Main results of an investigation relevant to possible applications of FACTS equipment in ENEL transmission system

The author describes how, in 1990, ENEL started a research project to explore the possible use of power electronic based devices to make its transmission system more flexible. This decision was motivated by difficulties experienced in recent years and related to: the environmental and regulatory policies limiting or delaying installation of new facilities in the transmission network; and the increase of power transfer with neighbouring countries to cope with delays in installation of new generating plants and to profit of short term opportunities of energy exchanges. Another complicating factor due to the institutional change in the Italian electricity supply industry, is the liberalization of non utility generation, the location of which is not completely under utility control. For the above reasons, the existing transmission system may be asked to carry out, in the future, duties different from those it was planned for