At Lochaber Smelter, we’re proud to play a vital role in supporting the National Grid, especially during times of high demand. Through a carefully coordinated process, we reduce the load on our Potrooms and export power directly onto the National Grid, helping to stabilise the system when it’s under strain.

How does that work?

When the National Grid is facing a period of high demand or stress, we are called upon to provide a power boost. This service is vital for ensuring that the Grid remains stable, and that power is available where it’s most needed.

Once we receive a notification that the Grid requires support, our Power Plant Controller team takes immediate action. The Potrooms are alerted, and the amperage is reduced by 90,000 Amps over a 30-minute period. This is done by carefully adjusting the load on our DC rectifiers, which control the power going to the Potrooms.

Colin MacKinnon, Power Plant Controller, pictured here.

What is the Impact of the Reduction?

This reduction translates to an impressive 30MW of power being redirected from our Potrooms directly onto the National Grid. During this time, certain operations in the Potrooms are paused, including the Anode Change, Beam Raise, and Tapping processes. This allows for the necessary adjustments to be made without disrupting the overall flow of power.

After the reduction is complete, the Potrooms provide feedback on whether additional amperage will be required for the next 12 hours. This ensures that both the Potrooms and the National Grid can continue to operate smoothly.

A Real-Time Example

In a recent instance, we reduced the amperage from 218,000 Amps to 130,000 Amps, and the voltage dropped from 225 Volts to 170 Volts over a 30-minute period. This controlled reduction contributed to a total export of 49MW of power onto the Grid that morning, see highlighted on the graph below.

Alvance British Aluminium’s ability to reduce the load on our Potrooms and export power to the National Grid is an essential service that helps maintain Grid stability during times of high demand. By working together with the National Grid, we ensure that electricity remains available and reliable.

Our role is just one part of a much larger effort to keep the lights on and power flowing across Lochaber and beyond, and we’re proud to be a key player in this critical process.

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