China has developed a world-first high-voltage synchronous condenser, reviving a century-old grid stabiliser technology to support the country’s rapid transition to renewable energy, according to a state media report.
The state-run China Electric Power News said on April 10 that a 35-kilovolt direct-connection rotating machine developed by Dongfang Electric Machinery had successfully passed testing earlier that day.
The successful test made Dongfang’s synchronous condenser the first in the world to reach such a high voltage, eliminating the need for intermediate step-up transformers to achieve direct grid connection, the report said.
The achievement comes at a time when China is undergoing an unprecedented renewable energy transition, spurred by its dual goals of reaching peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
This has been driven by the rapid installation of wind and solar power, particularly in the country’s northern and western regions, with their abundant natural energy resources.
02:23
China’s coal miners worry about a greener future
