The Keadby 2 project took an important step forward as the turbine for the 840MW power station set sail from the Siemens Energy factory in Berlin, on its journey to its new home in north Lincolnshire.
The combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT), which is 13 metres long, 5.3 metres wide and 5.5 metres tall, will travel from Berlin to Rotterdam and then by sea to the Humber Estuary where it will travel down inland waterways to reach the construction site.
In March, SSE Thermal secured a 15-year capacity agreement for Keadby 2, which is expected to become the cleanest and most efficient gas-fired power station in Europe when completed in 2022. In addition, the station will also be capable of being upgraded to decarbonise its generation through the use of carbon capture or hydrogen technology, as routes to market develop.
Keadby 2 represents a £350 million investment by SSE Thermal to introduce first-of-a-kind, high-efficiency gas-fired generation technology to the UK. It is being constructed as a full turnkey solution by Siemens, who will also provide plant servicing under a 15-year contract.
Once completed, the CCGT will achieve up to 63% efficiency, enabling the UK to move away from coal in the 2020s and to integrate more renewables into the power grid. It will have the capacity to power around 840,000 homes and is well-sited to contribute to the broader industrial decarbonisation of the Humber region. 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.
Construction at the Keadby 2 site is progressing, however, in light of the Covid-19 situation, new ways of working have been put in place to meet the Government guidance on social distancing, as well as the Site Operating Procedures guidance from the Construction Industries Council. The site changes and mechanisms put in place are being audited on a regular basis by both SSE Thermal and Siemens to ensure highest standards are being maintained.
Steve Scrimshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Energy Ltd UK & Ireland, said: “Keadby 2 will play an important role in providing efficient and flexible power generation to around 800,000 UK homes, businesses and public services.
“As the UK moves to reach its target for net zero emissions by 2050, the flexibility provided by gas-fired power will complement an increasing amount of renewable generation on the grid. And, combined with development of carbon capture technology, and new fuels such as hydrogen, CO2 from gas power generation can be significantly reduced to reach net zero.”
Stephen Wheeler, Managing Director, SSE Thermal, said: “Today marks a hugely exciting milestone for our Keadby 2 project as the turbine begins its journey to north Lincolnshire. This first-of-a-kind technology will make Keadby 2 the UK’s cleanest and most efficient gas-fired power station, displacing older, more carbon-intensive generation, and providing vital flexibility for the electricity system.
“The construction of Keadby 2 is a key part of our strategy to decarbonise our thermal power generation and complement the growth of renewables as we transition to net zero. We’re also exploring the potential for further decarbonisation in the Humber region through carbon capture and hydrogen solutions as routes to market develop.”
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