Ansaldo Energia has signed a contract with TSK UK to supply a 157-tonne synchronous condenser to Statkraft’s Necton Greener Grid Park under construction in Norfolk. The deal covers delivery, commissioning, and operator training for the facility, part of the National Energy System Operator (NESO)’s Stability Pathfinder Programme awarded in 2022.
The order centres on Ansaldo’s TRY-L63 flywheel model, a 10.7-metre-wide rotating machine designed to bolster the UK’s electricity grid as wind and solar generation surges. Synchronous condensers deliver essential services including voltage regulation, reactive power support, short-circuit strength, and inertia – replacing the stabilising effects of traditional fossil fuel plants without burning any fuel.
The Necton project addresses growing grid challenges from variable renewables and high-voltage DC connections, where sudden supply shifts threaten reliability. Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable generator, selected the site near Necton substation after extensive environmental assessments, with construction now underway following 2024 planning approval.
TSK UK Projects Director Rubén Ondina called the collaboration a key step in reinforcing Great Britain’s grid resilience, noting it as Statkraft’s largest such scheme yet. Ansaldo EVP Stefano Gianatti highlighted the firm’s decade-long expertise in the technology, first entering the market in 2014 to support global energy transitions with robust, low-maintenance solutions.
