Abstract: A synchronous machine for power and/or voltage control comprises a stator with a stator winding and a rotor with a field winding. The stator winding comprises a high-voltage cable with solid insulation. A rotor has a thermally based rotor current limit intersecting with a thermally based stator current limit in a capability graph at a power factor considerably below the rated power factor or has the thermally based rotor current limit above the thermally based stator current limit. In the capability graph. Means are provided for limiting the currents in order to avoid thermal damage. In a method for power and/or voltage control of such a synchronous machine, the machine operates with the stator current exceeding the thermally based stator current limit for a certain time period less than the maxim an permissible time limit, whereafter the overload is reduced by reduction of either the active power or the field current or a combination of both.