Event Review | IEEE PES Student Branch Chapter at the University of Manchester Industrial Site Visit to Statkraft Lister Drive Greener Grid Park, Liverpool

On the 23rd of October 2024, the IEEE PES Student Branch Chapter (SBC) at the University of Manchester (UoM) organised an industrial site visit to Statkraft’s Lister Drive Greener Grid Park in Liverpool. The purpose of this visit was to enable students, particularly those in Science and Engineering disciplines, to observe how theoretical concepts are practically implemented in an industrial setting. The event attracted a total of 32 students, including 19 postgraduate and 13 undergraduate participants, from diverse academic backgrounds across the University.

The Committee members of IEEE PES SBC UoM coordinated the student participants to the site. Statkraft shared a variety of resources, including videos and PowerPoint presentations, in advance of the site visit to enrich the participants’ learning experience. These materials helped to provide valuable insights and enhance engagement throughout the visit.

Upon arrival, the group was warmly welcomed by Alison Hood, Head of Engagement and Social Value at Statkraft, alongside Jason Hill (Head Electrical Engineer), Ayodeji Kareem (Market Analyst Intern), and Sabiha Farzana (Grid Stability Analyst Intern). Two representatives from ABB also accompanied the tour.

The visit began with a presentation by Jason Hill, who provided an insightful overview of grid stability and the role of Lister Drive Park within the grid infrastructure.

Following the presentation, the students were divided into two groups. One group toured the power plant facilities, guided by Statkraft and ABB personnel, while the other group attended a session led by Ayodeji Kareem and Sabiha Farzana. This session focused on the future directions of the Stability Pathfinder Project and current research activities at Statkraft. During both sessions, participants had the opportunity to engage directly with the engineers and ask questions about the technical and operational details of Lister Drive Park. Alison Hood also addressed various inquiries related to the construction challenges of the park.

To further support participants’ professional development, Statkraft shared a PDF guide with career advice for the renewable energy sector.

The Lister Drive Park is part of National Grid ESO’s pioneering Stability Pathfinder Project, a scheme developed to explore solutions for enhancing grid inertia. The facility features a 67 MVAr synchronous compensator coupled with a 40-ton flywheel, which together provide over 900 MW-seconds of inertia to the grid. This contribution represents approximately 1% of the UK’s total minimum inertia requirement projected for 2025, positioning Lister Drive Park as a significant asset in the UK’s energy infrastructure.

Participants provided great feedback on the visit, stating that it was both informative and enjoyable. Many attendees indicated interest in participating in future site visits, noting the value of observing real-world applications of their studies.

The IEEE-PES SBC extends its heartfelt thanks to Alison Hood, Head of Engagement and Social Value at Statkraft, for her efforts in facilitating this visit. The contributions of all IEEE PES SBC committee members were invaluable to the successful organisation of this event, and their dedication is greatly appreciated.

Samvit Mavinkurve
Vice-Chair, IEEE PES SBC at The University of Manchester