December 12, 2024, Wales - Construction has commenced on the Swansea Greener Grid Park, marking Wales' first electricity grid stability scheme initiated by Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable energy generator. This project represents a £70 million investment aimed at enhancing the Welsh energy transition.
The scheme will employ six large rotating stabilisers to mimic the spinning turbines of traditional power stations, ensuring grid stability without reliance on fossil-fuel power plants. Once operational, it will support the Welsh and UK Governments' net-zero and energy decarbonisation targets, while providing a secure and cost-effective power supply.
Statkraft secured the contract for stability services from the National Energy System Operator (NESO) as part of its Stability Pathfinder Programme in 2022. NESO projects that these contracts will yield £14.9 billion in savings from 2025 to 2035. The planning application for the site received unanimous support from Swansea Council and was updated to include two additional synchronous compensators to enhance grid stability.
Swansea joins Moray and Liverpool as the third site utilizing rotating stabilisers, which collectively save 216,000 tonnes of CO2e annually. This initiative is a key component of Statkraft's strategy to strengthen the UK's energy infrastructure, with an investment pipeline exceeding £4 billion and nearly 20 projects approved, spanning wind, solar, hydro, and green hydrogen technologies.
Wales' electricity demand is projected to triple by 2050, necessitating infrastructure like the Greener Grid Park to meet future energy needs sustainably. This project is integral to the region's green growth objectives and the broader transition towards renewable energy.