Electromontaj has completed the first two STATCOM installations in Romania’s Electricity Transmission Network (RET), located at the Sibiu Sud and Bradu substations. The project was completed 12 months ahead of the deadline set out in the European funding contract, following an investment of approximately 260 million lei, of which around 254 million lei came from the Modernisation Fund.

The project was carried out for Transelectrica by Electromontaj, in association with Siemens Energy, and brings two +/-150 MVAr STATCOM installations into the national power system.

STATCOM – Static Synchronous Compensator – technology enables dynamic and continuous voltage regulation and reactive power compensation. The installations respond in real time to fluctuations in consumption and generation, helping keep voltage within optimal operating parameters and improving grid stability under both normal operating conditions and fault scenarios.

The role of such equipment is becoming increasingly important as larger volumes of wind and solar power, with their variable output, are integrated into the system. According to Electromontaj, the two installations also help dampen power oscillations within the interconnected European ENTSO-E system and increase the operational flexibility of the Electricity Transmission Grid.

Sibiu Sud, Romania’s first substation operating at five voltage levels

The first stage of the project was completed in December 2025, when the STATCOM installation at the Sibiu Sud substation was commissioned, becoming the first of its kind in Romania’s Electricity Transmission Grid. The Bradu STATCOM installation was energised in May 2026, and the project was subsequently officially completed.

The investment also marks a technical first for Romania’s energy infrastructure. By integrating the STATCOM installation at the 37 kV level, Sibiu Sud becomes the first electrical substation in Romania to operate at five voltage levels: 400/220/110/37/20 kV.

Implementation involved construction and installation works, equipment installation, testing and commissioning at two important nodes of the national transmission grid, as well as the integration of equipment designed for the rapid control of system parameters.

“This project represents more than an execution achievement. It is a landmark investment in the modernisation of Romania’s energy infrastructure and an example of how cooperation between the beneficiary, partners and specialised teams contributes to the transformation of the National Power System,” said Ionuț Tănăsoaica, CEO of Electromontaj. According to him, completing the project ahead of schedule confirms the company’s ability to deliver complex projects with a direct impact on energy security and the integration of renewable energy sources.