Quinbrook begins construction of four new synchronous condensers in UK

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, a specialist investment manager, has broken ground on four new synchronous condensers in Scotland, under phase two of National Grid ESO’s Pathfinder program.

Collectively called the Scottish Portfolio, the projects are expected to help drive the United Kingdom‘s energy transition toward net zero emissions of greenhouse gases.

The synchronous condenser projects are situated near Gretna, Neilston, Rothienorman, and Thurso, Scotland, with potential to jointly deliver 3,500 megavolt amps of short circuit level and 1,850 megavolt amps of inertia.

The Scottish Portfolio is anticipated to add to Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners’ portfolio of UK businesses, with first synchronous condenser project of the company situated in Rassau, South Wales.

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners expects to invest more than £200 million to build the Scottish Portfolio that includes the construction of critical grid infrastructure to enable power transition in areas such as Flexitricity and Habitat Energy.

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners breaks ground on four new synchronous condensers in the UK

Rory Quinlan — Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners Co-Founder and Managing Partner said: “We view the UK’s electricity sector and its ‘Net Zero’ ambitions as a highly attractive investment opportunity for the next generation of critical energy transition infrastructure.

“Crucially, our ‘whole of system’ investment philosophy puts the emphasis on addressing fundamental system needs and enablers to deliver the second half of the energy transition that will see the UK move from a 50 percent to a 100 percent decarbonised power system.”

Each of the four new synchronous condensers received long term, index linked (CPI) revenues under Phase 2 of National Grid ESO’s Stability Pathfinder Programme.

The Scottish Portfolio is expected to start providing green energy in 2024.

In February 2022, Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners commissioned the Rassau synchronous condenser project in Ebbw Vale, South Wales.

Habitat Energy, which was acquired in 2021 by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, is a UK-based artificial intelligence (AI) enabled optimization and trading platform for battery storage and renewables, with operations in the UK, the US, and Australia.

Flexitricity was acquired in 2020 by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners from Swiss multinational Alpiq AG.