz Kirschner (1963) received his BSC in Electrical
Engineering 1992 from the University of Aachen,
Germany. He joined SIEMENS company, and worked
in the HVDC department as a system design engineer.
He is involved in technical and commercial design of
HVDV converter stations. Since 1995 he is
responsible for Series Capacitor Design carrying out
the basic design studies. His special field are time
domain simulations and system studies. Since 1998 he
is member of IEEE.
Dietmar Retzmann (1947), Cigré, VDE, graduated in
Electrical Engineering (Dipl.-Ing.) at Technische
Hochschule Darmstadt/Germany in 1974. He received
Dr.-Ing. degree from the University of Erlangen-
Nuremberg in 1983. Dr. Retzmann is with Siemens
Erlangen, Germany since 1982. Currently, he is
director for Technical Marketing & Innovations
HVDC/FACTS in High Voltage Division, Power
Transmission Solutions. Dietmar Retzmann is author
of numerous technical publications. In 1998, he was
appointed guest-professor at Tsinghua University,
Beijing, and in 2002 at Zhejiang University,
Hangzhou, China. Since 2004, he gives lectures on
HVDC/FACTS at University of Karlsruhe, Germany.
Gerhard H. Thumm (1951) received his Dipl. Ing.
degree in electrical Engineering 1977 from the
Technische Universitaet Stuttgart, and the Dr. Ing.
degree in Electrical Engineering 1991. He joined
Siemens in 1982, where he worked in the system
planning department and in the department for
reactive power compensation. Since 1985 he is
involved in the design of Static Var Compensators,
since 1992 he is repsonsible for the design of Series
Compensation Systems, also with Thyristor Control.