Transmission & distribution |
Stabilising the grid in Ireland and Italy
Recent Siemens Energy grid stability projects include a synchronous condenser with flywheel for ESB and STATCOMs for both ESB and Terna
Above: Siemens Energy synchronous condenser with flywheel
Siemens Energy is supplying a synchronous condenser system to ESB, Ireland, which is said to incorporate “the world’s largest flywheel used for grid stability.” To be located at ESB’s Moneypoint site, the grid stabilising system – Ireland’s first synchronous condenser – aims to enable increased integration of wind power into the Irish grid by providing sufficient inertia for frequency support, short-circuit power for system strength and reactive power for voltage control. Commissioning is planned for mid-2022. The synchronous condenser uses conventional generator technology to provide the short circuit contribution, while the flywheel provides inertia, both needed to compensate for declining conventional generating capacity on the grid. Paul Smith, head of asset development at ESB Generation and Trading, said: “We are pleased to bring forward the Moneypoint synchronous condenser with flywheel as a cost effective and zero carbon solution in strengthening the stability and resilience of the Irish grid.”
The new facility is a key component of ESB’s Green Atlantic @ Moneypoint project, which aims to see Moneypoint, Ireland’s only coal fired power plant, “reimagined” and transformed into a green energy hub. This multi-billion euro programme envisages: development of the 1400 MW Moneypoint floating offshore wind farm (with Equinor); development of a floating wind turbine construction hub (making use of the deep-water port at the site, one of the deepest ports in Europe); and investment in a green hydrogen production, storage and generation facility “towards the end of the decade” (which could also make use of the existing port infrastructure).
Moneypoint, 3 x 305 MW coal, with HFO as back-up fuel – located on the River Shannon near Kilrush, County Clare – was built in the 1980s as a response to problems in acquiring oil, and at its peak provided 25% of Ireland’s electricity. Coal generation at the site is due to cease in 2025.
Supplying STATCOMs
ESB has also placed contracts with Siemens Energy for STATCOM (static synchronous compensator) systems (employing SVC PLUS technology) to manage grid stability at its three substation sites in south west Ireland (Ballyvouskill (Cork), Ballynahulla (Kerry), and Thurles (Tipperary)), to be built concurrently, with construction due to begin in the coming months and taking two years to complete. Italian TSO, Terna, has also ordered STATCOMs from Siemens Energy for grid stabilisation. The company says this is its first STATCOM order from Italy and “will help the country meet new power grid challenges posed by the energy transition.”
The Terna order consists of two STATCOM systems, one to be located at Villanova (Abruzzo region) and the other at Latina (Lazio region). They will “contribute to interconnections between Italy and Montenegro and mainland Italy and Sardinia”’ says Siemens Energy. They will employ an “innovative space-saving containerised solution” solution, says Siemens Energy, which “also reduces project execution time and effort by avoiding building approval procedures.”
The Terna STATCOM systems will help 16 | May 2021 |
www.modernpowersystems.com Above: Moneypoint site (source: ESB)
stabilise voltage fluctuations by acting as either a source or sink of reactive power depending on the requirements of the Italian grid, and are expected to “significantly reduce the risk of voltage drops and blackouts.”
The two Italian 125 MVAr STATCOM systems will operate at 400 kV and will be “the first completely containerised STATCOM systems at this voltage level”, says Siemens Energy. The SVC PLUS technology combines the benefits of STATCOM and modular multilevel converter technology with an optimised number of components, Siemens Energy notes, and by requiring relatively few system components, the technology simplifies designing, planning, and engineering, and can be containerised. Previously, Terna ordered two synchronous condenser systems, with flywheels, from Siemens, which are now under construction, at Fano, and most recently Rosara (both Marche region). They are due to be commissioned at the end of 2021 and autumn 2022, respectively.
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