Smart Wires announces delivery of second project with ISA TRANSELCA to accelerate connection of renewables

The Atlántico region is set to experience substantial growth in electricity demand, with 1.5 GW of wind and solar generation already approved for connection. This is significantly increasing power flows on transmission circuits in the area and was predicted to cause overloads on multiple circuits, especially in contingency scenarios (N-1).

ISA TRANSELCA proposed deploying SmartValves to resolve congestion on five 220 kV circuits. The national planning agency, UPME, selected Smart Wires’ APFC solution as the preferred option and included it in the national expansion plan.

SmartValve™ is an advanced power flow control (APFC) solution that quickly solves grid bottlenecks and other grid issues to create extra capacity and support optimized use of the existing grid. It is a patented, award-winning, single-phase, modular Static Synchronous Series Compensator (m-SSSC) that injects a voltage in quadrature with the line current to synthesize a capacitive (- Ωs) or inductive (+ Ωs) reactance. This means it can push power off overloaded lines or pull power onto underutilized lines.

SmartValve provided a faster lead time and avoided lengthy permitting and disruption to communities associated with alternative network options. Its modular nature also provides ISA TRANSELCA with the flexibility to adapt the solution over time as system needs evolve.

By deploying SmartValves across five circuits at two sites to push power off overloaded circuits and onto circuits with spare capacity, ISA TRANSELCA can unlock over 300 MW of extra capacity on the existing grid to support the connection of new renewable energy generation and improve the utilization of capacity on new infrastructure in the area.

“Our collaboration with ISA TRANSELCA exemplifies how strategic investments in APFC can optimize grid capabilities and expedite the adoption of renewable energy,” said Joaquin Peirano, General Manager for the Americas at Smart Wires. “Following the successful completion of the CO-COST project last year, this new project leverages our partnership to bring reliable, scalable solutions to address the challenges of modern energy distribution.”

As part of the project the SmartValves at the Nueva Barranquilla substation are uniquely housed indoors to provide a durable solution in a highly corrosive environment caused by proximity to heavy industry and the sea. This indoor deployment is made possible due to the flexibility of SmartValve, which means that the layout can be optimized for the space available.

Smart Wires has been active in Colombia for the past five years, starting with a pilot project with Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) in 2021 and followed by multiple large-scale projects with EPM, Enlaza-GEB, and ISA TRANSELCA. These projects have already helped unlock over 1.2 GW of firm transmission capacity, improving access to clean, reliable, affordable electricity for consumers across Colombia.

About Smart Wires

Smart Wires is the world’s leading grid enhancing technology and services provider. We help electric utilities unlock firm capacity and solve their critical grid issues, using our solutions to create a more flexible, reliable and affordable grid. This enables a faster, more cost-efficient path to meet growing electricity demand with clean energy generation, at lowest cost to consumers. Headquartered in the Research Triangle of North Carolina, Smart Wires has a global workforce of passionate and visionary industry-leading experts across four continents, who work every day to transform grids globally. In collaboration with our customers and partners, we’ve unlocked over 3.8 Gigawatts capacity—enough to power over 2.5 million homes—supporting the faster integration of clean energy and new demand, enhancing security of supply and delivering cost savings to consumers.

Together, we are reimagining the grid for net zero.

www.smartwires.com