Siemens Gas and Power is to refurbish the HVDC Moyle interconnector between Scotland to Northern Ireland, which will allow more renewable energy to be transmitted from the former to the latter.
The 500MW Moyle link from Auchencrosh, Scotland, to Ballycronan More in County Antrim is owned and operated by Mutual Energy.
The upgrade of technology originally installed by Siemens in 2001 is now underway and the refurbishment is scheduled to be completed in September 2022.
Siemens is providing detailed design, manufacturing, factory testing, installation, and commissioning of the control and protection system – including the replacement of auxiliary supplies, valve base electronics and measurement unit – and the supply of a control training simulator.
The company said the refurbishment will address the demands of the evolving electricity networks in both Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
“In particular, the upgrade improves the dynamic performance of the interconnector, enabling Mutual Energy to offer enhanced ancillary services,” Siemens said.
These will provide a valuable range of options to the system operators as they seek continued reliable and efficient management of the networks, while accommodating more variable renewable generation, it added.
The introduction of an overload capability will also give the interconnector greater operational flexibility.
Mutual Energy chief executive Paddy Larkin said: “With almost 20 years in operation, the Moyle interconnector has been a vital energy asset and we’re pleased to further enhance its operations and functionality.
“The new system will allow us to adapt to evolving security standards and changing grid conditions – best serving the needs of our customers and Northern Ireland’s energy requirements.
“It was crucial for us to ensure downtime during works was minimized so as to not impact operations, and we’re pleased to have a partner that can honour shat requirement.
“Siemens’ diligence and collaborative approach make them a reliable and trusted partner and we look forward to their expert team safely delivering this project.”
Siemens Gas and Power head of large transmission solutions Hauke Jurgensen said: “With its enhanced control features, the HVDC Classic system will be perfectly equipped for the future to more effectively meet the energy market’s demands.
“The upgraded system will provide more operational stability to weaker AC grids and will operate in a wider range of AC grid system conditions.
“In the future, more energy – mainly produced by renewables – can be transmitted from Scotland to Northern Ireland and vice versa.”