Ireland’s EirGrid awards four contracts for synchronous condensers

Dublin-based grid operator EirGrid has awarded four contracts for synchronous condensers to provide ‘low carbon inertia services’ (LCIS), ensuring grid stability as more renewables come online.

The contracts were awarded to projects located in Sligo, Galway, Kerry and Wexford, replacing a service – that of maintaining grid stability – that has traditionally been provided by large conventional generators.

Earlier this year, EirGrid announced that it had reduced the minimum number of large conventional fossil-fuelled generators that must operate on Ireland’s electricity grid at any one time from five to four.

The LCIS technology, expected to be delivered between 2027 and 2028, will enable the minimum number of units to be further reduced over time.

Following a competitive procurement process run by EirGrid, contracts were awarded to Quarry Lane Stability Limited in Co Sligo, Glencloosagh Energy Limited in Co Kerry, Buffy Letter Limited in Co Galway and Green Frog Power Limited in Co Wexford.

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The contracts awarded to build synchronous condensers will together provide 6,963MVA.s of synchronous inertia, as well as reactive power support and short-circuit contribution, without generating active power, which will allow EirGrid to integrate more renewables onto the power system.

The LCIS procurement is a key component of the operational plans contained in EirGrid and SONI’s Shaping Our Electricity Future Roadmap, which sets out the actions needed to decarbonise the electricity system to meet the Government’s Climate Action Targets.

Liam Ryan, chief transformation & technology Officer at EirGrid, said in a release: “Generating electricity from the wind or sun is technically very different from burning fossil fuels to create power, presenting significant technical and operational challenges.

“As we make the transition to more renewable energy, we will need technology like this to ensure continued stability on the system.

“The availability of low carbon inertia services is an important part of an extensive programme of work we’re undertaking to make the grid renewable ready, which will benefit the economy and local communities across Ireland.”

According to Ryan, this work has recently included new technology in EirGrid’s control centre, as well as an increase in the company’s RoCoF (Rate of Change of Frequency) limit.

This follows a decade-long programme, added Ryan, which was coordinated alongside regulators, DSOs and generators in Ireland.

Said Ryan: “At the moment, up to 75% of Ireland’s electricity generation can come from variable renewables, such as wind and solar, at any one time.

“This is known as the system non-synchronous penetration (SNSP) limit. We’re doing more system studies and assessments at the moment, aiming to do a trial later this year to bring our SNSP limit above 75%.”