EirGrid awards four contracts for new renewable integration technologies

EirGrid, which is responsible for operating, developing and enhancing Ireland’s electricity grid and market, has awarded four contracts for renewable energy integration technologies, called synchronous condensers, which will provide ‘low carbon inertia services’ (LCIS), to support Ireland’s energy transition. 

This technology is vital for maintaining stability on the electricity grid while operating with higher levels of renewable energy. 

Historically, these inertia capabilities required to keep the power system stable could only be 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 (a wholly owned subsidiary of Statkraft Ireland Limited), Glencloosagh Energy Limited in Co Kerry (a wholly owned subsidiary of Statkraft Ireland Limited), Buffy Letter Limited in Co Galway and Green Frog Power (Wexford) Limited in Co Wexford. 

The contracts awarded to build synchronous condensers will together provide 6,963 MVA.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: “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. 

“In recent years, this has included the introduction of new technology in our control centre, as well as an increase in our Rate of Change of Frequency (RoCoF) limit, following a large decade-long programme in conjunction with the regulators, the distribution system operators and the generators on the island of Ireland. 

“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%.”