Queensland based energy technology company EcoJoule Energy has completed the first installation of its EcoVAR Static Compensator (STATCOM) in the United Kingdom, marking the company’s first deployment in the UK market, according to EcoJoule Energy.
The project has been delivered in partnership with UK Power Networks (UKPN) and EcoJoule Energy’s UK partner Fundamentals, and forms part of a five-unit trial under the Low Voltage Regulator (LeVeR) program, EcoJoule Energy said.
The trial is designed to assess the technology’s ability to manage voltage variability at the low-voltage level, where most homes and businesses are connected.
The first unit has been installed in Graveney Bridge, with performance data to be collected across different operating and weather conditions, EcoJoule Energy said.
EcoJoule Energy founder and chief executive Dr Mike Wishart said the installation represented a milestone in the company’s international expansion.
“We’re thrilled to partner with UKPN and Fundamentals to have an EcoVAR system deployed for the first time in the UK,” Dr Wishart said, adding that the technology was intended to help electricity networks manage the impacts of rapid electrification and the transition to cleaner energy systems.
UK Power Networks head of innovation Luca Grella said the trial would help the utility assess how digital solutions could improve local network performance. “Being the first to install this kind of technology in the UK highlights our commitment to working with partners who share our vision for a smarter, more resilient grid,” Grella said.
Colin Relf, treasurer of Graveney & Goodnestone Village Hall, said the device had improved the reliability of exporting power back to the grid, supporting the venue’s ongoing operations.
EcoJoule Energy said EcoVAR is a pole-mounted device that uses power electronics and software to redistribute electricity across network phases in real time, helping stabilise voltage without major infrastructure upgrades.
The company said the UK trial follows deployments of the technology across several Australian utilities, and demonstrates the adaptability of its voltage management systems across different grid conditions.
