Due to changing utility infrastructure with regards to conventional generation retirement and increased levels of renewables, dynamic shunt compensation solutions (e.g. SVC, STATCOM, synchronous condensers) are becoming even more vital for transmission system operation and reliability. Historically AC transmission shunt compensation is primarily used to maximize transmission capacity. Now system stability is a primary concern during major disturbances. As utility requirements become more complex the optimal solution may be a combination of available and future technology. This tutorial will present planning and specifying approaches, technology principles with example installations, a comparative evaluation of performance and an analysis of future trends expected to influence the technology development and its place in the market. The technology includes mechanically switched shunts, synchronous condensers, static var compensators (SVC), static synchronous compensators (STATCOM) and hybrid configurations.