Four ultra-efficient engines have arrived at Centrica’s former combined cycle gas power station at Brigg, with construction work underway on an expansion of the peaking plant at the Lincolnshire site.

The business is installing the four engines inside the former turbine hall at the power station, which was decommissioned in 2020, helping to create nearly 100 MW of fast response assets capable of meeting demand when renewable generation is low.

The expanded power plant will be H₂-ready, and form part of a trial due to start in late 2024 to blend H₂ into the gas, ramping up from a three per cent blend to 20%, with a long-term vision to move towards 100% H₂ and to deploy similar technology across all peaking plants.

Work at Brigg is expected to last around nine months and the plant will be fully operational in early 2025. 

Peaking plants only generate electricity when there’s high or peak demand for electricity, or when generation from renewables is too low to meet demand. Once connected to the grid, the engines will have the capacity to power 20,000 homes for a full day when required, which will maintain stability and deliver reliable power across the grid.

"While the UK has made amazing progress towards a renewable energy future, gas plays an essential role in ensuring homes and businesses have access to a reliable electricity supply when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine," said Chris O’Shea, group chief executive of Centrica

Centrica is redeveloping the Brigg energy park which, once complete, will be home to a 50-MW battery, commercial-scale H₂ production using HiiROC technology (in which Centrica has a five per cent stake), and 100 MW of gas peaking plant.

Chris O’Shea, group chief executive of Centrica said, “Everything we do is aimed at ensuring our customers have the energy they need, when they need it, at the cheapest price possible. While the UK has made amazing progress towards a renewable energy future, gas plays an essential role in ensuring homes and businesses have access to a reliable electricity supply when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. So, we’re delighted to be expanding the Brigg energy park to help balance the increasing renewables on the grid.”

The new engines are designed and manufactured by the sustainable technology business, Wärtsilä.

"We’re extremely pleased to support Centrica in their efforts to decarbonize power production. This installation will help enable the use of clean renewable energy by providing the needed grid balancing. Wärtsilä 31 engine platform is renowned for its high efficiency, and the engines are future-proof to run on a H₂ blend," commented Kenneth Engblom, Vice President Africa & Europe at Wärtsilä Energy.