Watch this video explaining from the client Statkraft about the Keith Greener Grid park project – you can clearly see the two grid transformers and all supporting electrical infrastructure installed by the Powersystems High Voltage specialist team in the sub-station compound.
The National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO) has an obligation to maintain the frequency of the GB network between 49.5 and 50.5 Hz. When demand exceeds generation, the frequency falls: when generation exceeds demand, the frequency rises. For a given power mismatch, the rate of change of frequency (RoCoF) is determined by the electricity system inertia.
Read more about Rotating Stabiliser providing inertia and reactive power to the GB National Grid.
Building a Greener Grid Park with Rotating Stabilisers is a large project that requires teams of specialists to handle the many aspects of the project – from conception planning to implementation.
Speak with one of our high voltage Electrical Engineering Specialists today.
A power network without inertia is one that is unstable, suffers from issues of power quality and is susceptible to blackouts. Stability is the ability of the systems to withstand network disturbance and continue operating normally.
The Stability Pathfinder is a National Grid ESO (NGESO) project to procure alternative methods of providing inertia. The intent is that, by 2025, NGESO will have transformed the operation of the electricity systems such that it can be operated safely and securely at zero carbon.
The Stability Pathfinder project is split into three phases.
The civil and electrical works are often referred to as the Balance of Plant (BOP). The electrical works are often designed and installed by a high voltage specialist contractor like Powersystems.
Experience in the design and installation of high voltage electrical infrastructure has placed Powersystems in a position ideally suited to carryout rotating stabiliser balance of plant contracts, this is all the infrastructure and facilities, encompassing all aspects of the grid stability project.
Powersystems engineers are highly experienced in the design, specification, installation and commissioning of high voltage electrical balance of plant works including; substations, switchgear, transformers, cable infrastructure, earth systems and SCADA cabling, enabling the complete rotating stabiliser installation to be carried out.
The rotating stabiliser is a synchronous machine designed to have a high inertia to replace that which was previously provided by coal and gas fuelled power stations to facilitate further increases in renewable generation.
Rotating stabiliser infrastructure consists of the below points to be considered in your grid stability project.
Civil works
Electrical works
The UK has a goal of an emission-free power grid that can deliver a stable and secure energy supply to households, business and industry. The decarbonisation goal is to transform the operation of the electricity system, the National Grid so it can achieve zero carbon by 2035.
~ In order to achieve universal access to modern energy services, significant improvements in the enabling environments for relevant projects and programs must be created.
The reasoning behind why the UK would want to decarbonise their electricity grid is clear but by tackling one problem, another one is created. This problem is to do with inertia, or lack of, which is a consequence of simply removing the heavy rotating parts of generators, typically associated with coal and gas-fired plants, from the grid. These heavy rotating parts export kinetic energy and are what help the network ride through times of disturbance, a bit like shock absorbers on a car. System inertia is so important to the grid that coal and gas plants have been powered up even when they are not needed and by adding more and more renewable energy to the grid, the problem is only going to get worse.’
Renewable energy resources like wind and solar technologies are increasing due to their low carbon nature. However both are different from traditional transmission-connected resources. In the context of inertia the differences could not be more significant. Solar PV generation is a direct current (DC) resource and connects to the system using inverter technology. Wind generation may be AC, but it operates at a frequency not matching the grid. This means that wind generation typically involves a two-step conversion: first from the asynchronous AC to DC, and thence to grid-synchronous AC through an inverter. As seen from the grid, for both technologies there is no spinning machinery that could contribute to system inertia.
Sources of grid inertia will clearly be lost as grids are decarbonised, leading to legitimate concerns over how future grids will operate. The field of grid inertia replacement is dynamic and rapidly developing, with many potential technological solutions, market designs, and mitigation strategies being proposed by a range of players.
Fortunately, several technical solutions to the issue of low system inertia are emerging. Powersystems are proud to have recently completed the Keith Greener Grid Park a grid stability project with rotating stabilisers and is an important contribution to achieving the goal of grid stability.
The first of NGESO’s Pathfinder projects to utilise new machines has been developed at Keith in Scotland. The project has successfully demonstrated the performance of the rotating stabiliser in terms of inertia and reactive power. The rotating stabiliser also increases system strength and will become an increasingly important part of the power system, enabling greater penetration of renewable energy sources.
Ensuring grid stability, efficiency and security is a primary concern. As the grid evolves and load profiles change, stresses are being put onto transmission and distribution networks, making the need for voltage support and grid management much more challenging. These challenges have an operational impact on the electrical infrastructure. The rotating stabiliser provides transmission operators with a proven, robust and reliable solution.
Powersystems high voltage electrical engineering team has a broad spectrum of design disciplines and depth of experience. They work to ensure that each system design fully meets the specific requirements of the application. This service is provided either as an Engineered Equipment Package or an Engineer Procure Construct (EPC) solution that includes the system studies, design and engineering, installation, commissioning, and services.
Each electrical infrastructure EBoP new technology project is assigned an experienced and dedicated project team. This specialist team is headed up by Powersystems Head of Engineering, Darren Williams. From outset the team are fully involved in project kick off through commissioning to ensure project execution excellence.
Powersystems support initiatives and technology to help
deliver SDG 7. Our objective is to work together with partners and clients to accelerate action and deliver results that will transform the lives of billions through sustainable energy access that also helps combat climate change.
Read the latest greener grid case studies from Powersystems on rotating stabiliser projects
Powersystems were awarded the contract by Statkraft to provide balance of plant for rotating grid stabilisation technology at Keith. This new technology will enable the delivery of grid stability services to energy system operator National Grid ESO, through generating inertia which helps balance grid frequency, without generating power
Powersystems were also awarded the role of principal contractor for the first private greener grid stability project supporting the UK to achieve the goal of zero carbon
RENEWABLE ENERGY HIGH VOLTAGE SPECIALISTS NEWS
READ MORE HERE