The SiC revolution
in active compensation
GRIDVAR-X represents the flagship of Forte's active power quality portfolio — built on Silicon Carbide (SiC) switching technology rather than conventional IGBT. SiC operates at > 100 kHz switching frequency, delivering compensation current that is far closer to an ideal sine wave than any IGBT-based system.
The result: 4 µs instantaneous response time — eradicating transient disturbances from arc furnaces, large presses and crane drives before they propagate into the grid. System efficiency reaches up to 98%, reducing operating costs and heat dissipation compared to lower-efficiency IGBT systems.
GRIDVAR-X also features a fully redundant parallel architecture with up to 10 modules, integrated Bluetooth and mobile app control, and per-order independent harmonic filtering across the full 2nd–51st harmonic spectrum.
to grid transients
— independent per order
GRIDVAR-X — Full Specification
All parameters from the official SiC product datasheet. Contact our engineering team for project-specific configurations.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product series | GRIDVAR-X — Premium SiC Active SVG / AHF |
| Control algorithm | Current dual closed-loop active damping |
| Switching device | Silicon Carbide (SiC) |
| Function | SVG (Reactive Power Compensation) + AHF (Harmonic Filtering) — simultaneous operation |
| Operating voltage | 220V – 380V (+10% / −15%) |
| Frequency | 50 / 60 Hz (±5%) |
| Connection type | 3-Phase 3-Wire (3P3W) and 3-Phase 4-Wire (3P4W) |
| Module capacity options | 30 kVAr · 50 kVAr · 100 kVAr · 150 kVAr |
| Instantaneous response | 4 µs |
| Full response time | ¼ cycle (fundamental) / 1 cycle (harmonic) |
| Switching frequency | > 100 kHz |
| System efficiency | up to 98% |
| Power factor target | Configurable −1 to 1 (cosφ = 1.00 achievable) |
| Harmonic filtering range | 2nd – 51st harmonic (independent per-order selection) |
| Resonance suppression | Active suppression |
| 3-Phase load balancing | Yes — active phase and neutral current balancing |
| Max. parallel modules | Up to 10 modules (smart rotation) |
| Parallel current sharing | Equal, fixed, or intelligent (assignable ratio per module) |
| Redundancy | Faulty module auto-isolates; remaining modules increase output to compensate |
| Hot-swap | Live module exchange supported (verify for SiC variant) |
| Operating temperature | −10°C ~ +40°C (derating 2.5%/°C from 40°C to 50°C) |
| Humidity | < 95% (non-condensing) |
| Altitude | < 1000 m full load; 1% derating per 100 m; max. 3000 m |
| Storage temperature | −25°C ~ +70°C |
| Cooling | Forced-air cooling — adaptive wind speed regulation |
| Communication interface | Bluetooth / Mobile APP, RS485 / CAN / RJ45 |
| Capacitor switching | Configurable group or individual compensation switching control |
| CT specification | 5A — load side or grid side |
| Seismic rating | IBC certified |
| IP protection | IP20 (other levels customisable) |
| PCBA protection | Environmentally friendly conformal coating |
| Standards | IEC 61000-3-4 / IEC 61439-1 |
Six Reasons GRIDVAR-X Outperforms IGBT
Silicon Carbide is not an incremental improvement over IGBT — it is a fundamentally different semiconductor material with superior physical properties.
4 µs — Speed of Light Response
GRIDVAR-X reacts to arc furnace transients, crane impacts and large press cycles in just 4 microseconds — ~1,250× faster than a ≤5 ms IGBT system. Grid disturbances are cancelled before they cause voltage sags or equipment trips.
> 100 kHz Switching Frequency
SiC switches at > 100 kHz — ~4 times higher than IGBT at > 100 kHz. Higher switching frequency produces compensation current far closer to a perfect sine wave, reacting to the smallest grid fluctuation with exceptional accuracy.
up to 98% System Efficiency
SiC's lower conduction and switching losses deliver up to 98% efficiency — compared to >97.5% for IGBT. In high-capacity installations, this difference translates directly into reduced operating costs and lower cooling requirements.
2nd – 51st Harmonic — Independent Selection
GRIDVAR-X filters the complete harmonic spectrum from the 2nd to the 51st order. Unlike systems that filter all harmonics together, each order can be individually enabled or disabled — allowing exact tuning to your grid code requirements.
Full Redundancy Architecture
If any module develops a fault, it automatically goes offline while the remaining modules increase output to cover the lost current — maintaining full compensation without operator intervention. Hot-swap allows module replacement under live conditions.
Bluetooth + Mobile APP Control
Integrated Bluetooth interface allows all operating parameters — harmonic priorities, power factor targets, load sharing ratios — to be configured and monitored via the GRIDVAR-X mobile application on any smartphone.
Four Capacity Options
All GRIDVAR-X modules share the same SiC platform and redundancy architecture. Mix capacities within the same parallel group for maximum flexibility.
All modules: IP20 · 3P3W / 3P4W · Bluetooth / Mobile APP · RS485 / CAN / RJ45 · IEC 61000-3-4 / IEC 61439-1
Mixed-capacity parallel operation supported — up to 10 modules per group
Built for Critical Industrial Uptime
In steel mills and arc furnace operations, compensation system downtime is not an option. GRIDVAR-X is designed with multiple overlapping redundancy mechanisms.
Automatic Fault Isolation
A faulty module detects its own fault and automatically disconnects from the parallel group. No operator action required — the remaining modules immediately increase output current to compensate for the lost capacity.
Smart Module Rotation
Operating hours are distributed equally across all parallel modules through smart rotation — extending the service life of each individual unit and reducing the maintenance burden of the system as a whole.
Hot-Swap Live Replacement
GRIDVAR-X modules support live hot-swap exchange under energised conditions. A faulty module can be physically replaced while the remaining modules continue compensating — zero production downtime.
No Central Controller Required
GRIDVAR-X uses peer-to-peer module communication — there is no single master controller whose failure would bring down the system. Load sharing mode (equal, fixed or intelligent) is fully configurable per module.
Where GRIDVAR-X Is Specified
When passive or standard IGBT-based active systems reach their limits — GRIDVAR-X is the answer.
Arc Furnace
The most demanding power quality environment. 4 µs SiC response eradicates arc furnace flicker and voltage sags before they affect neighbouring equipment.
Steel Rolling Mills
Combination of large motor drives, crane systems and high harmonic generation. GRIDVAR-X handles all three simultaneously with independent harmonic order selection.
Mining — Large Drives
High-power SAG mills, conveyors and crushers generating severe 5th, 7th, 11th and 13th harmonic currents that destroy capacitor banks and overheat transformers.
Port Cranes & Ship Loaders
Massive rapid reactive swings from container crane acceleration cycles. Only SiC response speed is fast enough to prevent voltage fluctuation on a shared bus.
Critical Facilities
Hospital imaging suites, clean-room production and precision manufacturing. GRIDVAR-X redundancy architecture ensures compensation is never interrupted.
Hyperscale Data Centres
Large UPS input stages with severe harmonic injection. Independent per-order harmonic control meets the strictest utility grid code requirements.
Energy Storage Systems
Hybrid BESS + active power quality. GRIDVAR-X manages reactive power and harmonics alongside the PCS — preventing interaction between grid and battery.
Large Renewables
Grid-connected solar and wind farms at the point of common coupling. Reactive support and harmonic compliance in a single compact active module.
