Need for The Development

National Grid needs to make changes to its infrastructure to support the move to a Net Zero energy system. Their ambition is to be able to operate a carbon free electricity system by 2025 and operate using 100% clean, green energy by 2035.

To achieve this ambition new infrastructure is needed to allow multiple sources of renewable and low-carbon energy to feed into the grid efficiently, rather than relying on just a few large power stations that operate using non-renewable fuel.

Grid Stability

Historically, power has been generated in large coal and/or gas fired power stations that have inherent properties that help stabilise the electricity grid. Renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and solar generally have fewer stabilising properties and therefore with the focus now on renewable energy generation there is a need for standalone grid stabilising facilities to make sure that electricity can efficiently flow on to the grid.

At present stability is achieved by ‘turning off’ renewable energy generation (which has an associated compensatory cost to the consumer) and turning traditional, non-renewable, energy plants back on (which also has a cost to customers and the environment).

There is therefore a requirement for standalone stability systems at key substations, which have been identified by National Grid ESO through its ‘Pathfinder’ initiative. Cilfynydd Grid Services was awarded a contract by National Grid ESO to construct a grid stability asset adjacent to the existing National Grid substation, a strategic location on the electricity transmission network in South Wales.

National Grid estimates that the contracts issued as part of the third iteration of their Pathfinder initiative will deliver a net saving of £14.9bn over their initial 10-year contract term. With the Cilfynydd project delivering 25% of the total contracted inertia and 5% of the contracted short circuit, the project is estimated to save the UK bill payer in excess of £2bn over its first 10 years of its operation.

Green Energy

While the Cilfynydd Synchronous Condenser will assist the electricity network to operate with higher proportions of renewable generation it is not connected to any single renewable energy development.

The development will have zero emissions and does not generate energy in its own right; it simply provides stability to the existing network. This technology has been around for over 100 years and is safe and well proven.

Mitigate Blackouts

A further benefit of providing this stabilising infrastructure is that it can help prevent blackouts and, if they do occur, it can help restore service swiftly and safely.