Centrica Business Solutions has begun construction on a 20MW gas-fired peaking plant in Worcestershire that is ready to burn hydrogen.
Eight containerized engines built in the UK will be installed at the Redditch power station that Centrica recently purchased and will burn natural gas.
The peaking power plant, which is anticipated to be fully operational later this year, will only operate during periods of high or peak electricity demand or when renewable energy production is insufficient. When necessary, the Redditch project will be able to supply electricity to the equivalent of 2,000 houses for a full day, assisting in maintaining the grid’s stability and dependability.
The engines’ ability to burn a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen will also assist the UK move towards a decarbonized energy system and future-proof the facility.
The former Brigg Power Station in Lincolnshire has been converted into a battery storage asset, making it the first plant in the UK to run partially on hydrogen. The Redditch Peaking Plant is a component of Centrica’s plans to deploy about 1GW of flexible energy assets.
The company also focuses on renewable energy assets in addition to these initiatives. The most recent of these is the Codford solar farm, an 18MW array in Wiltshire that, when finished, would be able to power 4,850 homes.
