National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has released details of its plans to hold a second pilot tender for its new stability service incorporating inertia, voltage control and short circuit level contribution.
The first tender primarily focused on delivering inertia across Great Britain and awarded seven contracts to five companies worth £328 million in total. The second will instead focus on meeting its needs for short circuit level contribution within Scotland.
The ESO said its total requirement is for 8.4GVA across eight locations. As any solution in one location will have a knock-on impact on the others, the total volume procured is expected to be less than this amount.
The contracts will begin in July 2021 at the earliest and April 2024 at the latest and will finish by April 2030.
Unlike in the first tender, the body will not impose a requirement for providers to limit their export of active power to zero. Only transmission-connected providers will be able to participate. Expressions of interest are scheduled to be invited in August.
The ESO said it plans to hold subsequent tenders on a more frequent basis – possibly annually – as it moves closer to real-time procurement.