Norwegian renewable energy specialist Statkraft UK says the facility in Liverpool will help to ensure more renewable energy is used on the National Grid. Tony McDonough reports
Construction of a £25m energy storage plant in Liverpool is to begin this month.
Norwegian renewable energy specialist Statkraft UK says the facility, located in Lister Drive in Old Swan, Liverpool, will help to provide stable flows of energy through the National Grid network, helping to increase the amount of renewable energy transmitted on the system.
The Lister Drive Greener Grid Park will provide a zero emissions alternative to grid stability which at the moment is mainly provided from fossil-fuel powered generators. Statkraft has chosen NRS Group to build the facility.
NRS operates throughout the UK and Ireland from six locations, including offices in in Warrington. In February Statkraft announced that ABB’s Warrington team would engineer and install two synchronous condensers on the site.
Renewable energy technologies, such as wind and solar power, can provide only “intermittent” energy as they are dependent on weather conditions. This facility will help to store energy for then it is needed to fill gaps in demand. Statkraft UK will manage the construction of the facility, and operation of the project.
Statkraft was awarded four stability contracts by National Grid ESO in January 2020 for two projects at Lister Drive and two in Moray, Scotland as part of National Grid’s Stability Pathfinder Project.
These projects will help the operator of the National Grid meet its ambition that by 2025 the electricity system can be operated at zero carbon. Managing director of Statkraft UK, David Flood said: “This Greener Grid Park in Liverpool will help our grid network keep up with the rapid increase of renewables being generated in the UK.
“Statkraft is proud to be at the forefront of this exciting growth area. The UK are world-leaders in the approach to grid stability and provides a great example to other countries looking to do the same as their renewable capacity increases.”
Statkraft is committed to providing opportunities for local businesses and has received a strong response to a call for local suppliers, with more than 40 registrations of interest to date. Local businesses can add their name at www.statkraft.co.uk/lister-local-suppliers
Statkraft provides renewable energy in the form of hydroelectric, wind and solar power. The company owns and operates 11 wind farms in the British Isles and Scandinavia.