UK Grants 1st Reactive Power Contract to Offshore Wind Farm

The National Grid ESO of the United Kingdom (UK) has awarded a contract to an offshore wind farm to help keep voltage levels in the national power network stable. As per the National Grid ESO, the contract is the first of its kind in the UK.

The contract is for a ten-year period which will commence in 2024. The transmission assets of the Dogger Bank C offshore wind farm will provide 200 megavolt amperes of reactive power (MVAr), which is used to maintain network stability.

The National Grid has also stated that the offshore wind power will help stabilise voltage on the grid in the northeast of England. This is considered to be necessary by many as the Hartlepool nuclear power station is expected to end its operation in March 2024.

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The Dogger Bank C wind farm, off the northeast coast of UK, has an installed capacity of 1.2 gigawatts. Britain’s SSE Renewables, Norway’s Equinor and Italy’s ENI are its key stakeholders.

Julian Leslie, head of networks at National Grid ESO, said in a statement, “Reactive power capability is vital for managing voltage and being able to operate a zero carbon system of the future.” She also added that the National Grid was excited to see an offshore wind farm’s transmission asset deliver reactive power to support the wider network for the first time in Britain.

As far as the West Yorkshire area is concerned, National Grid has selected National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) to help manage voltage for 10 years. Its journey too will begin from 2024 and will provide 500 MVAr, the National Grid said.

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The United Kingdom currently procures 40 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources. The country is witnessing a rapid expansion in the deployment of grid-scale battery storage so that the variability in the wind and solar power can effectively be arrested. Wind power is the key source of renewable energy in the country, with both onshore and offshore playing a critical role in the energy basket.