Reinforcing UK grid stability with mtu gas gensets

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With intermittent renewable energy sources becoming the cornerstone of the energy mix, peaking plants – power plants that generate back-up electricity during periods of high demand – will play an increasingly critical role in bridging supply gaps.

This winter, the proportion of coal in the UK’s electricity mix fell below one percent. Instead, the country is relying on wind and solar energy, nuclear power, biomass and mtu gas gensets.

Terra Firma Energy recently commissioned a new plant in Droitwich Spa, UK with two of our mtu 20V4000 L64 FNER gas gensets delivering a total power of 5 MW. When discrepancies in supply occur, the generators can be deployed at short notice and provide the power needed to meet demand.

“Usually, these generators operate between 1000 and 2500 hours per year,” explains Ben Howkins, Sales Manager at Rolls-Royce Solutions UK. “But due to the unusually cold winter coupled with a need for greater grid capacity, operational hours this year are forecasted to exceed this.”

Power in partnership

Our mtu gensets provided the optimum solution for Terra Firma thanks to their high efficiency and low emissions. A bonus; the gensets are also approved for use with a hydrogen mixture as soon as this becomes available.

After travelling from our production site in Augsburg, Germany to the UK, the generators were installed in containers by our long-standing power station equipment partner Yellow Power Ltd.

“The launch of operations at our Droitwich site is a testament to the power of partnership and shared vision,” says William Davies, Managing Director of Terra Firma Energy. “Each of our collaborators has played a crucial role in bringing this project to fruition, ensuring it delivers flexible, reliable energy to meet the challenges of a modern grid.”

Fast start quality

Gas genset power plants can be scaled up as modular, containerised units within just 12 months and can be easily installed anywhere there is access to the grid and gas points.

The mtu gensets in Droitwich could, if required, be on full load within just 120 seconds. As they usually only operate at full power two or three times a day for a few hours at a time, their maintenance and overhaul costs remain low over the entire life cycle of the genset.

“I am proud that we are contributing to the energy transition in the UK with our products,” Howkins adds. “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.

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