Static VAR Compensator (SVC)

A shunt-connected, power-electronics-based reactive compensation device that uses thyristor-switched capacitors (TSC) and thyristor-controlled reactors (TCR) to provide continuously variable reactive power — from fully lagging (inductive) to fully leading (capacitive) — within milliseconds of a voltage change. SVCs respond far more rapidly than mechanically switched banks, making them effective for post-fault voltage recovery, flicker mitigation (near arc furnaces), and voltage support on long radial lines. Their reactive output decreases with the square of the bus voltage, limiting effectiveness during severe voltage depressions.

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