14 October 2019 - We invite transmission or distribution connected providers to tender for the provision of a Reactive Power Service in the Mersey region from April 2020 - March 2021. The Invitation to Tender, information pack and associated documents can be found here. Tenders must be submitted by 17:00 on Friday 8th November 2019.
16 April 2019 - We have also published a Request for Information for the provision of long-term reactive power service in Mersey starting from 2021/22. The deadline for submissions is 24th May. More context on this RFI can be found on our Network Development Roadmap page.
March 2019 - Long Term Reactive Power Needs out to 2031.
We are currently undertaking pathfinding projects looking at how we can tender for commercial solutions to future reactive power needs alongside considering asset options.
Find out more here
Reactive power describes the background energy movement in an alternating current (AC) system arising from the production of electric and magnetic fields. Devices that store energy through a magnetic field produced by a flow of current are said to absorb reactive power; those that store energy through electric fields are said to generate reactive power.
The flows of reactive power on the system will affect voltage levels. Unlike system frequency, which is consistent across the network, voltages experienced at points across the system form a 'voltage profile', which is uniquely related to the prevailing real and reactive power supply and demand. We must manage voltage levels on a local level to meet the varying needs of the system.
Without the appropriate injections of reactive power at the right locations, the voltage profile of the transmission system will exceed statutory planning and operational limits.