Uniper has appointed Siemens Energy to deliver rotating grid stabilisation technology which will be used to provide inertia services to system operator National Grid ESO.
Siemens Energy will be responsible for installing and commissioning synchronous condenser units at two facilities in Killingholme, Lincolnshire and Grain, Kent.
This follows Uniper being awarded four six-year contracts by National Grid ESO earlier this year, to provide inertia services and voltage control to the grid under phase 1 of its Stability Pathfinder.
Two steam turbine generators will be repurposed and flywheels installed at the Killingholme site; and two new synchronous condenser units will be built on the site of the old oil-fired power station at Grain.
These units will be connected to the existing grid connections at each site. The facilities will help keep the power system stable and at the required frequency.
Work to build the synchronous condenser units at both facilities is due to start later this year with contracted services to begin from 2021.
Traditionally, inertia has been provided as a by-product of generating electricity at thermal power stations with large synchronous spinning generators.
However, as many of these facilities reach retirement, the job of managing grid stability has become more challenging for National Grid ESO, as renewable generation is not connected to the grid in the same way and cannot provide inertia.
Uniper UK country chairman and group chief commercial officer power Mike Lockett said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work closely with Siemens Energy to create a bespoke solution that meets the needs of National Grid ESO, and which is the right fit for our Killingholme and Grain facilities.”
“The services provided by Uniper will make an important contribution in supporting the energy transition by maintaining grid stability and security of supplies whilst enabling more renewables to be integrated into the energy system.”
Siemens Energy executive VP generation Karim Amin said: “As the energy transition in Great Britain continues along a path toward a zero-carbon future, innovative products and solutions such as these are taking center-stage.”
“And as GB’s electricity generation system moves to more decentralized, renewable power, projects like this which provide inertia without generating any power, will be even more important for the energy system of the future.”
Uniper will be the biggest provider of dedicated inertia and voltage control, and will deliver services at both Killingholme and Grain up to 2026, it said.
Following this initial success, Uniper will continue to seek further opportunities to utilise its assets, engineering and market expertise in this fast-developing sector of the energy transition, it added.