Elecnor comes to the forefront of renewable energy in Ireland with two strategic contracts
Synchronous condensers (SynCons) are essential in maintaining network stability during an increase in the proportion of renewable energy.
Statkraft, the largest European producer of renewable energy, owned by the Norwegian state, has chosen Elecnor to install two synchronous condensers (SynCons) as part of the tender for the Low Carbon Inertia Services (LCIS) Programme, an initiative managed by the Transmission System Operators (TSOs) EirGrid, in the Republic of Ireland, and SONI, in Northern Ireland. Its objective is to promote the integration of technologies that reduce dependence on carbon-intensive conventional generation in the power systems of both regions. This transition will facilitate the further integration of renewable energy and will contribute to achieving the renewable energy targets set for 2030, in both Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The synchronous condensers will be installed under the projects Glencloosagh LCIS in the Republic of Ireland and Coleraine LCIS in Northern Ireland, which aim to stabilise the grid using the latest technology in renewable energy integration. These projects are essential to achieve the net zero target in the region.
The projects will be executed by a consortium composed of the Spanish parent company Elecnor Servicios y Proyectos, along with its subsidiaries IQA Operation Group (United Kingdom) and ESYP (Republic of Ireland). The consortium will work together with the Austrian technological group ANDRITZ, which will supply the synchronous condensers designed and manufactured in Austria.
Elecnor will be in charge of the projects as the lead designer, supervisor of the construction stage and main contractor. The work includes the electromechanical assembly of the synchronous condenser systems and their inertia flywheels, the construction of two evacuation substations, one with 110/15 kV at Coleraine (County of Londonderry) and the other with 220/15 kV at Glencloosagh (County of Kerry), as well as all the necessary civil engineering work. The infrastructures will provide short-circuit power, inertia and reactive power, thereby improving grid efficiency. The projects are expected to be operative in 2027.