CooperOstlund has completed its first UK peaking plant installation. The project saw three, 2.7MW combined heat and power (CHP) gas engines installed at a site in rural Derbyshire.
CooperOstlund joined the project halfway through after poor planning and incorrect engine installation from another contractor delayed completion considerably. This meant the site was still in development nearly eight months after the start date.
The engines were quickly removed, floor and engine cell levelled, followed by a full re-install, allowing the site to be commissioned and set live immediately. Now fully operational, the plant is running at optimum efficiency – generating more than 8.1MWe energy to support the National Grid in times of peak demand.
Speaking about the project, Stuart Cooper, director at CooperOstlund, commented: “When it comes to CHP engine installation, it doesn’t pay to cut corners. In this instance, it doubled costs and lengthened timescales considerably.
“Fortunately, we were appointed just in time to rescue the project – which had struggled to get off the ground and was draining resources. Thanks to our team’s expertise, it was possible to quickly correct mistakes and ensure commissioning could be completed just a few weeks later.”
The peaking facility is now fully-operational. In times of high energy demand, engines generate sustainable power to supplement grid capacity.
