Unlocking the Hidden Capacity of the Electrical Grid Through Smart Transformer and Smart Transmission

Power systems are experiencing a rapid and dramatic transformation driven by the massive integration of nondispatchable renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, and highly variable loads, such as electric vehicles and air conditioning. This challenges existing grid assets, eventually leading to updating them, which, in turn, increases significantly the costs of sustainable technologies. Power electronics is a pivotal technology for electrical power processing for renewable energies and sustainable transportation. By means of ``smart'' functionalities, power electronics converters already embedded in such applications can also contribute to guaranteeing the overall system's stable operation. Anyway, this cooperative contribution from distributed devices may be not enough leading to the need for the voltage transformation and power transmission of ``system-level'' power electronics solutions. In the case of large charging stations, a smart transformer (ST), while, in the case of large solar and wind parks, integration medium- or high-voltage direct current (HVdc) transmissions are system-level solutions. This article wants to review the potential of using such infrastructures to increase the capacity of existing grid assets, avoiding or deferring their upgrade and, hence, reducing the overall costs of renewables integration and the electrification of the transport sector. In fact, the power converters embedded in ST and HVdc can provide fast frequency and voltage response, and precise control of power flow acting at the system level much more effectively and feasibly for system operators as the distributed power converters embedded in several small sources and users. This article reviews, for the first time, these two key power electronics ``system-level'' solutions together--ST and HVdc--starting from their basic functionalities and showings how they can go beyond them, showing how, with grid-forming functionalities, they can offer new ``smart grid'' tools to enhance the capability of the existing electric grid infrastructures.

Automated summary

This article discusses the transformation of power systems driven by the integration of renewable energy sources and variable loads, and the role of power electronics in enabling flexible power processing. The article explores the potential of system-level power electronics solutions, such as smart transformers and high-voltage direct current transmission, in increasing the capacity of existing grid assets, reducing upgrade costs, and enhancing the capability of electric grid infrastructures through smart grid tools.