Energy firms break ground on £350m power plant

Work is officially underway to build the most efficient CCGT power station in the UK in a North Lincolnshire village after representatives from developer SSE and partner Siemens broke ground.

As previously reported, Scottish energy company SSE plc invested £350 million in technology for its new combined cycle gas turbine power station in North Lincolnshire village Keadby.

The plant known as Keadby 2, just off the A18 west of Scunthorpe, will use the first of its kind, high efficiency gas-fired generation technology after the energy firm formed a partnership with Siemens.

Work to demolish existing structures from the former coal fired plant to prepare the ground for construction of the new plant is already underway and is being completed by Brigg based contractor CLS.

Work will start in January 2019 on the station construction, beginning with piling ahead of construction of the main foundations and steel work for the main buildings. Components are scheduled to arrive during early 2020.

Consolidated parameter layout plan. Photo: SSE Plc

It will be constructed as a full turnkey solution by Siemens, which will also provide plant servicing under a 15-year contract.

Once completed, the station will be the most efficient CCGT on the system, with 63% efficiency, enabling the UK to move away from coal in the 2020s and to integrate more renewables into the power grid.

The station will help to provide flexible energy generation capacity to the grid, with the turbine able to reach full combined cycle power in 30 minutes.

Cutting the turf

Turf was cut at the site to mark the formal start of work. Photo: Siemens

SSE Station Manager for Keadby 1 Paul Godson, Managing Director Power and Gas at Siemens Wesley Tivnen, Councillor John Biggs and the project team cut turf at the site to mark the formal start of work at an event on October 24.

Councillor Briggs said: “I was delighted to be able to attend the Keadby 2 site and learn more about the class leading technology being brought to North Lincolnshire. I plan to continue to work closely with both SSE and Siemens to maximise local opportunities linked to the construction and operation of Keadby 2.”

Managing Director, Power and Gas at Siemens, Wesley Tivnen said: “I’m delighted Siemens engineering excellence is able to bring one of the most efficient CCGT gas turbines to the UK market.

“This station will mean the UK can move away from coal fired power and still have synchronous generating capacity on the grid, to complement intermittent renewable generation. If the UK is to meet decarbonisation targets and keep the lights on, we’ll need to see a mix of technologies used to power the grid. The Siemens turbine provides the flexibility to do that.”

SSE Project Manager Mark Birley added: “SSE has a strong presence in this area with both the operational Keadby 1 power station and the neighbouring Keadby wind farm. Breaking ground for this project signals an exciting next step for us and we look forward to working with Siemens to deliver Keadby 2.”

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