Siemens to modernise HVDC link between Northern Ireland and Scotland

• 4 years ago (2020-06-19)
• David Flin

Europe 1068 Transmission 181

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Siemens Energy has been awarded the project to refurbish the Moyle Interconnector, an HVDC link between Ballycronan More in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and Auchencrosh, Scotland.

The Moyle Interconnector is owned and operated by Mutual Energy . The control and protection system is 20 years old and is being modernised to enhance its operation. The refurbishment of the 500MW interconnector will increase the security and reliability of the power supply to consumers in the UK.

The project is already underway and the refurbishment is scheduled to be completed in September 2022. The scope of the project has been defined as the detailed design, manufacturing, factory testing, installation and commissioning of the control and protection system, including replacement of auxiliary supplies, valve base electronics, and the measurement system, as well as the supply of a control training simulator.

Hauke Jürgensen, Head of Large Transmissions Solutions at Siemens Energy, said: “The upgraded system will provide more operational stability to weaker AC grids and will operate in a wider range of AC grid system conditions. In the future, more energy – mainly produced by renewables – can be transmitted from Scotland to Northern Ireland and vice versa.”