Page 15 - Energize Issue 1 2023

NEWS

A civil engineering project well worth its ‘salt’

rinaker-LTA’s role in the The firm’s civil engineering division’s
Redstone Concentrated Solar scope of work in the thermal power
GThermal (CSP) power plant plant consists of:
project in the Northern Cape, which is • Steam generation structure
the largest investment made to date • Molten salt pump structure
in terms of South Africa’s Renewable • Hot salt storage tank
Energy Independent Power Producer • Cold salt storage tank
Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), project-financed CSP with molten salt • Water treatment plant civils
consists of the construction of various central receiver in the world, and also • Fire protection water pump house
permanent civils work. Abdool Shaikh, one of the largest investments in South civils
Managing Executive of Grinaker-LTA’s Africa under the Programme. Following • Demineralised water storage tank
Civil Engineering division, said that commissioning, commercial operation • Effluent collection area
President Ramaphosa, together with is scheduled to commence towards the • Retaining wall
the client and an entourage comprising end of 2023. With 12 hours of full-load
various government members and local energy storage, Redstone will be able to The company’s section of the
dignitaries, took part in a site visit to reliably deliver a stable electricity supply project was due for completion in
Redstone CSP power plant in October. to more than 200 000 South African December 2022 – with the overall
The 100 MW Redstone CSP plant, which homes during peak demand periods, project scheduled for completion
forms part of the REIPPPP, is the first even well after the sun has set. in 2024.

Contract to supply a massive battery system in the UK

he technology group Wärtsilä has signed a contract with and GEMS Digital Energy Platform, in addition to the power
EDF Renewables UK and Ireland to deliver a new grid-scale conversion system and commissioning for the project. GEMS
Tenergy storage facility in Sundon, Bedfordshire, UK. The provides the data and insights to instruct trading parties and
50 MW / 100 MWh project, which will form part of a new Energy performance for comprehensive asset management. The energy
Superhub in the region, will help to support the transition to a storage technology will enable balancing services for the UK grid,
decarbonised electricity system and accelerate the UK’s net zero including electricity market trading and frequency response, with
future. the capability to support local consumers such as EV charging
The new Li-ion storage facility, which can store enough stations during grid outages.
electricity to power 100 000 homes for two hours, will support
electric vehicle charging and the electrification of public transport. Contact Mirja-Maija Santala, Wärtsilä Energy,
The project will enable increased renewable energy integration mirja-maija.santala@wartsila.com
and intermittency management, in addition to strengthening the
resiliency of the electricity system, automatically charging and
discharging to balance supply and demand.
Matthew Boulton, a director at EDF Renewables, says there
is no renewable future without a smart, flexible energy grid.
“That is why we are working with local councils to accelerate the
rollout of Energy Superhubs, helping to unleash the potential of
renewable energy and enable local people to reap the benefits of
net zero through better access to low-carbon transport. We know
the challenge ahead of us – we need more renewable energy and
energy storage to back it up. Our storage facility in Sundon marks
a key milestone for the UK as we lay the foundation for net zero.” Wärtsilä’s innovative 50 MW / 100 MWh energy storage solution to
Sundon, UK supporting the UK’s transition to a decarbonised electricity
Wärtsilä has provided its propriety GridSolv Quantum system system © Wärtsilä Corporation

energize | Issue 1 2023 | 15