Elecnor expands its presence in Ireland with two new strategic synchronous condenser projects

Elecnor strengthens its alliance with Statkraft, Europe's largest renewable energy producer, following the award of two new contracts for the installation of synchronous condensers (SynCons). With these projects, the company will be responsible for the execution of a total of four plants of this type on the island of Ireland, doubling its participation in the grid stability programme.

The new contract awards are in addition to the projects already underway in Glencloosagh and Coleraine and are part of the Low Carbon Inertia Services (LCIS) programme. This initiative is led by the Transmission System Operators (TSOs) EirGrid in the Republic of Ireland and SONI in Northern Ireland, and aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuel generation and facilitate greater integration of renewable energies into the electricity system.

The recently awarded infrastructure projects feature technical configurations tailored to the characteristics of each site:

• In Coolkeeragh (Northern Ireland), a synchronous condenser will be implemented alongside a 275/15 kV substation.
• In Quarry Lane (Republic of Ireland), another synchronous condenser will be installed alongside a 220/15 kV substation.

As in the first phase of the programme, these facilities play an essential role in providing inertia, reactive power and short-circuit power compensation to the grid. Their commissioning is key to Ireland and Northern Ireland achieving their 2030 climate and renewable energy penetration targets.

A consolidated consortium and European technology

To carry out these new projects, Elecnor will maintain the consortium structure used in previous contracts. Elecnor Servicios y Proyectos will lead the operations alongside its subsidiaries IQA Operations Group in the United Kingdom and ESYP in the Republic of Ireland.

The technological collaboration with the Austrian group ANDRITZ, responsible for the design and manufacture of synchronous condensers, has also been renewed. Elecnor will assume the roles of Principal Designer (PSDP) and Principal Contractor (PSCS), covering the entire project, from the civil works to the electromechanical assembly and commissioning of the systems and associated evacuation substations.

These new facilities are expected to come on stream in 2027, completing a set of strategic grid stability assets for the Irish electricity system.

With these awards, the Group consolidates its international position in the deployment of synchronous condensers in markets such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Brazil and Spain. Elecnor's ability to undertake design, construction and commissioning under a full EPC model, using its own highly specialised resources, is a differentiating factor in grid stability projects where reliability and meeting deadlines are critical.