The transformation of the electrical system is causing changes in distribution networks. The increasing presence of single-phase photovoltaic installations and electric vehicle charging points is causing phase imbalances, voltage fluctuations, and harmonic distortions that affect the quality of supply, especially on long, high-impedance rural lines. To address this, Salicru's R&D department has developed the GAUSS project, an innovative three-phase low-voltage service line balancer.
GAUSS is based on a three-level, three-phase inverter with IGBTs, which balances voltages by reducing the negative and zero sequences, and also restores voltages to their nominal value by injecting reactive power and correcting voltage harmonics. The result is a more stable and efficient network, better prepared to support a greater penetration of distributed generation.
Connecting the inverter in parallel with the line means the equipment only handles the power to be corrected, rather than the entire line power, unlike the series connection of a conventional stabilizer.
The equipment also allows for the injection of reactive power on demand remotely and, when batteries are incorporated, the use of active power for voltage recovery, dip support, and charge/discharge scheduling. In this way, it responds immediately to variations in load or generation, compensating for imbalances without depending exclusively on instantaneous grid conditions.
The GAUSS project also incorporates communication capabilities between equipment installed on the same power line to coordinate their operation. The inverter can also make corrections at remote points along the line using a remote meter via a 4G connection and a VPN. Salicru is also working to expand this interconnection with other equipment in its catalog, creating a smart and cyber-secure energy management ecosystem.
Salicru allocates an average of 5% of its revenue to R&D&I, and in 2025 the final result was 6%, more than triple the European average. The GAUSS project has received funding from the Centre for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI) and has been co-financed by the European Union through NextGenerationEU, as part of its commitment to developing technologies aimed at improving the quality and resilience of electrical networks.
Salicru develops GAUSS, a three-phase balancer for low-voltage networks
Salicru is developing a three-phase balancer capable of compensating for voltage imbalances, absorbing reactive power and mitigating harmonic distortion in low-voltage networks, to respond to the effects of current electrification.
