February 2026 — Global engineering firm Ramboll has unveiled a breakthrough power grid stability technology designed to make renewable energy integration safer, cheaper, and far more reliable.
Dubbed the Universal Damping STATCOM, the patent-pending innovation acts as a “universal shock absorber” for electricity grids, neutralising harmful oscillations that can lead to large-scale power outages.
Tackling a Growing Global Grid Problem
As solar, wind, and battery storage systems are rapidly added to ageing power grids, system instability has become a serious challenge. Ramboll notes that uncontrolled oscillations from mixed power sources are a growing risk — and may have contributed to the national-level outages in Portugal and Spain in April 2025.
The new Universal Damping STATCOM directly addresses this issue.
How the Technology Works
Installed at critical grid nodes, the system automatically detects voltage oscillations and absorbs excess energy in real time, converting it into usable power. Unlike conventional solutions, it does not rely on predicting future grid conditions or specific devices.
This adaptive approach allows operators to add renewable energy sources without extensive redesigns or increased outage risk.
Lower Costs, Higher Resilience
According to Ramboll, the technology:
- Reduces the risk of widespread power outages
- Cuts long-term grid development costs
- Improves resilience for power-hungry infrastructure, including data centres
- Enables faster renewable energy adoption
“The cost of maintaining grid reliability has been one of the biggest barriers to renewable energy,” said Mojtaba Mohaddes, Senior Technical Manager at Ramboll and inventor of the system. “Upgrading existing grids with this technology is a relatively inexpensive step that unlocks enormous potential.”
Industry Impact and Global Potential
Power outages can cause billions of dollars in economic losses. By preventing oscillations at their source, Ramboll’s power grid stability technology could significantly reduce downtime and financial risk for utilities and consumers alike.
“This invention is a game-changer for power systems,” said Joanne Hu, CIGRE Chair of Study Committee B4. “It opens the door for developing countries to decarbonise while delivering more reliable power.”
Path to Market
Ramboll is currently in discussions with utilities, OEMs, and investors to bring the Universal Damping STATCOM to market and deploy it globally.
Founded in Denmark in 1945, Ramboll operates in more than 35 countries with over 18,000 experts, delivering engineering and consultancy solutions focused on sustainability, resilience, and long-term societal impact.
