The Northern Ireland system operator (SONI) is looking ofr process is to produce a short-list of suitably qualified companies to provide a ‘low carbon inertia service’ (LCIS). It expects ultimately to contract with two to four suppliers and is now carrying out pre-qualification.
It wants to procure 4000MVA.s in total. Contract sizes may vary between 900MVA.s and 2000MVA.s. Cintracxts are due to be awarded in December
Plans to procure low carbon inertia services were first announced by SONI and Eirgrid in late 2021. The two system operators were responding to a request from the Single Electricity Market Committee. The Committee asked the system operators to carry out an assessment and bring forward proposals for fixed term inertia procurement support the integration of technologies which can help reduce the amount of carbon intensive conventional generation required on the all-island power system. A consultation on the inertia services, which will include reactive power and short circuit contribution capability, closed in April.