Seeking stability for Scotland
15 June 2022Following its Stability Pathfinder Phase 2 tender, which attracted 225 proposals from 21 separate companies, UK transmission system operator National Grid ESO has awarded ten contracts to four companies, totalling £323 million, for the provision of inertia (6.75 GVAs in total) and short circuit levels (11.55 GVA) in Scotland.
The awards aim to address potential grid stability problems arising from the imminent closure of nuclear power stations in Scotland and northern England, and the rising number of onshore and offshore wind farms in Scotland.
Previously, inertia has been provided by coal or gas power plants but NG ESO says it is now procuring inertia from carbon-free sources.
Five of the successful bids involve synchronous condensers with flywheels, while the other five employ battery storage and “will comprise what is thought to be a world-first use of new grid forming converters at multiple locations across a region to improve inertia and short circuit levels.”
Stability Pathfinder Phase 1 concluded in January 2020, with the award of contracts for a total of 12.5 GVAs of inertia over a six-year period, at a cost of £328 million.
The tender window for Stability Pathfinder Phase 3, which focuses on increasing inertia and short circuit level in England and Wales, closed on 6 June 2022.
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