Europe’s largest renewable power generator moves into Liverpool

Statkraft’s new Lister Drive Greener Grid Park is now operational on Merseyside after two years of construction work.

The facility, which is maintained in partnership with ABB, is now supplying the UK’s National Grid and forms part of a £1.3bn investment in Britain’s renewable energy infrastructure by Statkraft since 2006. The firm is now the largest generator of renewable power in Europe. 

Greener Grid Park looks to reduce reliance on coal or gas powered turbines for a stable and reliable supply of electricity. By delivering inertia and fault current to the grid, the strength and consistency of overall supply are easier to manage. The process does not produce harmful carbon emissions.

The launch represents another step towards National Grid ESO, operator of Britain’s electricity network, reaching fossil fuel-free operations by 2025. It follows the first Greener Grid Park opening last year, in Keith, Moray. Both are part of the Stability Pathfinder project Phase 1, the sum total of which will offer equivalent inertia to five coal-fired power stations. A new Scottish Greener Grid Park site, and three more in England and Wales, have also recentl been agreed.

‘Our Greener Grid Parks are a vital part of the energy transition, so it’s an important milestone that Lister Drive is now operational. If we don’t need to burn coal and run fossil fuel power stations just to provide stability to the grid, it means fewer harmful emissions are being released into the air, and consumers are saving money, because renewable energy is cheaper,’ said Kevin O’Donovan, Statkraft’s UK Managing Director.

‘The challenge we face is not just that more renewables are needed, but that the infrastructure is in place to support them. With our ambitious project pipeline, Statkraft is well placed to continue in its leading industry role delivering further Greener Grid Parks into the future and breaking the dependence on fossil fuel generators for good,’ he continued. 

The UK’s power network is decarbonising at a rapid rate. Already, more than 50% of Northern Ireland’s electricity supply is renewable, with recent good news from the solar sector to boot. Meanwhile, energy formed a significant part of the 2023 Budget, unveiled last week. However, many have expressed dismay at a failure to effectively reform regulations around onshore wind.

Image: Statkraft / ABB