Statkraft, Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, has signed NRS Group as the Balance of Plant contractor on the Lister Drive Greener Grid Park in Liverpool, which starts construction next month.
Construction of the £25m project begins in May, and includes two large synchronous condensers designed to provide stable flows of energy through the grid network, helping to increase the amount of renewable energy transmitted on the system and prevent power blackouts.
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. NRS Group join the project after being selected for their proven expertise in civil engineering and renewable energy.
NRS Group operate throughout the UK and Ireland from six locations, including offices in in Warrington, and will be the main contractor for the Lister Drive Greener Grid Park. In February Statkraft announced that ABB’s Warrington team would engineer and install two Synchronous Condensers on the site.
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.
The GB National Grid is world-leading in its approach to grid stability, and this technology is used in a small number of countries to maximise the supply of renewable energy to the grid, and allow for better adoption of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydro.
Commenting on the project, 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 over 40 registrations of interest to date. Local businesses can add their name at www.statkraft.co.uk/lister-local-suppliers