Terra Firma Energy reinforces UK grid stability with 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.
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.
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.
“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.”
The 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 Rolls-Royce’s production site in Augsburg, Germany, to the UK, the generators were installed in containers by 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.”
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.
