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Scottish Power Renewables has used electricity from its 69MW Dersalloch onshore windfarm in South Ayrshire to re-energise part of the transmission network in a “world first”.
Working alongside turbine manufacturer Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) and its sister company SP Energy Networks, the firm deployed automated software to regulate the frequency and voltage of the power from the turbines. By operating the turbines as “virtual synchronous machines” (VSMs), they were able to create a stable power island that was then reintegrated with the rest of the grid and used to restore a blacked-out section of the network.
Black start restoration – the procedure used to restart the transmission network in the event of a total or partial shutdown – has historically been provided by coal and gas plants that are capable of switching on without access to power from the grid.
“What we’ve achieved at Dersalloch is truly world-leading and highlights the crucial role renewables will play in creating a decarbonised modern, smart electricity system,” said Lindsay McQuade, chief executive of Scottish Power Renewables.
“It’s also a fantastic example of collaboration and innovation to deliver something exceptional that will change how renewables interact with the grid forever. It’s no longer just about the raw power we generate, but the interplay of renewable generation and its characteristics with the overall grid system and its requirements for when power is needed and used.
Following the success of the trial, Scottish Power Renewables is aiming for Dersalloch to become the world’s first black start capable windfarm by 2022.
McQuade said: “As wind is now the cheapest form of electricity generation, innovating our windfarms to be responsive zero-carbon power stations that enhance the network, improve system resilience and help deliver the cleaner and greener future needed to achieve net zero makes sense.”
“And this is just the start of the journey, which makes it so exciting. We will continue to work with SGRE at Dersalloch to ensure the VSM technology becomes a permanent feature, complemented by battery storage, to help us better meet the flexibility requirements of the network – and we expect that work to be well underway this time next year.
“We will also explore opportunities to incorporate the technology at other existing windfarm sites as well as build it into our plans for future developments, which will create a whole new era of pioneering windfarms.”
The project was supported with £550,000 of funding from the Scottish government. Energy minister Paul Wheelhouse commented: “Over the past decade Scotland has delivered huge success in decarbonising the electrical energy generated in Scotland, with renewable electricity delivering the equivalent of more than 90 per cent of the power needed to meet Scotland’s demand for electricity in 2019.
“It is important that wind farms, which provided 73 per cent of Scotland’s renewable electricity generation, don’t only provide zero carbon energy, but can also deliver the technical services that older, now-closed power stations would have provided for the grid to deliver an effective ‘black start’ recovery in the event of a major power cut.”
He said: “This technology will be vitally important, not just in Scotland and the UK, but worldwide. As more countries follow Scotland’s lead in closing down polluting fossil fuel power stations and moving to a renewable electricity system, the market for services that deliver sustainable security of supply will grow and I am keen that Scotland can be at the heart of that.”
The trial allowed SP Energy Networks to establish precisely how many turbines would be needed to restore parts of the transmission network in the event of a major blackout. Chief executive Frank Mitchell said: “Our involvement in this project has been invaluable and showcases how we can get the network started and put the lights back on using renewable energy sources.
He said: “There is no doubt this technology can make an important contribution to our restoration strategy in the event of a ‘black start’, by building on work we are doing elsewhere across the energy system to ensure security and resilience of supply is maintained throughout the energy transition. I believe that, to provide the resilience required, all windfarms should be established with this capability in future.
“That’s a significant step change and one that takes us closer to delivering the green and resilient grid system we all need and want. It is also testament to the innovative approach that’s at the heart of everything we do at SPEN as we work to design and deliver the network of the future – the network that will help deliver Net Zero.”
In December last year, National Grid Electricity System Operator proposed a modification adding non-mandatory technical specifications for virtual synchronous machines to the Grid Code. The modification is still being considered by a work group, with the latest meeting taking place in September.
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