ABB has completed a major turnkey project for Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable power generator, to help restore the missing system inertia vital for the stable operation of the UK power grid. This is essential as the country switches from fossil fuels to using more renewable energy such as wind and solar.
The project features two ABB high-inertia synchronous condenser systems installed at the Lister Drive Greener Grid Park in Liverpool. They are operational and supplying around one percent of the UK’s projected inertia requirement for 2025.
Innovative solutions
Traditionally, fossil-fuel-powered turbines have provided the spinning inertia vital to maintaining stable power networks. Now they are being decommissioned, so the inertia in the grid is decreasing.
Innovative solutions like Greener Grid Parks are part of a broader scheme to restore the inertia that would be provided by five coal-fired power stations, saving UK consumers around $122 million over six years.
Synchronous condensers
Lister Drive features a high-inertia configuration that couples a synchronous condenser with a flywheel
Synchronous condensers are large rotating machines that mimic the operation of coal or gas-fired generators to provide an alternative source of spinning inertia. ABB has deployed them to reinforce power networks in many projects worldwide.
However, Lister Drive is the first project anywhere in the world to feature a high-inertia configuration that couples a synchronous condenser with a 40-tonne flywheel. This approach increases the instantaneously available inertia by 3.5 times to ensure the network frequency and voltage are held stable within the tight limits essential to maintain grid reliability.
stable and reliable power networks
Heikki Vepsäläinen, Division President of ABB Large Motors and Generators, said “Decarbonization of power generation is a vital element in the world’s journey to net-zero. Our challenge is to achieve this ambition while maintaining stable and reliable power networks. This is where synchronous condensers are set to play a key role."
Heikki Vepsäläinen adds, "So, we are delighted to have worked with Statkraft on this ground-breaking project already demonstrating how innovative technology can address the inertia challenge.”
digital condition monitoring solutions
The ABB high-inertia synchronous condenser systems were manufactured in Sweden and installed by ABB UK’s engineering team. Statkraft has signed a 10-year contract with ABB for planned and fast response maintenance services to ensure round-the-clock availability for this vital system.
A full suite of ABB Ability™ digital condition monitoring solutions is now deployed to optimize performance and predict maintenance needs. By assessing real-time data with cloud-based analysis, the team can plan corrective actions before issues occur, ensuring system reliability.