Siemens is to upgrade turbines for Drax Power on three of the biomass units at the latter’s generation facility in North Yorkshire, England.
Work on the £40m contract will start in 2019 and last for three years.
The upgrades will make the turbines more efficient by fitting new pipework and valves, blading and seals, Drax said.
Drax Power chief executive Andy Koss said: “We firmly believe that biomass has a long-term role to play in the UK’s energy infrastructure.
“We’re looking at a number of ways to bring down the costs of our biomass generation – and these turbine upgrades are an important part of that work.
“Reducing the costs of our biomass operations will help to preserve the life of the plant and protect jobs, whilst we continue to produce the flexible, renewable power millions of homes and businesses rely on.”
Siemens power generation services managing director Darren Davidson said: “Siemens and Drax have a long-standing and proud partnership so it’s fantastic that we will now help them further develop their biomass solution.
“Once delivered this project will improve plant efficiency and flexibility and provide a further source of low carbon power to UK homes, businesses and services.”
Drax has upgraded three of its coal units to run on biomass with a fourth currently being converted.
It also plans to repower the company’s remaining two coal units to use gas and develop up to 200MW of battery storage.
Image: Drax Power
Siemens facelift for Drax bio
By EBS