The Volt-Ampere Reactive (VAR) is a fascinating unit that captures the dynamic aspect of AC power systems. While watts measure the actual power consumed or produced, VAR quantifies the reactive power, which is the portion of electricity that does not perform any real work but oscillates between the source and the load. This reactive component is crucial in systems with inductive or capacitive loads, like motors, transformers, and capacitors, where the phase difference between current and voltage plays a pivotal role.
An interesting implication of reactive power is its significant impact on power quality and efficiency in electrical grids. Managing VAR efficiently can help optimize the grid’s capacity, reduce losses, and stabilize voltage levels, which are vital for the reliability of modern power systems. Understanding VAR provides deeper insights into the workings of complex electrical networks and the ways to harness them more effectively.
The megavolt-ampere reactive (MVAR) is a unit of measurement used in electrical systems to quantify reactive power, which is the non-working power component in an AC circuit. Unlike real power (measured in watts), which performs actual work, reactive power is essential for maintaining voltage levels necessary for active power to flow through the grid. Think of it like the foam on a latte—it doesn’t contribute to the coffee’s caffeination but is critical for its quality and structure.
Engineers use MVARs to optimize the efficiency of power delivery, ensuring systems don’t become overloaded. This balance is vital for the stability of power grids, especially as renewable energy sources like wind and solar, which are often variable and intermittent, become more prevalent in our energy mix.
| Volt-Amperes Reactive | Megavolt-Amperes Reactive |
|---|---|
0
VAR
|
0
MVAR
|
10
VAR
|
0.00001
MVAR
|
20
VAR
|
0.00002
MVAR
|
30
VAR
|
0.00003
MVAR
|
40
VAR
|
0.00004
MVAR
|
50
VAR
|
0.00005
MVAR
|
60
VAR
|
0.00006
MVAR
|
70
VAR
|
0.00007
MVAR
|
80
VAR
|
0.00008
MVAR
|
90
VAR
|
0.00009
MVAR
|
100
VAR
|
0.0001
MVAR
|
110
VAR
|
0.00011
MVAR
|
120
VAR
|
0.00012
MVAR
|
130
VAR
|
0.00013
MVAR
|
140
VAR
|
0.00014
MVAR
|
150
VAR
|
0.00015
MVAR
|
160
VAR
|
0.00016
MVAR
|
170
VAR
|
0.00017
MVAR
|
180
VAR
|
0.00018
MVAR
|
190
VAR
|
0.00019
MVAR
|
200
VAR
|
0.0002
MVAR
|
210
VAR
|
0.00021
MVAR
|
220
VAR
|
0.00022
MVAR
|
230
VAR
|
0.00023
MVAR
|
240
VAR
|
0.00024
MVAR
|
250
VAR
|
0.00025
MVAR
|
260
VAR
|
0.00026
MVAR
|
270
VAR
|
0.00027
MVAR
|
280
VAR
|
0.00028
MVAR
|
290
VAR
|
0.00029
MVAR
|
300
VAR
|
0.0003
MVAR
|
310
VAR
|
0.00031
MVAR
|
320
VAR
|
0.00032
MVAR
|
330
VAR
|
0.00033
MVAR
|
340
VAR
|
0.00034
MVAR
|
350
VAR
|
0.00035
MVAR
|
360
VAR
|
0.00036
MVAR
|
370
VAR
|
0.00037
MVAR
|
380
VAR
|
0.00038
MVAR
|
390
VAR
|
0.00039
MVAR
|
400
VAR
|
0.0004
MVAR
|
410
VAR
|
0.00041
MVAR
|
420
VAR
|
0.00042
MVAR
|
430
VAR
|
0.00043
MVAR
|
440
VAR
|
0.00044
MVAR
|
450
VAR
|
0.00045
MVAR
|
460
VAR
|
0.00046
MVAR
|
470
VAR
|
0.00047
MVAR
|
480
VAR
|
0.00048
MVAR
|
490
VAR
|
0.00049
MVAR
|
500
VAR
|
0.0005
MVAR
|
510
VAR
|
0.00051
MVAR
|
520
VAR
|
0.00052
MVAR
|
530
VAR
|
0.00053
MVAR
|
540
VAR
|
0.00054
MVAR
|
550
VAR
|
0.00055
MVAR
|
560
VAR
|
0.00056
MVAR
|
570
VAR
|
0.00057
MVAR
|
580
VAR
|
0.00058
MVAR
|
590
VAR
|
0.00059
MVAR
|
600
VAR
|
0.0006
MVAR
|
610
VAR
|
0.00061
MVAR
|
620
VAR
|
0.00062
MVAR
|
630
VAR
|
0.00063
MVAR
|
640
VAR
|
0.00064
MVAR
|
650
VAR
|
0.00065
MVAR
|
660
VAR
|
0.00066
MVAR
|
670
VAR
|
0.00067
MVAR
|
680
VAR
|
0.00068
MVAR
|
690
VAR
|
0.00069
MVAR
|
700
VAR
|
0.0007
MVAR
|
710
VAR
|
0.00071
MVAR
|
720
VAR
|
0.00072
MVAR
|
730
VAR
|
0.00073
MVAR
|
740
VAR
|
0.00074
MVAR
|
750
VAR
|
0.00075
MVAR
|
760
VAR
|
0.00076
MVAR
|
770
VAR
|
0.00077
MVAR
|
780
VAR
|
0.00078
MVAR
|
790
VAR
|
0.00079
MVAR
|
800
VAR
|
0.0008
MVAR
|
810
VAR
|
0.00081
MVAR
|
820
VAR
|
0.00082
MVAR
|
830
VAR
|
0.00083
MVAR
|
840
VAR
|
0.00084
MVAR
|
850
VAR
|
0.00085
MVAR
|
860
VAR
|
0.00086
MVAR
|
870
VAR
|
0.00087
MVAR
|
880
VAR
|
0.00088
MVAR
|
890
VAR
|
0.00089
MVAR
|
900
VAR
|
0.0009
MVAR
|
910
VAR
|
0.00091
MVAR
|
920
VAR
|
0.00092
MVAR
|
930
VAR
|
0.00093
MVAR
|
940
VAR
|
0.00094
MVAR
|
950
VAR
|
0.00095
MVAR
|
960
VAR
|
0.00096
MVAR
|
970
VAR
|
0.00097
MVAR
|
980
VAR
|
0.00098
MVAR
|
990
VAR
|
0.00099
MVAR
|
1000
VAR
|
0.001
MVAR
|
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