High Power Semiconductor Devices for FACTS

Rapidly increasing demands for electrical energy and diminishing natural resources in modern times have led to concerns that future electricity needs cannot be met. A number of technological solutions are being publicly proposed to meet this challenge: efficient lighting, improved insulation, and alternative energy sources. However, in 2009 an estimated 6.5% of all electricity generated in the US was lost due to transmission and distribution inefficiency (1). Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) address this problem by using advanced power electronics to precisely regulate the reactive power on the grid to minimize losses (2).