Smart Wires is advancing transmission grid performance through its SmartValve platform, a modular power flow control solution designed to increase the capacity, flexibility, and reliability of existing AC networks. The technology is based on series compensation using power electronics, enabling utilities to directly control how power flows across transmission lines, an increasingly critical capability as grids evolve to accommodate higher levels of renewable generation and variable demand.
SmartValve operates as a series-connected device installed on transmission lines, where it injects a controlled voltage in series with the line. This injected voltage effectively alters the apparent line reactance, thereby influencing the distribution of current across parallel transmission paths. By reducing or increasing the effective impedance of specific lines, SmartValve enables operators to redirect power flows away from congested corridors and toward underutilized infrastructure, improving overall grid utilization without physical network expansion.
Unlike conventional fixed series capacitors, SmartValve provides continuously variable compensation, allowing real-time adjustment of power flow in response to changing grid conditions. This dynamic behavior is achieved through embedded power electronic converters that regulate the magnitude and polarity of the injected voltage. As a result, the system can respond rapidly to contingencies such as line outages, load fluctuations, or renewable intermittency, maintaining system stability and preventing overload conditions.
A defining feature of the SmartValve platform is its modular, building-block architecture. Each installation consists of multiple single-phase modules mounted directly on transmission structures. These modules can be scaled incrementally to match specific grid requirements, enabling utilities to deploy only the level of compensation needed. This approach simplifies logistics, reduces installation complexity, and allows for phased capacity upgrades aligned with network demand growth.
SmartValve is engineered as a non-intrusive, grid-edge solution. It does not require new substations, extensive civil works, or additional transmission corridors. Instead, it leverages existing infrastructure, significantly reducing permitting challenges, environmental impact, and project timelines. According to Smart Wires, installations can typically be completed much faster than traditional transmission upgrades, making it a practical solution for addressing near-term congestion and capacity constraints.
The system also incorporates advanced monitoring and control capabilities, enabling integration with utility control centers. Operators can visualize network conditions and adjust compensation levels in real time, enhancing situational awareness and operational flexibility. This digital control layer supports improved reliability, as the system can automatically adapt to disturbances and maintain optimal power flow distribution.
SmartValve effectively increases transfer capacity and network efficiency by unlocking latent capacity within existing transmission assets. By redistributing power flows, it reduces thermal overload risks, minimizes congestion costs, and enables higher penetration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. This is particularly important in regions where renewable generation is geographically distant from load centers.
Overall, SmartValve represents a shift from traditional “build more infrastructure” approaches toward intelligent control of existing networks, aligning with modern grid strategies focused on flexibility, resilience, and decarbonization.
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About Smart Wires
Smart Wires is a global provider of power flow control solutions for electric transmission systems. The company specializes in modular, power electronics-based technologies that enhance the capacity and reliability of existing grids. By enabling utilities to dynamically control power flows, Smart Wires supports the efficient integration of renewable energy and the modernization of transmission infrastructure without the need for large-scale physical expansion.
