National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has introduced a grid stability measurement service following the construction of a grid-scale ultracapacitor.
Reactive Technologies’ GridMetrix service is designed to provide instantaneous data instead of relying on estimates to manage system stability.
The service will help the ESO to improve the efficiency and value to consumers of grid balancing actions and is part of the grid operator’s move towards operating a 100% zero carbon electricity system by 2025.
The ultracapacitor, built by Ingeteam, will send pulses of power through the grid, enabling ESO to accurately measure power system stability.
Once live, the system operator will have an enhanced real time view of inertia (the force generated by spinning mass that keeps the grid’s frequency stable), a critical capability as the proportion of renewable energy in Britain’s energy mix continues to grow.
Located in Teesside’s clean energy hub, the ultracapacitor sits only a few miles up the coast from where the power cables of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, will reach landfall.
Reactive closed a record fundraising round from a group of global investors including the Bill Gates-backed clean energy fund Breakthrough Energy Ventures, BGP and Eaton, earlier this year.
Reactive Technologies chief executive Marc Borrett said: “The commercial adoption of GridMetrix by National Grid is a significant milestone in the journey of our technology from a conceptual innovation to a proven and fundamental grid management solution.
“The challenges facing Britain on its net zero journey are familiar to grids across the world and with the support of our strategic investors and partners, we are extremely excited to help unlock as many 100% renewable grids around the world as possible, accelerating the global transition to a clean energy system.”