Book excerpt: Large SMES units are being studied for electric utility applications as diurnal, load-curve leveling and as transient stabilizer units. Such SMES units show promise of providing greater operating flexibility than pumped-hydro or other types of energy storage. This operating flexibility, together with its fast response capability to provide transient and dynamic stabilization benefits to a power system, are discussed. Small SMES units are being designed for dynamic stability applications on electric power systems for use when negatively damped system operating conditions are encountered. The 30-MJ, 10-MW SMES dynamic-stabilizer design is presented; and the status of the component development and fabrication contracts which have been placed with commercial manufacturers is discussed.