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New Transmission Technology Helps Make TVA’s Grid Even More Reliable

GALLATIN, Tenn. — TVA and American Superconductor Corporation unveiled an innovation in transmission technology today that will help ensure delivery of high-quality, reliable power from TVA and may help prevent future brownouts or blackouts nationwide.

The SuperVAR™ dynamic synchronous condenser, developed jointly by engineers and product managers at TVA and AMSC, stabilizes grid voltages. As the demand for power increases and more electricity is transmitted, power lines become stressed. This may lead to voltage instability, which in turn, may result in power outages.

“As recent events showed us, reliable electricity is a precious commodity,” said TVA Director Skila Harris. “TVA has always worked to provide affordable, reliable power to the people of the Tennessee Valley. Thanks to the ingenuity of TVA and American Superconductor engineers, we believe SuperVAR machines will help TVA continue to meet that commitment to our customers.”

SuperVAR synchronous condensers are high-temperature superconductor rotating machines, which run in harmony with the power system. They are controlled by a regulator to generate or absorb reactive power, acting as a “shock absorber” when the power system’s voltage drops or changes suddenly. Balancing voltage prevents damage to the transmission system and to generating plants.

“Our SuperVAR synchronous condensers offer utilities a new option for stabilizing voltage and ensuring reliable, maximum-capacity electricity transmission,” said American Superconductor President and Chief Executive Officer Greg Yurek. “The advanced capabilities of our SuperVAR machines reflect the decades of engineering and power industry expertise our team brings to the marketplace.”

In coordination with Gallatin Department of Electricity, the SuperVAR prototype will be connected to the grid at a substation serving the Hoeganaes Corporation in Gallatin early next year.

“In today’s digital economy, keeping voltage levels constant and stable is vital,” said TVA Executive Vice President of Transmission/Power Supply Terry Boston. “That’s what our customers expect, and we believe that’s what this new technology will help us deliver.”

In 2001, the TVA and AMSC team began working on the prototype to find the lowest-cost option for increasing transmission voltage stability. The SuperVAR machine is expected to use 50 percent less energy than conventional synchronous condensers.

“TVA has a rich history of research and development,” said Kate Jackson, TVA’s executive vice president responsible for science and technology. “From technologies to improve water quality to innovations in power production and transmission, TVA has worked with its partners to provide the people of the Tennessee Valley with low-cost, reliable power and improve the region’s quality of life.”

The Hoeganaes Corporation produces metal powders using a three-phase electric arc manufacturing process. This process creates a voltage “flicker” on the transmission system. The SuperVAR machine will reduce this fluctuation.

America Superconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: AMSC) is a world-leading supplier of dynamic reactive power grid stabilization products and the world’s principal vendor of high temperature superconductor wire and large rotating superconductor machinery.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power producer and is completely self-financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve 8.3 million consumers in seven southeastern states.

Media Contacts:

Gil Francis, Knoxville (865-632-8031) or TVA News Bureau, Knoxville (865-632-6000)

TVA Newsroom

Adam Banker, American Superconductor (508-621-4375),
abanker@amsuper.com, www.amsuper.com