New Ramboll Grid Technology Acts as Universal Shock Absorber to Reduce Outages and Strengthen Energy Resilience

New Ramboll Grid Technology Acts as Universal Shock Absorber to Reduce Outages and Strengthen Energy Resilience

(IN BRIEF) Ramboll has developed the Universal Damping STATCOM, a patent-pending grid technology designed to stabilise power systems as renewable energy sources are added to aging infrastructure. Acting as a “universal shock absorber,” the solution dynamically detects and neutralises voltage oscillations, reducing outage risk, lowering system costs and improving resilience. The technology enables easier integration of renewables, supports decarbonisation efforts worldwide and offers a cost-effective alternative to conventional grid upgrades. Ramboll is now working with industry partners to bring the innovation to market and deploy it globally.

(PRESS RELEASE) ARLINGTON, VA, United States, 28-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Ramboll has unveiled a new breakthrough power-grid technology designed to address one of the most persistent challenges facing modern energy systems: maintaining stability as increasing numbers of renewable energy sources are connected to aging grid infrastructure. Developed by Ramboll engineers, the Universal Damping STATCOM is a patent-pending solution that acts as a “universal shock absorber” for electricity grids, significantly reducing the risk of instability, outages and costly system upgrades.

As renewable generation from solar, wind and battery storage continues to grow, power grids are increasingly exposed to oscillations—unwanted fluctuations in voltage and power flow that can compromise reliability. These effects have become more pronounced as new technologies are added to systems originally designed decades ago, a challenge highlighted by large-scale outages such as those experienced in parts of Southern Europe in recent years. Ramboll’s new solution directly addresses this systemic vulnerability.

Installed at critical nodes within an existing transmission system, the Universal Damping STATCOM continuously detects and neutralises voltage oscillations as they occur. Instead of relying on predefined assumptions about future grid configurations, the technology responds dynamically to any observable oscillation, absorbing the excess energy and converting it into usable power. When combined with energy storage capabilities, the system provides a powerful new tool for transmission system operators seeking to maintain grid stability in increasingly complex energy environments.

The innovation is designed to reduce both technical risk and economic barriers associated with renewable integration. By preventing oscillations at their source, the Universal Damping STATCOM can help avoid widespread power outages, minimise downtime and lower long-term infrastructure costs. Compared with conventional STATCOM solutions, the technology is expected to require only a modest additional investment, with costs decreasing further as adoption scales.

Ramboll’s engineers note that traditional approaches to grid stability rely on predicting every possible future configuration and tuning damping controls accordingly—an increasingly difficult task as energy systems evolve. The new technology removes this limitation by offering a universal, adaptive response capable of handling unforeseen changes in generation, load patterns and operating conditions.

Beyond reliability benefits, the solution is expected to accelerate the global energy transition. By making it easier and less risky to integrate renewables, the Universal Damping STATCOM supports decarbonisation efforts while strengthening resilience, particularly in regions where grid modernisation budgets are limited. Ramboll is currently engaging with equipment manufacturers, utilities and investors to bring the technology to market and enable large-scale deployment worldwide.

With decades of experience in power system engineering, Ramboll positions this invention as a transformative step toward more sustainable, affordable and resilient energy systems—helping utilities and communities alike adapt to the demands of a rapidly changing energy landscape.

SOURCE: Ramboll Group AS