‘Bridging power’ solutions are needed to overcome the ongoing impact of grid connection delays and expedite commissioning.
High-voltage power packages with Stage V generators, transformers and load banks can help push commissioning forward even before a grid connection has been established. This means a wind farm could come online much faster once the connection is established.
Generators running on hydrogenated vegetable oil [HVO] should be deployed at the construction phase to run plant and support equipment, site power, building and cable laying. This would reduce the risk of environmental impact while building new facilities, in turn avoiding associated project delays.
‘Bridging power solutions can play a vital role in keeping projects on track, powering construction sites and enabling commissioning while developers wait for permanent grid access. This will be critical to the large-scale delivery of new wind farms,’ said Alan Dunne, UK and Ireland Managing Director at Aggreko.
‘If we are serious about accelerating the UK’s clean energy transition, we must ensure that infrastructure projects are not stalled by avoidable delays,’ he continued. ‘In these circumstances, bridging power is not just a stopgap, but a key strategic tool to help unlock further energy capacity and reduce emissions, keeping the UK on track to meet its net zero goals.’
Downing Street’s current onshore wind strategy aims to unlock the potential of a sector that was hamstrung for more than a decade due to prohibitive regulation. IN addition to a target of 10GW of new energy capacity from these sources, Ofgem has also committed to considering stricter obligations and incentives for network companies to reduce connection times, which have been stretching into the 2030s even when projects are already complete.
Image: Anastasia Palagutina / Unsplash
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