What is one potential consequence of having a high amount of reactive power in a system?

A high amount of reactive power in a system can lead to a reduced capacity for real power transfer. Reactive power does not perform any useful work; instead, it oscillates between the source and the load. If there is excessive reactive power, it can fill up the available capacity in the system, which means that less capacity is available for real power, or active power, that actually performs work.

In practical terms, when the reactive power is high, it can lead to increased line losses and voltage drops, reducing the overall real power that can be effectively transmitted. This can cause inefficiency in power systems and could necessitate further measures, such as installing reactive power compensation devices (like capacitors) to bring the levels back in balance. Hence, the consequence of having too much reactive power primarily manifests in the ability of the system to transfer the required real power effectively.