Two demand-activated renewable energy generators are being installed in Droitwich Spa to add resilience to the local power supply network.
Intermittent power sources, known as ‘peaking plants,’ are becoming increasingly critical, and common, in the UK’s energy supply mix.
The renewable generators deliver 5MW
Delivering a total power of 5 megawatts (MW) – enough to supply between 1,500 and 2,000 homes – the two Rolls-Royce-manufactured mtu (maximum-transmission unit) gas generator sets (gensets) at Droitwhich can be ramped up to full output in just 120 seconds to bridge the gap when existing energy supplies are unable to meet demand.
Ben Howkins, sales manager at Rolls-Royce Solutions UK, said: “This winter the proportion of coal in the UK’s electricity mix fell below 1%. The country is instead relying on wind and solar energy, nuclear power, biomass and mtu gas gensets.
“Usually, these generators operate between 1,000 and 2,500 hours a year. But due to the unusually cold winter coupled with a need for greater grid capacity, operational hours this year are forecast to exceed this.
More than 500 back-up generators on UK’s supply network
“Our gensets strengthen the local energy infrastructure and meet the growing demand for reliable and flexible power generation.
“Over 500 of our mtu gas engines are already being used in gas engine power stations in the UK capacity market. And new ones like these two in Droitwich are constantly being added.”
Gas genset power plants are modular and so can be easily scaled up and installed anywhere there is access to the grid in just 12 months – a huge improvement from the years it usually takes to develop other forms of power generation facilities.
Their low operating hours means they remain low in maintenance requirements for the entirety of their operational lifespan.
The two mtu gensets at Droitwich were commissioned by Terra Firma Energy.
