Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable energy generator, has embarked on an ambitious venture to bolster the resilience of the UK’s electricity grid through its latest initiative, the Necton project. This huge project represents Statkraft’s biggest scheme so far. It addresses the acute problems of a resource mix full of variable renewable energy and high-voltage direct current interties. Construction is now under way after winning planning permission in 2024.
Rubén Ondina said working with Ansaldo was a key opportunity. He considers this partnership an important step toward fortifying the UK’s grid resilience. The collaboration aims to increase the stability of the nation’s electricity grid. It’ll be powered with state-of-the-art technology that smartly balances peaks of energy use with troughs of energy generation.
Key Contributions to Grid Resilience
The Necton project will provide precedent-setting essential services for both continuous and dynamic voltage control. These services are important for sustaining inertia, which is essential for grid stability. The successful deployment of clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, continues to increase. Amid all of this, the need for smart, resilient infrastructure is more evident than ever. That’s what this project does — it fills the gap with innovative solutions. For one, they’ll be crucial to helping the UK deepen its transition to a greener energy future.
Stefano Gianatti, Executive Vice President at Ansaldo, underscored the company’s deep experience in this space. Ever since entering the market in 2014, Ansaldo has focused on providing proven, well-known solutions. With these low-maintenance offerings, we’re speeding up the global energy transition. The know-how gained over the last 10 years puts Ansaldo in a unique position to be a large player in this far-reaching grid upgrade program.
Investment and Environmental Considerations
With over £100 million already invested, Statkraft’s investment in the Necton project demonstrates its commitment to developing sustainable energy projects. We listened to stakeholder feedback and considered the overall environmental conditions before selecting a site close to the Necton substation. This was a responsible decision, impacting the environment as little as possible while maximizing benefits to the grid. This type of thoughtful consideration is emblematic of Statkraft’s approach to producing energy responsibly.
The ultimate goal of this Collaborative project is to improve grid reliability. It helps deliver the UK’s wider ambitions for renewable energy integration. Now Ansaldo and Statkraft are jointly addressing the challenges of high levels of variable renewables. Together, their efforts are laying the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable electricity infrastructure.