LONDON: Hitachi Energy has secured a contract from SP Energy Networks to engineer and implement a pioneering power quality solution.

This initiative is set to revolutionize the stability of the power grid and significantly increase the transmission of renewable energy from Scotland to England.

SP Energy Networks, which operates the electricity network for Central & Southern Scotland, as well as regions including Merseyside, Cheshire, North & Mid-Wales, and North Shropshire, will leverage this solution to integrate a greater proportion of renewable energy sources into the grid.

This move aligns with the broader objective of phasing out fossil fuels.

The project is centered around SP Energy Networks’ substation in Eccles and involves the deployment of two sets of an SVC Light® STATCOM and a synchronous condenser.

These will be managed by the MACH™ control system at a shared electrical node. The integration of these advanced technologies is expected to optimize the potential of future power systems, enhancing system stability and security, and facilitating the ongoing incorporation of renewable energy into the electricity grid.

Hitachi Energy’s cutting-edge power electronics and the MACH control and protection solution will be utilized in each STATCOM installation. This setup is designed to bolster system strength, provide instantaneous voltage control, and ensure optimal power flow.

The technology is considered a market leader and is a product of a previous collaboration between SP Energy Networks and Hitachi Energy on the Phoenix project, which was supported by Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulator.

Billy Moore, Senior Project Manager at SP Energy Networks, highlighted the significance of the technology, stating, “The innovative power quality solution is expected to boost the transfer capacity between Scotland and England by up to 280 MW.

This enhancement will be achieved by improving the transmission network’s strength and stability as more renewable generation is connected in Scotland.”

Marco Berardi, Head of Grid & Power Quality Solutions and Service business at Hitachi Energy, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration with SP Energy Networks.

“We are thrilled to have co-developed this innovative solution, which promises to maintain grid stability and facilitate the flow of clean electricity across the UK’s system,” he said.

Berardi also noted that this innovation is a new addition to Hitachi Energy’s evolving portfolio of power quality solutions that address both immediate and long-term energy transition challenges.

As the integration of renewable energy sources intensifies and the shift from traditional power plants continues, transmission system operators are tasked with maintaining grid stability and power quality.

In this project, the SVC Light STATCOM and synchronous condenser, with their combined control capabilities, will play a crucial role in generating or absorbing reactive power. This function is essential for adjusting grid voltage and ensuring the system’s stability and resilience.