American Superconductor Corp. (AMSC; Westborough, Massachusetts, U.S.) announces the successful operation and testing of an advanced prototype SuperVAR synchronous condenser, generating 8 MVAR of reactive power on a continuous basis when synchronized with the First Energy power transmission grid in Mansfield, Ohio, U.S.

The new SuperVAR machine improves an earlier model that was installed in January 2004 on a power grid in Gallatin, Tennessee, U.S., in collaboration with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). TVA has committed to purchase five SuperVAR synchronous condensers, conditional on the successful operation and testing of this prototype on its grid. Based on results of the initial shakedown of the first SuperVAR prototype in early 2004, AMSC engineers improved its rotor design to increase the robustness of the machine and to further reduce its cost of manufacturing. This advanced prototype has been successfully tested on the power grid at Ideal Electric Co. in Mansfield.

The new prototype is in transit from Mansfield to Gallatin, and will be installed at TVA's electrical sub-station serving a steel mill operated by the Hoeganaes Corp. in Gallatin. The SuperVAR machine will help stabilize voltage by injecting reactive power into the grid to compensate for voltage fluctuations caused by the steel mill's arc furnace. Following successful operation of the prototype, it is expected that TVA will begin to release the ordered units for production.
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