FACTS opportunities in England and Wales

The privatisation of the electricity supply industry is England and Wales in March 1990 unbundled generation, transmission and distribution. Consequently, the design and operation of the transmission system needs to be sufficiently robust and flexible to accommodate wide variations in the generation pattern. To ensure system security, a number of transmission reinforcements are required. Here, the author describes how FACTS devices offer an alternative to conventional system reinforcement with potential advantages of increased flexibility, lower cost and reduced environmental impact