Hitachi Energy today announced it has won a major order from Electricity and Water Authority (EWA), Bahrain’s national electric and water utility, to provide a power quality solution to improve voltage stability and increase capacity in the national high-voltage transmission grid.

A more resilient and stable grid transmitting more high-quality power will help Bahrain meet the growing demand for electricity and integrate large-scale renewables to reach its 10 percent clean energy target by 2035.

“Bahrain is entering an exciting phase as it evolves its economy into new sectors and prepares to integrate large-scale renewables into its power mix,” said Dr. Mostafa AlGuezeri, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy for the UAE, Gulf, Near East and Pakistan. “A resilient power grid will play an essential role in helping the country achieve its economic, societal and sustainability goals.”

The solution comprises three SVC Light® STATCOMs (static synchronous compensators), which will be installed close to load centers to improve grid stability and increase power flows throughout the entire grid.

Hitachi Energy’s innovative SVC Light technology provides instantaneous reactive power in response to voltage fluctuations. It is part of a suite of grid and power quality technologies developed by Hitachi Energy to boost transmission capacity and increase the quality and resilience of AC power systems.

STATCOMs are typically used to bolster weak grids, integrate intermittent power supply from large wind and solar energy plants, and stabilize the effects of load fluctuations caused by large energy-using industries like aluminum and petrochemicals, both of which account for almost two-thirds of Bahrain’s energy use.

STATCOM technologies, such as SVC Light from Hitachi Energy, have a 40 percent lower3 carbon footprint over their life cycle compared to traditional solutions.

Hitachi Energy is the market and technology leader in power quality solutions. The company recently launched SVC Light® Enhanced – its next-generation grid stabilization solution, which combines two grid-stabilizing technologies in one device. Earlier this year the company announced it will deliver the world’s most powerful STATCOMs,4 enabling more renewable energy to flow through the German transmission system. Other recent innovations include the world’s first hybrid synchronous condenser and STATCOM in the UK.