Chapter 1 l The need for grid-forming converters

Grid-forming
converters
Advantages of grid-forming control
in HVDC and FACTS applications

White paper

Release 1.0

siemens-energy.com
Chapter 1 l Introduction and Motivation

siemens-energy.com

Executive summary

This whitepaper explores the need for grid-forming The document delves into specific applications of grid-
converters in power systems, following the increasing forming converters, including HVDC systems (HVDC PLUS®)
integration of converter-interfaced renewables. It discusses and E-STATCOM (SVC PLUS FS®) and conventional
the advantages of grid-forming control for the two STATCOMS (SVC PLUS®), discussing Siemens Energy grid-
applications of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems forming control concepts for these applications and the
and flexible alternating current transmission systems advantages they bring, including inertia response and
(FACTS). In this regard, it focuses on the use of advanced inherent voltage support. For instance, Siemens Energy grid-
grid-forming control in three of the main power electronics- forming control for HVDC systems, enables both
based grid solutions from Siemens Energy: HVDC PLUS®, converter stations of an HVDC link to have grid-forming
SVC PLUS FS® (STATCOM with energy storage), and capabilities, facilitating mutual support for both connection
SVC PLUS® (STATCOM without energy storage). points. SVC PLUS FS®, also known as E-STATCOM, takes
advantage of a high power density energy storage system to
With the transition towards converter-interfaced energy promptly respond to frequency deviations and phase jumps,
sources and the challenges posed by the phase out of while providing fast reactive power support as well. The
conventional power plants, the need for grid-forming SVC PLUS® solution is now capable to operate in very weak
converters is becoming more and more evident for grid conditions and inherently provides reactive power to
maintaining the grid stability. The lack of adequate system support the grid voltage.
inertia and reactive power supply is causing concerns for
grid operators around the globe. Siemens Energy solutions, Lastly, this document discusses the physical constraints and
including HVDC PLUS®, SVC PLUS FS®, and SVC PLUS®, are limitations of these systems, emphasizing the need for
now equipped with advanced grid-forming capabilities with coordinated control design and considering the primary
the aim of addressing these challenges. Using grid-forming energy source and hardware limitations.
control, the converters behave as a voltage source behind an
impedance, which leads to an inherent support from these The paper concludes by summarizing the benefits of grid-
converters in the case of phase jumps, frequency deviations forming converters across Siemens Energy grid technologies
and oscillations, and voltage disturbances. Grid-forming and applications, highlighting the inherent support for grid
converters from Siemens Energy are also capable to operate stability and immediate response to grid disturbances. It
stably in a wide range of grid conditions from strong grids emphasizes the potential of Siemens Energy grid-forming
up to very weak grids. technology in enabling a future powered by 100%
renewable energy, positioning Siemens Energy as a leader in
addressing the challenges raised from large integration of
converter-interfaced renewables.

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Chapter 1 l Introduction and Motivation

1 5
The need for grid-forming Grid-forming converters for Static
converters Synchronous Compensators without energy
Page 4 storage (SVC PLUS®)
1.1 Role of inertia in power systems Page 18
1.2 Role of reactive power in power systems 5.1 Siemens Energy grid-forming control concept
for STATCOM

2
Introduction to grid-forming converters 5.2 Advantages of STATCOMs with Grid-forming
Page 6 control
5.3 Physical constraints of STATCOMs with
2.1 Grid-forming functionalities Grid-forming
2.2 Advantages of grid-forming control compared

6
to grid-following control Summary and conclusions
2.3 Validation of grid-forming functionalities
Page 22

3
Grid-forming converters for HVDC
systems (HVDC PLUS®)
Page 10
3.1 Siemens Energy grid-forming control concept
for HVDC systems
3.2 Advantages of HVDC systems with grid-
forming control.
3.3 Physical constraints of HVDC systems with
Grid-forming converters

4
Grid-forming converters for Static
Synchronous Compensators with energy
storage (SVC PLUS FS®)
Page 14
4.1 Siemens Energy grid-forming control concept
for E-STATCOM
4.2 Advantages of E-STATCOM with grid-forming
control
4.3 Physical constraints of STATCOMs with storage
and grid-forming control.

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Chapter 1 l Introduction and Motivation

Introduction and
motivation

1 The need for grid-forming

converters
With the major shift towards renewable energy sources,
there are growing concerns over the stability of future power
systems around the globe. Conventional power plants are
traditionally the main contributor to the stability of the grid,
in terms of voltage and frequency. Therefore, a higher share
of renewables in the power supply can potentially bring
major challenges to power systems.

This has led to an increasing demand for grid-forming

capabilities from converter-interfaced systems, as a
promising solution for enhancing grid stability. Some
Figure 1 Frequency incident of January 08, 2021, following a minor
countries have already started enforcing grid-forming system split in the European power system (Frequency in Germany).
capabilities at the national level, e.g., Germany, while others
are in the process of defining the requirements for grid-
forming capabilities, either as optional (through market
incentives) or mandatory grid-supporting functionalities.
1.1 Role of inertia in power systems
To address this demand, Siemens Energy has equipped three The frequency of an AC grid reflects the instantaneous
of its main power electronics-based grid solutions with balance between the power generation and the demand in
advanced grid-forming capabilities. These solutions an electrical AC power system. Sudden imbalance between
include: generation and demand can cause the frequency to deviate
from its nominal value, which is, of course, not desired.

1. HVDC PLUS® Conventional power plants use synchronous generators to

produce electricity. The rotational speed of synchronous
2. SVC PLUS FS® (STATCOM with energy storage)
generators is, by design, coupled electromechanically to the
3. SVC PLUS® (STATCOM without energy storage) frequency of the AC grid. This means that the mechanical
mass moment of inertia from the generator’s shaft and its
mechanically coupled turbine will resist changes in the grid
Table 1 shows an overview of these solutions and what they frequency during power imbalances by trying to maintain
can offer in terms of grid-forming capabilities, which will be their rotational speed. This helps to limit the rate at which
discussed in detail in the following chapters. the frequency of the grid can deviate and gives time for
remedial actions to balance the generation and the demand.
This whitepaper aims to elaborate in detail what Siemens
Energy can provide in terms of grid-forming capabilities During the first instances of a disturbance caused by a
within these three grid solutions. After briefly discussing sudden imbalance between generation and demand, the
why grid-forming converters are increasingly needed, the total amount of inertia available in the system is the only
general concept of grid-forming control is described, factor limiting the rate of change of frequency (RoCoF). As
following by explaining the capabilities of grid-forming an example, Figure 1 shows the drop in the grid frequency
converters. Next, the potentials of grid-forming control for following a power imbalance in Germany, which was caused
the two applications of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) by a minor system split in the European power system on
transmission systems and Static Synchronous Compensators January 8, 2021 (Data Source: TransnetBW).
(STATCOMs) are discussed in detail.

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Chapter 1 l The need for grid-forming converters

Characteristics HVDC PLUS ® SVC PLUS FS ® SVC PLUS ®

Grid-forming control ✓ ✓ ✓

Inherent active power support, e.g., inertia response ✓ ✓ *

Inherent reactive power support ✓ ✓ ✓

Primary energy source Remote AC grid Supercapacitors 

Topology of the converter arms Y (Star) Y (Star) Δ (Delta)

* SVC PLUS does have inherent short-term active power exchange with the grid. However, it does not have an additional storage to provide a notable
active power support.

Table 1 Overview of grid solutions provided by Siemens Energy with grid-forming capabilities.

As seen in Figure 1, the maximum RoCoF appears at the Meanwhile, due to the increased utilization and expansion
initial point of imbalance, which can only be limited by total of the AC transmission systems, the demand for reactive
system inertia. With increasing share of converter-interfaced power is also increasing. This is happening at the same time
renewable resources, the share of conventional generators with the phase out of large conventional power plants,
decreases, which leads to a reduction of the total inertia which were traditionally responsible for reactive power
available in the system. This increases the RoCoF during support as well.
power imbalances, which reduces the time available to
remedy the imbalance in the power system. Moreover, a This leads to a significant deficit of reactive power support.
high RoCoF can also lead to activation of protection relays in To tackle this issue, grid operators are planning to have more
the existing power plants, causing further outages that will controllable reactive power elements in their grid, which can
result in further deviation in grid frequency (e.g., power quickly provide or absorb reactive power during any
outage of August 2019 in UK, see detailed report here). disturbance in the grid voltage.

Therefore, grid operators around the globe are looking for A grid-forming converter can inherently and instantaneously
methods to limit the maximum RoCoF in their grid, while provide reactive power support to the grid without relying
simultaneously increasing the share of renewables. As an on voltage measurements and the corresponding delay. This
example, the European Network of Transmission System can be crucial in weak grids, where a fast reactive power
Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) has set the target to limit support is necessary to keep the voltage stable and reduce
the RoCoF to 1 Hz/s. To reach this goal, contribution to the voltage fluctuations.
system inertia also by converter-interfaced systems is
necessary. Assuming the availability of primary energy It is important to note that the provision of inertia response
sources, grid-forming converters can contribute to the and voltage support are only two of the various grid-
overall system inertia and help to fulfill this target. supporting functionalities of grid-forming converters. A
more comprehensive description of all functionalities of
grid-forming converters is given in Chapter 2.
1.2 Role of reactive power in
The rest of this document is organized as follows.
power systems Chapter 2 introduces the general grid-forming concept,
highlights its features, and discusses possible ways to
With the increasing share of renewables, their volatile feed- validate grid-forming functionalities. Chapter 3 focuses on
ins, and a shift towards a more decentralized generation, the use of grid-forming control for HVDC applications, while
there is also a higher risk of voltage fluctuations and voltage Chapter 4 and 5 describe the use of grid-forming control for
instability in the grid. Reactive power compensation is STATCOM applications, with and without energy storage,
generally used in high and medium voltage grids for respectively. Lastly, as summary and conclusion is given in
stabilizing the local voltage and keeping it within the Chapter 6.
specific range, as required for a reliable operation of the
power system and the connected components.

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Chapter 2 l Introduction to Grid-forming converters

Introduction to
grid-forming converters

2 Introduction to grid-forming
converters
A converter with grid-forming control acts as a controlled
voltage source behind an impedance, as shown in Figure 2.
This is in contrast to the well-known grid-following control,
which acts as a controlled current source, creating a fixed
active and reactive current contribution.

By providing a constant voltage source, grid-forming control

allows a stabilizing current contribution, counteracting AC
grid transients, such as angle or amplitude changes in the
grid voltage. This behavior can be shown by the phasor
diagram in Figure 3. At the instant of a grid event 𝑡 = 0+ , the
grid voltage phasor changes from 𝑉G to 𝑉G′ . The grid-forming
converter initially keeps its internal voltage source 𝑉IVS
phasor constant. That results in an immediate change of the Figure 3 Phasor diagram presenting grid-forming voltage source
current from 𝐼 to 𝐼′. Only after some time 𝑇S , defined by the operation principle.
design of the internal voltage source characteristic, the
internal voltage phasor 𝑉IVS would be adjusted to 𝑉IVS ′
to
facilitate reaching the desired operation point.
2.1 Grid-forming functionalities
The ideal transient behavior of a grid-forming converter at
The described behavior of the grid-forming converter di-
its terminals is similar to that of a rotating machine
rectly results in features and functionalities that are specific
generator, providing instantaneous reactive power support
to grid-forming control. These can be clustered into the
for changes in the grid voltage magnitude and
three main categories, which are described in the following.
instantaneous active power support for changes in the grid
voltage angle or frequency (inertial support), while being
1. Inherent reaction counteracting grid disturbances:
able to facilitate a controllable steady-state active and
reactive power operation point.
Due to the voltage source behavior emulated by the grid-
forming converter, any variation of the grid voltage in terms
of amplitude, phase angle, or frequency inherently leads to
a change in the current flowing between the converter and
the grid. The resulting current depends on the
characteristics of the AC grid, the physical components of
the converter, like arm inductances and transformer, and
those of the voltage source emulated by the converter by
means of the control. Under the assumption that the
impedances of the AC grid and those of the converter are
predominantly inductive, a voltage amplitude variation
would primarily cause a reactive power exchange between
the converter and the grid. A variation of the phase angle or
a change in the grid frequency would primarily result in an
Figure 2 Equivalent circuit diagram for a grid-forming control (left) active power exchange between the converter and the grid.
compared to a grid-following control (right). Note that 𝑍k is not equal
This, however, depends on the availability of a primary
to 1/𝑌k.
energy source behind the converter.

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Chapter 2 l Introduction to Grid-forming converters

These described functionalities are generally referred to as With grid-forming control, contribution to grid stability itself
inherent reactive power (reaction to voltage variation), becomes an objective of the converter control,
phase jump power (reaction to phase angle step) and inertial complementing the traditional objectives of these devices.
active power (reaction to frequency variation). Grid-forming converters can create and regulate their output
voltage and frequency independent from an existing grid.
2. Inherent damping of system oscillations: Hence, they can operate independently as well as in
coordination and cooperation with other grid-connected
This functionality is directly related to the principles converters and generators. In contrast, for stable operation
described before. Because of the inherent reaction to and optimal performance, grid-following converters
voltage and frequency variations, a grid-forming converter commonly depend on an existing grid that provides stable
can counteract network oscillations without the necessity frequency and voltage references.
for measurement and detection of those perturbations prior
to its reaction or additional controllers. Generally, the With its internal voltage reference, grid-forming converters
oscillations of interest are related, but not limited, to the can inherently provide voltage and frequency support
sub-synchronous range, covering the functionalities during grid disturbances. The inertial, self-synchronizing
typically indicated as “power oscillation damping” (POD) and behavior of grid-forming control enhances the grid strength.
“sub-synchronous torsional interactions” (SSTI). This It also allows system recovery services like islanding and
functionality requires however a careful tuning of the black start operation, assuming the availability of a primary
converter controllers. energy source, during system restoration after severe grid
faults and system splits down to a grid short circuit level
3. Capability of operation under extremely low SCL (SCL) below the converter rating. Grid-following controlled
conditions, including islanding scenarios: converters with their setpoint driven response based on
measurements cannot act fast enough to counteract the
The last category mentioned in this section is a consequence volatility of extremely weak grid conditions and can
of two characteristics of grid-forming converters. The first potentially even amplify this volatility, mainly because of the
one is their self-synchronization capability. This feature interactions between their dedicated synchronization unit,
derives from the modified swing equation implemented in typically implemented by means of a Phase-locked loop
the control loop of the converter, which allows (PLL), and the grid voltage phasor. Also, measurement and
synchronization to the main grid similar to the power control delays have an adverse effect during transients.
synchronization principle of synchronous machines of While grid-following control easily becomes unstable under
conventional power plants. low SCL and islanded scenarios, the main advantage of grid-
forming control is not only the operation in the two
The second aspect is related to the capability of grid-forming operation scenarios, high and low SCL level, but also the
converters to autonomously produce a three-phase AC volt- seamless transition between them. Depending on the
age at its terminals with a given amplitude and frequency. available energy reserves the grid forming converter may
This allows the converter to operate in a stable manner in an play the role of a slack node, providing the necessary voltage
electrical island situation and, additionally, provide a refer- reference for the other grid following devices in islanded
ence for other grid-following units and loads. This function- operation.
ality, however, requires a primary source for balancing the
energy exchanged with the islanded system.

2.2 Advantages of grid-forming 2.3 Validation of grid-forming

control compared to grid-following functionalities
control The grid-forming functionalities, explained in section 2.1,
are often validated through a comparison with the expected
As previously discussed, with grid-following control, the ideal voltage source behavior when exposed to various types
converter acts as a current source with a fast operation point of grid disturbances. However, in real applications,
reference tracking. Hence its main purposes are steady-state converter performance is constrained by voltage, current
active power transmission, as in HVDC applications, and/or and energy limitations. Especially active power support is
local reactive power support and voltage support, as in both only possible if an adequate primary energy source (either
STATCOM and HVDC applications. from an energy storage or remote grids in case of a HVDC
systems) is available.
Grid-following control tracks the grid voltage magnitude and
angle at the point of connection and synchronizes its output Based on the categorization of functionalities explained in
accordingly with the main purpose of tracking setpoints and chapter 2.1, the following tests are performed within
rejecting disturbances as fast as possible. Siemens Energy to evaluate and validate the grid-forming
functionalities.

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Chapter 2 l Introduction to Grid-forming converters

1. Inherent reaction counteracting grid disturbances:

(1-a) Phase angle jump in both positive and negative

directions considering various initial operating points:
Under the assumption of an inductive impedance between
the grid-forming converter and the grid, a phase angle jump
would cause a sudden exchange of active power between
the converter and the grid. The power exchanged between
the two voltage sources (grid-forming converter and grid)
can be approximated by means of the following simplified Figure 4 Conceptual description of the changes in the operation point
equation: of the grid-forming converter during a phase angle jump (a) Power-
angle curve, (b) Time-domain dynamics after the phase jump.
𝑉𝐼𝑉𝑆 𝑉𝐺
𝑃= sin(𝛿)
𝑋
Having in mind that the reactive power flow between two
where 𝑉𝐼𝑉𝑆 indicates the grid-forming converter voltage, 𝑉𝐺
voltage sources connected with an inductive impedance is
stands for the equivalent grid source voltage, and 𝑋 is the
mainly linked to the magnitude of both voltages, this
total reactance between the internal voltage source and the
concept can be simply shown in Figure 5. In the example of
equivalent grid voltage source. Furthermore, the quantity 𝛿
Figure 5-(a), initially the magnitude of both voltage sources
is calculated by means of the voltage angle of the grid-form-
𝑉𝐼𝑉𝑆 and 𝑉𝐺 is equal. Therefore, no reactive power is injected
ing converter 𝜃𝐼𝑉𝑆 and the one of the grid 𝜃𝐺 , as:
into the grid by the grid-forming converter. When the grid
𝛿 = 𝜃𝐼𝑉𝑆 − 𝜃𝐺 voltage increases from 𝑉𝐺 to 𝑉𝐺′ , the grid-forming converter
maintains its voltage phasor and its output current phasor is
Figure 4 shows the operation principle of grid-forming
inherently adapted. Since the magnitude of the grid voltage
converter under a phase angle jump in both positive and
𝑉𝐺′ is higher than the converter voltage 𝑉𝐼𝑉𝑆 , the converter
negative directions under linear range of operation.
absorbs reactive power. Analogously, when the AC grid
Focusing on the positive direction (green path), the
voltage drops, the grid-forming converter injects reactive
converter initially operates at point A (𝑃𝐴 , 𝛿0 ) on the quasi-
power.
static 𝑃(𝛿) curve of the system in steady state. When the
angle jump is applied, the operation point jumps to point B,
where the corresponding angle is 𝛿1 . The active power from
the internal grid-forming voltage source is still equal to the
value prior to the perturbation. The operating point moves
to C inherently to locate on the quasi-static curve. The
transient change of the AC current is defined by the
impedance between both voltage sources. At point C, the
active power is higher than the original setpoint for the grid-
forming converter. Therefore, the active power control
reduces the power and recovers the initial operating point
A. With this quasi-static consideration, the triangle ABC is
complete. The time domain behavior is given in Figure 4-(b).

With the angle jump the active power quickly transitions to

a peak value. The first peak can be higher than the active
power corresponding to the point C due to transient oscilla-
tions. This peak is defined by the impedance between inter-
nal grid forming voltage source and the grid as well as the Figure 5 Phasor diagram presenting grid-forming voltage source opera-
magnitude of the angle jump. tion under (a) sudden increase in the grid voltage and (b) sudden drop
of the grid voltage.
The dynamics of the power recovery while moving from
C to A are defined by the grid-forming converter inertia and (1-c) Frequency change applied to the AC grid:
the dynamics of the active power control. The behavior for Due to the inertial capability of the grid-forming converter it
the negative phase jump (purple path – A→D→E→A) can be is expected that the converter inherently reacts to changes
explained analogously. in the grid frequency within its capability range, assuming a
primary energy source which can provide the required
(1-b) Grid voltage steps in normal range: energy. P0 , Figure 6 shows the active power response of the
In response to a sudden change in the grid voltage converter to two different grid frequency changes in
magnitude, the grid-forming converter inherently reacts in a different directions. The active power response inherently
direction to support the AC grid voltage. If the grid voltage opposes the frequency deviation, proportional to the rate of
suddenly drops, the grid-forming converter injects reactive change of frequency (RoCoF). For higher RoCoF, shown in
power, and if the grid voltage increases, it absorbs reactive blue, the corresponding active power response has a larger
power. magnitude due to a faster angle drift.

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Chapter 2 l Introduction to Grid-forming converters

Similarly, the inherent damping of a grid-forming converter

can be shown by enforcing a fixed low-frequency
oscillations to the grid voltage magnitude using a sinusoidal
waveform. As an example, Figure 9 shows reactive power
response of the grid-forming converter while the grid
voltage magnitude is continuously modulated with a
frequency of 1 Hz. When the grid voltage magnitude 𝑉𝐺 is at
its minimum/maximum (red-dash/blue-dash) the converter
inherently reacts with its maximum/minimum peak of
reactive power to counteract the change in the grid voltage
magnitude. When 𝑉𝐺 is at its initial value (green dash), the
reactive power is close to its setpoint Q0 .
Figure 6 Reaction of grid-forming converter to grid RoCoF with an ac-
tive power source or energy storage. 3. Capability of operation under extremely low SCL
conditions, including islanding scenarios

2. Inherent damping of system oscillations

Grid-forming technology is also a solution for low SCL power
systems. Grid-forming converters are not only able to
Grid-forming converter can provide inherent damping to
operate in connection to weak grids, but also can enhance
low-frequency oscillations in the grid. One way to show the the grid strength by increasing the voltage stiffness at their
inherent damping of a grid-forming converter is to enforce connection node.
fixed low-frequency oscillations to the grid frequency using
a sinusoidal waveform. As an example, Figure 7 shows the As an example, Figure 9 demonstrates the grid-forming
active power response of the grid-forming converter while
converter response when switching to an island with a
the grid frequency is continuously modulated with a passive load (Pload , QLoad ) at t 0 , assuming the availability of
frequency of 1 Hz. When the frequency is at its
a primary energy source. It can be observed that the
minimum/maximum (red/blue dash line) the converter
transition phase is smooth, and a stable steady-state is
inherently reacts with a maximum/minimum of active power achieved. The frequency of the island has an offset
to counteract the change in the grid frequency, without the
compared to the pre-islanding frequency f0 , because of the
need for additional controllers. When frequency is close to lack of secondary frequency control scheme in the model. In
f0 (green dash line), the active power is also close to its
practice, the grid’s secondary frequency control would
setpoint. Accordingly, the grid-forming converter is nearly restore the nominal frequency by re-adjusting the power
providing a maximum opposing effect to the grid frequency setpoints of the converter.
oscillations.

Figure 7 Reaction of the grid-forming converter to a modulated grid

frequency disturbance.

Figure 9 Response of a grid-forming converter to an islanding event,

Figure 8 Reaction of the grid-forming converter to the modulation of assuming the availability of an active power source or energy storage.
the grid voltage magnitude.

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Chapter 3 l HVDC Systems (HVDC PLUS®) l Grid-forming converters for HVDC Applications

HVDC Systems
(HVDC PLUS®)

3 Grid-forming converters for Conventional HVDC systems use grid-following converters,

which are designed for strictly following the active and
HVDC Systems reactive power setpoints. However, they have limitations, in
particular in weak grid conditions. Moreover, they can only
A high-voltage DC-based transmission system (HVDC) is support the grid during disturbances by relying on
most commonly used to enable efficient active power measurement values and several additional controllers that
transmission between: change the active and reactive setpoints based on the
measured values.

• Two points of a synchronous AC grid (referred to as But with the increasing share of converter-interfaced
embedded HVDC), typically over a long distance, as generation, there is clear need for an immediate response to
a more efficient alternative to AC transmission lines support to the grid during disturbances, which can be
• Two asynchronous grids, i.e., two AC grids with provided by using grid-forming control. Therefore, due to
different frequencies the advantages of grid-forming converter over the
traditional grid-following converters, as listed in Chapter 2,
• Offshore power sources such as wind parks and a
Siemens Energy offers its HVDC PLUS® solution with grid-
main AC grid for integration of renewables into
forming converters simultaneously at each end of an HVDC
power systems
link. This brings the inherent grid-supporting functionalities
of grid-forming converters (see Chapter 2) to each
connection point of the HVDC link.
In addition, HVDC systems with Voltage Sourced Converters
(VSC) provide local voltage support by means of reactive In the following, first, the simplified grid-forming control
power compensation at their point of connection and help concept used by Siemens Energy for the HVDC applications
stabilize the connected system. Moreover, they support the is described. Then, the advantages of the provided solution
grid frequency during frequency deviations at one end using are discussed, following by explaining the physical
the power exchanged from the remote end. These grid- limitations of an HVDC system, as a converter-based power
supporting functionalities are normally achieved by transmission system with no notable energy storage
adapting the active and reactive power setpoints as a capability.
function of the measured grid frequency and voltage,
respectively.

The HVDC solution of Siemens Energy based on Voltage

Sourced Converters (VSC) with Multi-level Modular
Converters technology (MMC) is called HVDC PLUS®. Figure
10 shows the schematic of an HVDC link, connecting two
different AC networks, where SM indicates the submodules
used in a converter station. The number of submodules can
be adapted for project-specific power and voltage ratings.

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Chapter 3 l HVDC Systems (HVDC PLUS®) l Grid-forming converters for HVDC Applications

Figure 10 Schematic of an HVDC link (HVDC PLUS®), connecting two asynchronous networks.

3.1 Siemens Energy grid-forming The IVS voltage phasor is further compared with the actual
output voltage 𝑣act , defining a voltage drop at an internal
control concept for HVDC systems virtual impedance. This voltage drop is multiplied with the
inverse of that virtual impedance, the Virtual Admittance,
The goal of any grid-forming converter control is to to define the current reference 𝑖ref for the converter
emulate the behavior of a controlled voltage source behind terminals and hence the operating point of the converter.
an impedance. However, an important aspect for all power Looking from the converter terminals perspective towards
electronic devices is the effective short circuit current the IVS, the virtual impedance is in series with the physical
limitation to protect the converter hardware from overload impedances, such as the converter transformer and the arm
conditions. The fundamental principle of the grid-forming inductors, defining the effective short circuit impedance of
control approach proposed by Siemens Energy for the IVS and therewith the voltage source behind an
HVDC converters, covering both requirements, is presented impedance behavior. An important aspect in the design of
in Figure 11. the virtual impedance is in fact the initial limitation of the
converter currents, depending on the converter’s hardware
The Siemens Energy grid-forming control consists of three design.
main components: an Internal Voltage Source (IVS), a
Virtual Admittance (VA), and a Current Controller (CC). The current setpoint 𝑖ref is limited in coordination with the
The role of each of these components are explained in the maximum current capability of the converter hardware and
following: it is accurately controlled by the final stage, the Current
Controller. This ensures that for extreme power system
The Internal Voltage Source sets the internal voltage events, e.g., severe AC faults, the converter stays within
phasor 𝑣IVS and defines the dynamics with which this phasor operational range and avoids reaching the protection limits,
may change in time to achieve steady state active and while emulating a voltage source behind an impedance
reactive power or PCC voltage magnitude operation points. behavior in normal conditions.
This particular way of defining the internal voltage source
allows both ends of an HVDC connection to be in grid- It should also be noted that the reference values for the grid-
forming mode, which is not possible with several other grid- forming control are derived from the desired steady-state
forming implementations. reactive and active power levels. They are also automatically
adapted to the desired frequency and voltage in case of
weak AC grids.

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Chapter 3 l HVDC Systems (HVDC PLUS®) l Grid-forming converters for HVDC Applications

Figure 11 Simplified diagram representing grid-forming control concept used for HVDC PLUS ® and SVC PLUS FS®.

3.2 Advantages of Siemens Energy An important aspect of the grid forming solution from Sie-
mens Energy is that each end of an HVDC connection can
HVDC systems with grid-forming operate in grid-forming control mode. That means, if one AC
grid sees a disturbance in either its frequency or phase, it
control gets support from the other station automatically with no
reliance on communication. This support is mutual and bidi-
An HVDC system with grid-forming control not only can rectional. Therefore, both stations benefit from the grid-
provide the well-known expected HVDC services such as forming inherent functionalities that resist changes in the
efficient active power transfer and reactive power support, grid frequency, phase, or amplitude, helping to stabilize the
but it can also provide several important additional services, AC grid at both sides.
which can be even crucial for low-inertia grids with a high-
share of converter-interfaced renewables.
3.3 Physical constraints and
In section 2.3, some exemplary responses of a grid-forming limitations of HVDC systems with
converter were illustrated, which can be also provided by
HVDC converters with grid-forming control. In summary, an grid-forming converters
HVDC converter with grid-forming control provide the
following grid-supporting services: As discussed in sections 3.1 and 3.2, a converter operating
in grid-forming mode has physical limitations which must be
explained to ensure a common understanding between the
• Inherent inertia support during frequency deviations vendors and the transmission system operators, namely
at each of the connection points (see Figure 6), developers and users of HVDC systems with grid forming
acting as a “inertia link” between asynchronous converters.
grids
• Inherent voltage support during voltage deviations First and foremost, power electronic-based devices such as
with no need for setpoint adjustments HVDC converters must be always protected against
overcurrent conditions. To avoid damage to the
• Inherent damping of oscillations in the grid in the
semiconductor-based submodules, the current may not
sub-synchronous range with no need for additional
exceed the maximum current capability given by their
damping controllers (see Figure 7 and Figure 8)
specific ratings. The protection of the converter hardware
• No short-circuit level limitation down to zero, always has the highest priority. This defines the capability
i.e., islanding (see Figure 9) and limits of the voltage source behavior of the grid-forming
• Black start capability with no required control mode converter.
changes (same control mode as
normal operation)
• Capability of being the main component responsible
for voltage and frequency control in the AC grid

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Chapter 3 l HVDC Systems (HVDC PLUS®) l Grid-forming converters for HVDC Applications

Secondly, the converter of an HVDC system has a negligible In conclusion, these limitations dictate a design trade-off
energy storage capability and does not contain an additional between the desired grid-forming behavior and the possible
source of energy to counteract disturbances, which requires performance within the available hardware limits. Main
active power changes. Therefore, it is important to note that defining factors in this trade-off are:
any inertial effect to counteract AC grid frequency changes
for instance, demands a certain amount of energy, that
cannot be supplied from the converter submodules. The • Amount of energy that might be required by the
primary energy source for an HVDC converter is indeed the other AC system of the link, defined by, for
remote AC grid. Therefore, the required energy must be instance, the strength of the AC system on the
provided by the other side of the HVDC link. This implies that other side of the link, or system requirements
the grid forming performance of either of the stations must defined by the transmission system operator.
be specified in a coordinated manner, considering the whole
• Amount of energy that needs to be buffered
HVDC link and not just one converter station. This also
within a converter during the transients.
means that disturbances that change the active power of
one converter will be visible to the other side as well. In the • Dynamics of the DC-circuit
case of offshore wind park connections, the capability of the • Dynamics of the other converter/s of the link
onshore HVDC converter station in providing grid-forming
functionalities such as inertia response depends on the
active power capabilities of the wind park. It is also important to note that because of the fundamental
grid-forming requirement to behave like a slow voltage
Furthermore, the converter itself must be designed source behind an impedance, tracking of active power
considering a buffer for a certain amount of energy within setpoint changes can be slower in grid-forming control in
its own submodules to withstand the transients of critical AC comparison to the one in grid-following control. The
grid disturbances. dynamics of active power in grid-forming control depends
on the inertial design of the HVDC link and the strength of
the AC grids at each station. Similarly, fast tracking of
reactive power changes contradicts with the desired slow
voltage source behavior. Therefore, slower tracking of active
and reactive power setpoints should be expected whenever
grid-forming capabilities are required.

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Chapter 4 l E-STATCOM (SVC PLUS FS®) l Grid-forming converters for STATCOMs with short-Term energy storage

E-STATCOM
(SVC PLUS FS®)

4 Grid-forming converters for Siemens Energy solution for an E-STATCOM is referred to as

SVC PLUS FS®, which is represented schematically in the
Static Synchronous Compensators single-line diagram of Figure 12. The SVC PLUS FS® is
equipped with a Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC),
with energy storage connected in double-star configuration, similar to the HVDC
(SVC PLUS FS®) systems. The DC terminals of the MMC are connected to an
energy storage unit, consisting of bulk number of
Traditionally, Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) supercapacitors. The modular approach in design of the
devices, particularly Static Synchronous Compensators storage unit and the possibility of adding parallel branches
(STATCOMs), have been used for enhancing grid conditions allow reaching the storage capacity that is needed for
and facilitating the integration of renewables. STATCOMs specific performance requirements. Additional branches
with conventional grid-following control have been with storage units can be added to achieve higher power
effectively used as a controllable reactive power source for ratings.
stabilizing and controlling the grid voltage amplitude.
However, they can struggle in weak grid scenarios and of Supercapacitors were identified as the optimal choice of
course, cannot provide any active power support such as an storage elements for SVC PLUS FS® due to their high power
inertial response. density and low internal resistance. Contribution to system
inertia is most critical during transient periods following a
To address these concerns, an advanced version of frequency disturbance, typically lasting less than several
STATCOMs, known as the Extended or Enhanced STATCOM seconds. During these events supercapacitors are capable of
(E-STATCOM), has been recently developed. E-STATCOM uses providing or absorbing high active power in short amount of
grid-forming control (see chapter 2 for details) together with time. This allows supercapacitors to provide the required
an energy storage to incorporate the characteristics of a active power support for several seconds, aligning perfectly
synchronous machine into its control system. However, with the requirements for inertia response in a power
unlike synchronous machines, in E-STATCOMs, parameters system.
like inertia are control variables. Therefore, they can be
selected according to the system requirements during
design, under consideration of the hardware limitations.
This includes values that exceed properties of typical
synchronous machines.

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Chapter 4 l E-STATCOM (SVC PLUS FS®) l Grid-forming converters for STATCOMs with short-Term energy storage

Figure 12: Overview of STATCOM with energy storage (SVC PLUS FS®).

4.1 Siemens Energy grid-forming The voltage difference divided by the impedance determines
the inherent current response, which always acts to counter
control concept for E-STATCOM the grid changes. The stabilizing effect is more pronounced
in weaker grids, making the grid-forming control beneficial
The control system of the SVC PLUS FS® features a grid- for such conditions. Following the inherent support of the
forming control similar to the one used for the HVDC PLUS® grid-forming converter, the upper-level control adjusts the
shown in Figure 11, with the difference of a variable DC reactive power output according to the voltage control set-
voltage depending on the state of charge of the tings. The upper-level control time constants are selected by
supercapacitors. In SVC PLUS FS®, the energy of the storage Siemens Energy engineers to ensure stable operation across
unit is used for providing grid-forming functionalities like a wide range of system strengths.
inertia support.

The grid-forming control is aligned with the reference values

of reactive and active power from the upper-level control in
steady state condition. The upper-level control of SVC
PLUS FS® also controls the state of charge of the
supercapacitors. This is achieved by means of charging the
DC voltage to nominal value, following transient events as
well as during start-up and shutdown of the system.

During steady-state conditions, the SVC PLUS FS® operates

like a regular STATCOM, providing reactive power or voltage
support within its operational range. However, supporting
the system angle, frequency and voltage amplitude in the
sub-transient time domain is prioritized over the reference
value tracking from upper-level control. As an example,
Figure 13 shows the control behavior at a 10% voltage drop,
the response can be divided into two stages:
(1) instantaneous inherent response by GFM control and
(2) slower adjustment by the upper-control level.

In the example shown in Figure 13, when the grid voltage

suddenly drops to 0.9 pu, it causes a voltage difference be- Figure 13: Grid-forming inherent response during a 10% voltage drop
tween the grid voltage and internal voltage source of the followed by the reactive power control of the upper-level control.
converter.

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Chapter 4 l E-STATCOM (SVC PLUS FS®) l Grid-forming converters for STATCOMs with short-Term energy storage

4.2 Advantages of Siemens Energy

E-STATCOM with grid-forming
control
SVC PLUS FS® combines grid-forming control with both
active and reactive power support while respecting the
system operating diagrams. In short, the grid-supporting
functionalities of SVC PLUS FS® include:

• Inherent inertia support in frequency deviations

• Inherent active power response to phase jumps
• Weak grid support, e.g., in case of islanding or
grid-restoration, depending on the available energy
reserves, without the need for control mode
changes or parameter adaptations
• Inherent damping of oscillations in the grid in the
Figure 14: (Quasi-) steady-state operating area for SVC PLUS FS® at sub-synchronous range with no need for additional
nominal state of charge. damping controllers
In case of frequency deviations and phase-angle jumps, the • Flexibility in defining the inertia constant during
SVC PLUS FS® supports the grid with active power. This is design
however limited by the quasi-steady-state operating area
depicted in the P-/Q-diagram of Figure 14, until the new
steady-state operating point is reached, or the energy
reserves are depleted.
4.3 Physical constraints of
The active power output of the SVC PLUS FS® during such E-STATCOMs
disturbances depends on the maximum rate of change of
frequency (𝑅𝑜𝐶𝑜𝐹) and the effective inertia constant (𝐻) of
Due to the physical hardware limitations of the primary
the converter, which can be estimated by means of the
equipment such as converter maximum current, in case of
following equation, assuming provided that no limitations
excessive events the output should be limited. If the
apply (see section 4.3):
requested active power from the grid-forming control
𝑅𝑜𝐶𝑜𝐹 𝑅𝑜𝐶𝑜𝐹 exceeds the limits of the system design, which are defined
𝑃𝑖 = 2 𝐸kin =2𝐻𝑆 in the P-/Q-diagram of Figure 14, a dedicated control limits
𝑓G 𝑓G
the active power output, and the SVC PLUS FS® rides through
where 𝑃𝑖 is the active inertia power out of the converter, 𝑓G the disturbance at the maximum possible power.
is the grid frequency, 𝑆 is the nominal apparent power, and
𝐸kin is virtual kinetic energy, typically specified as “Inertia Similarly, the active power response can only be provided as
Contribution” in GWs, which a synchronous machine would long as the energy limits of the storage unit is not reached.
provide by means of its large rotating mass. Injecting active power to the grid discharges the storage unit
and absorbing active power, for instance during over-
frequency events, charges the storage unit. To illustrate,
Figure 15 shows the response of the SVC PLUS FS® during
several over-frequency events with different RoCoF values.
As shown, the SVC PLUS FS® absorbs power from the grid,
charging the supercapacitor. As soon as the energy limit of
the storage unit is reached, the device runs through the
event without further active power contribution. The limit is
reached faster with higher RoCoF values, as they require a
higher active power contribution. The reactive power
control remains unaffected.

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Chapter 4 l E-STATCOM (SVC PLUS FS®) l Grid-forming converters for STATCOMs with short-Term energy storage

Figure 15: Active power response of SVC PLUS FS® to frequency

deviations with different RoCoF values.

Moreover, due to aging of the supercapacitors during their

lifetime, effective capacity and internal resistance can
change. Therefore, these two parameters are usually
considered in system design at begin and end of their
lifetime. Figure 16 shows the behavior of SVC PLUS FS® Figure 16: Active power response during a frequency event-
at beginning of lifetime (BoL) in comparison to end of lifetime (EoL).
during a frequency excursion with a RoCoF of -0.4 Hz/s at
beginning of lifetime (BoL) in comparison to end of lifetime
(EoL). It can be seen the active power gets limiter sooner at
end of lifetime, due to reaching the capacity limit at an
earlier time.

Lastly, if the supercapacitor unit is not available, e.g. due to

maintenance, the SVC PLUS FS® can be operated in
decoupled operation mode with disconnected DC-link,
similar to a conventional STATCOM.

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Chapter 5 l STATCOM (SVC PLUS®) l Grid-forming converters for STATCOMs without energy storage

STATCOM
(SVC PLUS®)

5 Grid-forming converters for 5.1 Siemens Energy grid-forming

Static Synchronous Compensators control concept for STATCOMs
without energy storage The goal of any grid-forming converter control is to emulate
(SVC PLUS®) the behavior of a voltage source behind an impedance, as
discussed in Chapter 2. However, a very important aspect
Siemens Energy solution for a STATCOM without energy for power electronic devices is effective current limitation to
storage is called SVC PLUS®. The converter topology of SVC protect the converter hardware from overload conditions.
PLUS®, which uses MMC technology, is shown schematically Considering these two important aspects, the fundamental
in Figure 17. The three branches of SVC PLUS® are principle of the control proposed by Siemens Energy for
connected in delta topology, unlike the SVC PLUS FS®, SVC PLUS® converters, is presented in Figure 18.
where they are connected in a (double) star configuration.
The grid-forming control algorithm consists of four main
Siemens Energy has equipped its SVC PLUS® technology components: Fundamental frequency component,
with grid-forming control, bringing the advantages of grid- impedance adaptation, transient current limitation, and
forming converters to this solution as well. In this chapter, converter energy control. The role of each of these
after an introduction to the grid-forming control algorithm components will be explained in this section.
used for SVC PLUS®, these features are illustrated by means
of several simulation examples in real grid scenarios. The fundamental frequency control detects changes in AC
voltage and directly outputs a voltage that counters the
initial grid disturbance. The quasi-stationary converter
currents are limited such that design margins are always
respected.

Figure 17: Schematic diagram SVC PLUS® converter in delta topology.

Figure 18: Siemens Energy grid-forming control concept for SVC

PLUS®.

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Chapter 5 l STATCOM (SVC PLUS®) l Grid-forming converters for STATCOMs without energy storage

The system impedance is given by the converter reactors

and the transformer. The impedance adaptation will
modify the system impedance artificially to have the desired
converter response magnitude. This is also where the quasi-
stationary reactive power setpoint is considered.

An inherent response to a disturbance can potentially

include both active and reactive power components. The
converter energy control will balance the converter energy
in case of disturbances to ensure safe operation of the
converter.

As the initial response is inherent, there may be high

converter currents dependent on type and magnitude of
disturbance. The transient current limitation will prevent
overload conditions with respect to converter current. Once
the limitation becomes active, the converter behavior is no
longer as a voltage source behind an impedance.
Figure 19: Example grid topology shortly after black start.

5.2 Advantages of Siemens Energy Example 1: Switching of compensation reactor

In this test case, a compensation reactor at transformer
STATCOM with grid-forming control tertiary winding is switched on. The inductive load reduces
the voltage at the respective node. This leads to a
The main features of SVC PLUS® with grid-forming control corresponding negative voltage step. As shown in Figure 20,
are: without SVC PLUS®, one can observe a stationary voltage
drop. The voltage drop is limited by the synchronous
generator, which controls its AC voltage. Therefore, the
• Inherent AC voltage support in case of generator reactive power output increases accordingly to
disturbances provide the reactive power consumed by the reactor. The
• Operation in both strong and very weak grid purple curves show the performance with the SVC PLUS®
conditions, such as grid recovery scenarios, when and grid-forming control. As the converter provides reactive
there are only very few devices in power, the generator stationary operating point returns to
operation. its previous value. In addition to the stationary
compensation of the voltage drop, there is an inherent
reaction to the disturbance.

STATCOM with grid-forming provides inherent reactive Moreover, the voltage drop is massively reduced. The
power to support the grid voltage. In addition to the steady- inherent reaction can also be seen from Figure 20) where
state voltage support from the upper control level, there is the instantaneous values of the converter currents are
also transient voltage support with grid-forming control. given. The inherent reaction emerges instantly following
Following disturbances in the AC voltage, it counteracts the the disturbance and it reaches its full magnitude within one
disturbance inherently due to its voltage source behind grid cycle. Therefore, the connection of the reactive load has
impedance behavior. The inherent reaction emerges directly less impact on the grid and other grid components with SVC
and is fully available within approximately one grid cycle. PLUS® in operation, since the reactive power is
compensated locally for the most part.
The inherent voltage support of GFM control works under
both strong and weak grid conditions. However, the
beneficial effects become more evident when the grid is
particularly weak. An example of such a weak grid is a
situation shortly after black start, when only very few
devices are in operation. Figure 19 shows a situation as
expected by system operators, where there is one
generator, transformers, and transmission lines on two
voltage levels in operation. One STATCOM is connected in
this scenario to a weak grid (short circuit ratio close to 1).
Conventional grid-following converters can become
unstable under these conditions. However, the GFM
converter adds to grid strength and stability, which is
illustrated in the following simulation examples.

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Chapter 5 l STATCOM (SVC PLUS®) l Grid-forming converters for STATCOMs without energy storage

Figure 20: Voltage and reactive power during connection of compen- Figure 21: Voltage and reactive power during connection of
sation reactor with and without SVC PLUS® with grid-forming control. capacitive load.

Example 2: Connection of capacitive load

In this test case, additional transmission lines with no load
are connected to the grid. The test case corresponds to a
positive voltage step at point of connection. The capacitive
nature of the lines leads to an increase of AC voltage and
reactive power flow towards the generator, as shown in
Figure 21. By connecting additional lines, the respective
resonance frequencies are excited. One can see from the
results that the voltage shows substantial harmonic
content. Although the harmonics are damped, they persist
even until the new stationary voltage is reached.

However, with the SVC PLUS® and grid-forming control, the

voltage deviation is massively reduced, and the stationary
operation point is reached much faster, as seen in
Figure 21. The grid-forming control also attenuates Figure 22: Instantaneous voltage at different nodes during connection
oscillations in grid voltage that otherwise persist for a of capacitive load.
longer time.

The benefit of grid-forming control can also be seen from 5.3 Physical constraints and
the instantaneous values of the converter current and AC
voltage at exemplary nodes of the grid, as shown in
limitations of grid-forming
Figure 22. As seen, the initial distortion is damped and the STATCOM
impact on the generator is reduced (Figure 22).
As mentioned in section 5.1, converters need to be
protected against overload conditions to ensure safe
operation. Stationary and transient currents must always be
within design limits. This also applies to converter energy
which is required to generate the desired output voltage.
The inherent response of the converter emerges directly in
the instant of the event. However, once limitations are
reached, the behavior of the converter is no longer purely
inherent.

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Chapter 5 l STATCOM (SVC PLUS®) l Grid-forming converters for STATCOMs without energy storage

Disturbances in grid voltage might induce both reactive and

active power exchange between converter and grid. As the
SVC PLUS® does not have an additional energy storage as in
SVC PLUS FS®, its ability to provide active power is very
limited.

Inherent reaction to events might provoke high converter

currents dependent on the type and magnitude of the
disturbance. Therefore, the converter control has a transient
current limitation, as shown in Figure 18.

Lastly, the quasi-stationary converter currents are controlled

such that the converter is operated within its permissible
operating area. During fault ride through events with very
low residual voltage, the quasi-stationary currents might be
further reduced to prevent overload when the voltage
recovers.

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Chapter 6 l Summary and Conclusions

Summary and
conclusions

6 Summary and conclusions HVDC PLUS® with grid-forming converter control can
provide inherent reactive power support and also inertia
support by utilizing the active power available from the
With the increasing share of converter-interfaced
HVDC link, supporting the grid which sees the disturbance
renewables in power systems, grid-forming converters are
by using the active power from the remote HVDC station.
emerging as a vital solution to maintain grid stability. Grid-
forming converters bring several grid-supporting
Similarly, SVC PLUS FS® (E-STATCOM) with grid-forming
functionalities of the well-known synchronous generators to
converter control uses its high-power density energy storage
the grid, including:
to inherently respond to disturbances to the AC frequency or
the angle, as well as providing inherent reactive power
compensation to support the grid.
• Inherent reaction to disturbances in grid, counter-
acting changes in grid voltage, frequency, and SVC PLUS® with grid-forming control can contribute to grid
phase stability by providing inherent reactive power support. Its
• Inherent damping of oscillations in power systems immediate reaction to grid voltage disturbances improves
voltage quality, especially under weak grid conditions.
• Capability to operate in all short-circuit levels
including in weak and islanded grids
In conclusion, Siemens Energy brings grid-forming inherent
• Capability to be the only component in the grid, functionalities to different applications and voltage levels.
responsible for establishing voltage and frequency Our innovative grid-forming solutions can pave the way for
a future powered by 100 % renewable energy. Ready to
unlock the full potential of renewables? Contact us to discuss
Siemens Energy offers grid-forming converters and their
how our grid-forming technology can help you achieve your
advantages across its portfolio including in its main
clean energy goals.
converter-based grid technologies: HVDC PLUS®,
SVC PLUS FS® and SVC PLUS ® (STATCOMs with and without
energy storage).

In this whitepaper, the concept of grid-forming is

introduced, highlighting its advantages and benefits in
comparison to the well-established grid-following control.
The grid-forming functionalities are described, and typical
procedures used by Siemens Energy to validate these
functionalities are explained in detail.

For each technology (HVDC PLUS®, SVC PLUS® and

SVC PLUS FS®), the benefits that grid-forming converters
can bring in the context of each application are also
discussed in detail.

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Chapter 6 l Summary and Conclusions

Published by
Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
Grid Technologies
Siemenspromenade 11
91058 Erlangen
Germany

For the U.S. published by

Siemens Energy, Inc
Grid Technologies
8841 Wadford Drive
Raleigh, NC 27616
USA

Authors:
Shahab Karrari, André Schön, Błażej Strong, Ebrahim Rokrok,
German Kuhn, Lutz Hanel, Roberto Rosso, Saman Dadjo Tavakoli,
Alexandra Löckel

For more information, please contact:

[email protected]

siemens-energy.com

© Siemens Energy, 2024.

Siemens Energy is a trademark licensed by Siemens AG.

Subject to changes and corrections. The information given in this

document only contains general descriptions and/or performance
features which may not always specifically reflect those described,
or which may undergo modification in the course of further
development of the products. The requested performance features
are binding only when they are expressly agreed upon in the
concluded contract. The performances and features shown in this
whitepaper are not in any way guaranteed performance for HVDC
PLUS®, SVC PLUS FS®, and SVC PLUS® systems, as the system
behavior can vary significantly depending on project-specific
parameters and grid-forming and non-grid-forming requirements.

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